12-14 AUTOMATIC PISTOL, CAL. .45, M1911 AND M1911A1 safely at full cock and it is only necessary to press down the safety lock (which is located within easy reach of the thumb) when raising the pistol to the firing position. c. The grip safety is provided with an extending horn which not only serves as a guard to prevent the hand of the shooter from slipping upward and being struck or injured by the hammer, but also aids in accurate shooting by keeping the hand in the same position for each shot and, further- more, permits the lowering of the cocked hammer with one hand by automatically pressing in the grip safety when the hammer is drawn slightly beyond the cocked position. In order to release the hammer, the grip safety must be pressed in before the trigger is squeezed. • 13. SAFETY DEVICES.-a. It is impossible for the firing pin to discharge or even touch the primer except on receiving the full blow of the hammer. b. The pistol is provided with two automatic safety devices: (1) The disconnector, which positively prevents the release of the .hammer unless the slide and barrel are in the forward position and safely interlocked. This device also controls the firing and prevents more than one shot from following each squeeze of the trigger. (2) The grip safety which at all times locks the trigger unless the handle is firmly grasped and the grip safety pressed in. c. In addition, the pistol is provided with a safety lock by which the closed slide and the cocked hammer can be posi- tively locked in position. • 14. DETAILED FUNCTIONING.-a. The magazine may be charged with any number of cartridges from one to seven. b. The charged magazine is inserted in the receiver and the slide drawn once to the rear. This movement cocks the hammer, compresses the recoil spring, and when the slide reaches the rear position the magazine follower raises the upper cartridge into the path of the slide. The slide is then released and being forced forward by the recoil spring carries the first cartridge into the chamber of the barrel. As the slide approaches its forward position, it encounters the rear extension of the barrel and forces the barrel forward; the rear end of the barrel swings upward on the barrel link, turn=
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