A pistol (1) including a loaded chamber indicator (10) to identify the presence of a cartridge (50) loaded in the firing chamber (11). The pistol (1) may generally include a barrel (2), a receiver (4) attached to the barrel (2) thereby defining a barrel-receiver assembly (3), and a chamber (11) associated with the barrel-receiver assembly (3). An indicating element (10) is provided which in one embodiment may be pivotally mounted in the barrel-receiver assembly (3). The indicating element (10) is displaceable in response to contact by the cartridge (50) from a first position which may in one embodiment correspond to an absence of a cartridge (50) loaded in the chamber (11), to a second position which may in one embodiment correspond to a presence of a cartridge (50) loaded in the chamber (11). A biasing member, such as a spring, may be provided to bias the indicating element (10) towards the first position. In one embodiment, the indicating element (10) protrudes outwards from the exterior of the pistol (1) in response to contact by the cartridge rim (54) to provide a visual and tactile indication of a loaded chamber condition to a user of the pistol (1).

A centerfire autoloading pistol (20) including a loaded chamber indicator (60) to identify the presence of a cartridge (50) loaded in the firing chamber (48). The pistol (20) may generally include a housing having an external surface and defining a chamber (48) to receive a cartridge (50), a barrel unit (24) disposed at least partially in the housing, and an indicating element (60) having two ends. In one embodiment, the indicating element (60) may be pivotally mounted to the housing proximate to one of the ends. The indicating element (60) is displaceable in response to contact by the cartridge (50) from a first position which may in one embodiment correspond to an absence of a cartridge (50) loaded in the chamber (48), to a second position which may in one embodiment correspond to a presence of a cartridge (50) loaded in the chamber (48). A biasing member, such as a spring (150), may be provided for biasing the indicating element (60) towards the first position. In one embodiment, the indicating element (60) protrudes outwards from the external surface of the pistol (20) in response to contact by the cartridge (50) to provide visual and tactile indication of a loaded chamber condition to a user of the pistol (1). Indicia (I) which may include alphanumeric characters, symbols, colors, or a combination thereof may be provided on the indicating element (60).

A gun-loaded indicator device for shotguns of the type in which a cartridge chamber is defined at the breech end of a barrel removably mounted in a stock (3), comprises a feeler ball (9) movable within a through hole (10) provided in the breech end and opening into the cartridge chamber and extending radially to it and comprises a bar-like lever (13) pivoted within the stock (3) and having a first end (13a) maintained in contact with the feeler ball (9) and its second end (13b) subjected to spring means (15); the lever (13) is angularly mobile within a respective conjugate seat (16) from a position in which the first end (13a) of the lever (13) is in line with the stock (3) to a position in which the first end (13a) projects laterally from it.

An electronically operated pistol (10)m has a frame (32) upon which is mounted a barrel (36) and a shell (12) which encloses virtually all moving parts. The pistol has a trigger (14) which, when pulled, moves a front section (56) of a trigger bar (48) carrying a magnet (80) of a Hall effect switch. The trigger bar has a rear section (58) connected to a solenoid (114) which is actuated by a current amplifier (104) in a control circuit (124) which includes the Hall effect switch. Both sections of the trigger bar are independently axially movable but are so connected as to be pivotable about the trigger in unison to perform a disconnect function in association with a sear (78). A switch (104) in the control circuit mounted on the barrel senses the presence of a chambered cartridge (92). The control circuit includes a first light emitting diode (26) which illuminates when a round is chambered and a second light emitting diode (28) which illuminates when control circuit power is low. Voltage comparators (132,130) in the circuit signal logic elements (136,146,148,140) when power is low or the second light emitting diode fails to properly illuminate in order to prevent actuation of the solenoid. An electronic failure, which causes current to be constantly directed through the solenoid, is sensed by a voltage comparator (152) which causes an oscillator (154) to rapidly flash the second light emitting diode.