Home  |  Catalog  |  Information  |  Calendar of Events  |  Odds N Ends  |  Links  |  About Us  |  Contact Us  

M8 Pyrotechnic Pistol Parts Diagrams

Want to see the innards of the AN-M8 Pyrotechnic pistol?  This is the page for you.  It has drawings and part listings for the entire pistol. 

AN-M8 Pyrotechnic Pistol

• Barrel Group - The barrel group (fig. 12) consists of a pin, latch, lock, springs, and barrel assembly.

Figure 12 (Click to enlarge)

• Frame Group - The frame group (fig. 13) houses the firing pin, safety, springs, hammer, pawl, slide, and bearing. When the trigger is depressed, the slide moves forward. The pawl is pinned to the slide and is spring loaded to keep the nose of the pawl raised. As the slide moves forward, the pawl engages and rotates the hammer rearward against the action of the spring. The projecting part of the pawl engages the bearing at a critical point, which acts to depress the pawl and release the hammer to strike the firing pin. When the trigger is released, the slide is forced back, because of the action of the spring. The pawl is depressed when it passes under the hammer. The projection on the forward end of the slide prohibits the hammer from contacting the firing pin, when the trigger is partially depressed and released. The safety is spring loaded and is forced against the hammer. When the breech is closed, the hammer moves rearward and the safety is depressed by the lock.

Figure 13 (Click to enlarge)

M1 Pyrotechnic Pistol Mount
The pyrotechnic pistol mount Ml (fig. 5) is used as a holder for the AN-M8 pistol. The mount is provided with four symmetrically placed helical springs, which absorb the recoil shock and a cushioning gasket, to absorb the counterrecoil. The cover is provided for use when the pistol is removed from the mount.

  Figure 5 (Click to enlarge)

Air Force Issued Canvas Bag
A canvas holder (an article of Air Force supply) for both the pistol and appropriate number of aircraft signals, is supplied and securely attached to the airplane at or near the pistol mount location. This holder is held in position by a suitable bracket or shelf (provided by the airplane manufacturer) which is equipped with the necessary snap fasteners for attaching the holder. The pistol is carried in the holder, as shown in figure 6.

Figure 6 (Click to enlarge)

 

Lock. The lock (fig. 3) is used to lock or open the breech. Pulling up on the lock will cause it to disengage from the frame, permitting the frame to swing downward, thereby opening the breech. When the frame is pulled upward, it closes the breech and engages the lock.

Latch. The latch (fig. 3) is located in front of the lock and assists in locking the pistol into the mount.

Trigger. The trigger (fig. 3) is located within the trigger guard. The pistol is a double-action type, retracting the trigger cocks the hammer against spring tension and releases the hammer at a specified point to strike the firing pin.

 

More AN-M8 Pyrotechnic Pistol information:
General Overview
Getting to know the AN-M8
Ammunition
Disassembly
Assembly
Parts Diagrams