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ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL WEAPON B 132

ENGINEERING INSTRUCTIONS Issue 1, Sep 01

PISTOL, 9 MM, SEMI-AUTOMATIC, MK3

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION

This instruction is authorised for use by command of the Chief of Army. It provides direction, mandatory
controls and procedures for the operation, maintenance and support of equipment. Personnel are to carry out any
action required by this instruction in accordance with EMEI General A 001.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page No Page No

IINTRODUCTION 2 ACTION OF THE MECHANISM 5

General 2 Action of the Trigger Mechanism 5
DETAILED DESCRIPTION 3 Rearward Action and Mechanical Safety 7
Slide Assembly 3 Forward Action and Mechanical Safety 7
Barrel Assembly 4 Slide Locking Lever (holding open device) 8
UNCONTROLLED WHEN PRINTED

Return Spring Assembly 4 Applied Safety Arrangement 9

Frame Assembly 5 Mechanical Safety 9
Magazine 5

LIST OF FIGURES
Figure No Title Page No Figure No Title Page No

1 Pistol, Semi-Automatic, 9 mm, MK 3 – 5 Frame Assembly 6

Sectionalised View 2 6 Action of the Trigger Mechanism 6
2 Slide Assembly 3 7 Rearward Action and Mechanical Safety 8
3 Barrel Assembly 4 8 Applied Safety Arrangement 10
4 Return Spring Guide 5

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Issue 1, Sep 01 ENGINEERING INSTRUCTIONS

INTRODUCTION 3. The pistol is semi-automatic in operation, with

mechanical and applied safety features incorporated into
1. This EMEI describes the technical system and
its mechanism. It is issued with magazines of 13-round
details of the Pistol, 9 mm, Semi-Automatic, MK3, and
capacity. The weapon is comprised of the following five
the action of its mechanism.
main assemblies:
General
a. slide,
2. The Pistol, 9 mm, Semi-Automatic, MK3, is
b. barrel,
derived from the Belgium Fabrique National (FN) High
Power (HP) Model 1001 Vigilante pistol. The pistol is c. frame,
recoil and spring operated and utilises the tilting barrel
d. return spring assembly, and
principle, where the barrel is positively locked to the
slide at the moment of firing. Recocking and ejection e. magazine.
are effected during the recoil cycle and a holding open
4. A sectionalised view of the pistol is shown in
device retains the slide to the rear when the last round is
Figure 1.
fired from the magazine.
UNCONTROLLED WHEN PRINTED

Figure 1 – Pistol, Semi-Automatic, 9 mm, MK3 – Sectionalised View

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION 10. On the rear left side, two identical recesses are
provided to accommodate the small projection on the
Slide Assembly (Figure 2)
safety catch. The rear recess permits the safety catch to
5. Machined from a solid billet, the slide is ‘U’ be applied when the weapon is in the cocked or half
shaped and is internally relieved to accommodate the cocked positions, while the front recess is provided to
barrel. A dovetail foresight is pressed into the slide, as hold the slide to the rear to facilitate stripping.
shown in Figure 2.
11. The breech piece, which is an integral part of
6. Directly below the front barrel bearing, which the slide, is longitudinally bored to accept the firing pin
is pressed in and brazed (Figure 3), a projection is and spring. The underside of the breech piece is slotted
longitudinally bored to accommodate the return spring on both sides to accommodate the sear lever on the right
assembly. Grooves are also provided at the top of the side and provide an operating clearance for the ejector
projection to accept the inward facing guide ribs at the on the left. A roll pin assembled through the right side
front of the frame. of the slide retains the sear lever, and a hole bored
directly opposite provides access for removal.
7. At approximately the mid point on the inner
radiused surface of the slide are locking recesses, which 12. Recesses machined at the rear permit assembly
interface with the locking lugs on the barrel; these of the firing pin retaining plate. Serrations milled on
provide positive locking of the barrel to the slide during both sides provide a grip for cocking the weapon.
firing.
13. The guideways machined on the bottom inside
UNCONTROLLED WHEN PRINTED

8. On the right side, rearward of the locking surface operate on the guide ribs on the frame. These
recesses, an opening is provided for cartridge ejection. hold the two assemblies together, while allowing the
A spring-loaded extractor is held in place by a vertical slide to move along the frame during the reloading
roll pin. cycle.
9. Located on the left side, opposite the ejection 14. A dovetail on the top radiused surface
opening, a recess is machined to accept the projection at accommodates the rear sight, which is pressed into the
the rear of the locking lever, which provides a holding slide. The sights are set at manufacture and are not to be
open device. adjusted.

Figure 2 – Slide Assembly

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Barrel Assembly (Figure 3) absorbs recoil energy during the rearward movement of
the slide and returns the slide to the locked position.
15. Manufactured from steel, the barrel is of a two-
piece construction, comprising the main barrel section 22. The return spring is a wire-wound compression
with an irregular shaped cam projection brazed to the spring of 9.3 mm outside diameter, 105-115 mm free
reduced diameter at the rear of the barrel. length, with 32 active coils. One end is reduced in
diameter to positively locate on the return spring guide.
16. The 9 mm bore has a rifling form of six
grooves, 0.25 mm deep, with a uniform right-hand twist 23. Manufactured from steel, the return spring
of one complete turn in 250 mm. A chamber is guide (Figure 4) is machined as a hollow cylinder with a
machined at the rear of the barrel to accommodate the collar and an irregular shaped transverse block at the
cartridge case. rear end. The cylinder houses a coil spring and two ball
bearings. The rear ball bearing protrudes into the slide
17. The cam projection is shaped to operate on the
locking lever hole and acts in a recess in the lever
locking piece in the frame to lock and unlock the barrel
holding the lever in its normal position.
to the slide.
24. An empty magazine will raise the slide-locking
18. The rear of the cam projection is formed to
lever to the hold open position, by depressing the rear
guide the cartridge to the chamber and the front is
ball bearing in the return spring guide. The front ball
radiused and slotted to accept the return spring guide.
bearing, held captive by crimping, anchors the spring
19. On the right underside of the cam projection, within the cylinder.
UNCONTROLLED WHEN PRINTED

adjacent to the chamber, a small flat and an inclined

25. The collar at the rear of the cylinder provides a
face are machined to provide clearance to the tripping
seat for the return spring and mounts on stop faces in
lever.
the frame to align the locking lever hole with
20. A machined recess on the right-hand side of the corresponding holes in the frame.
barrel serves as an indicator for cartridge inspection.
26. The transverse block mates with a mounting
This enables a person to determine if there is a cartridge
groove on the cam projection on the barrel and a
in the chamber when the slide is fully forward.
concave surface on the underside provides clearance for
Return Spring Assembly (Figure 4) the step face in the frame.
21. Comprising of two components, the return
spring and return spring guide (Figure 4), the assembly

STOP FACE IN SLIDE LOCKING PIECE LOCKING LEVER SPRING

FRONT BARREL BEARING

RETURN SPRING

LOCKING LUGS
TRIGGER

BRAZING LINES

CARTRIDGE
GUIDE
RETURN SPRING
GUIDE SEATING

CAM
PROJECTION

Figure 3 – Barrel Assembly

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Locking Lever
Crimping Spring Collar Hole

Ball Hollow Locking Lever Transverse

Bearing Cylinder Operating Ball Block
Bearing

Figure 4 – Return Spring Guide

Frame Assembly (Figure 5) ribs is chamfered to assist in chambering all natures of
ammunition.
27. The frame is manufactured using an investment
casting process. The frame houses the magazine, the 34. At approximately the mid point of the frame is
sear spring and the hammer link assembly, which is the transverse-mounted locking piece, which is press
spring actuated. A lanyard loop is fitted at the bottom fitted and riveted. It interfaces with the cam projection
UNCONTROLLED WHEN PRINTED

left side of the butt. The plastic handgrips are screwed on the barrel, providing barrel to slide locking and
to the butt. unlocking.
28. The top of the frame is recessed to accept the 35. To the rear of the locking piece, a recess is
hammer, the sear and the ejector. The sear is pivoted on machined on the right-hand inside surface of the frame
an axis pin. The hammer and ejector are positioned on for the tripping lever.
the stem of the safety catch, which is fitted transversely
36. Forward of the locking piece, a transverse hole
in the frame through two dissimilar diameter holes. The
is drilled for the stem of the slide locking lever and a
hammer is free to rotate on the stem of the safety catch.
semi-circular recess is machined at the top left-hand
The ejector is retained in the upright position by the sear
side of the butt section to accommodate the hold open
pin acting through a hole drilled at the front of the
projection at the rear of the slide locking lever.
ejector.
Magazine
29. An elongated slot at the top left side of the
frame permits the safety catch to rotate to the ‘SAFE’ 37. The magazine is of box-type construction with
and ‘FIRE’ positions. The safety catch is retained in a 13-round capacity. A slot is machined on the right-
each position by a spring-loaded plunger acting in hand front of the case to accept the magazine catch in
recesses machined into the frame. the frame to retain the magazine in position.
30. Located close to the trigger guard, which is an 38. The plastic platform is activated by an elliptical
integral part of the frame, a spring-actuated magazine coil spring and a pressed steel bottom plate retainer is
catch operates in a recess in the hollow of the butt. The crimped to the lower coil of the spring.
magazine catch is secured in the frame by a projection
39. The bottom plate, shaped to blend with the
formed on the retaining pin stem, locating it in a recess
case, is turned on its edges to form channels, which
in the frame.
engage flanges on the bottom of the case.
31. Forward of the hollow butt section, a
40. A hole drilled centrally in the bottom plate
longitudinal slot is machined to accommodate the
engages the raised detent on the bottom plate retainer
trigger assembly. The trigger is free to rotate on a
and serves to anchor all components in the assembled
precision-made parallel steel pin. The two trigger pin
position.
mounting holes are different in size with the larger
diameter hole being on the left-hand side of the frame. ACTION OF THE MECHANISM
32. The front of the frame is ‘U’ shaped to accept Action of the Trigger Mechanism (Figure 6)
the return spring assembly and the forward end of the
41. Trigger Pressed (Figure 6A). With the pistol
slide. Inward facing guide ribs are machined at the top
loaded and cocked, pressure on the trigger rotates it on
of the ‘U’, which act in guideways in the slide and serve
its axis, tensioning the trigger spring.
to control the front of the slide during recoil.
42. The tripping lever, attached to the rear of the
33. Guide ribs, machined on top of the frame,
trigger, is carried upward into engagement with the
operate in guideways on the slide, providing slide
forward end of the sear lever, causing the sear lever to
movement during cyclic operation. The rear of the guide
pivot about its axis.

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Issue 1, Sep 01 ENGINEERING INSTRUCTIONS

TRIPPING LEVER PLUNGER

SLIDE LOCKING LEVER CENTRE GUIDE LOCKING PIECE
HAMMER
SEAR
SLIDE LOCKING
LEVER STEM
REAR
GUIDE SLIDE STOP

TRIPPING LEVER
STEM OF
TRIGGER
SAFETY
CATCH MAGAZINE CATCH

SEAR SPRING
BUTT
TRIPING LEVER
HAMMER LINK
ASSEMBLY EJECTOR

TRIGGER GUARD
UNCONTROLLED WHEN PRINTED

MAGAZINE PISTOL
HOUSING GRIP
LANYARD
LOOP SAFETY
CATCH

Figure 5 – Frame Assembly

HAMMER
BENT
HAMMER SEAR SEAR LEVER
TRIPPING LEVER
A

TRIGGER SPRING

HAMMER LINK
TRIGGER

SEAR SPRING
PLUNGER
TRIPPING
TRIGGER LEVER
PRESSED

TRIGGER
TRIGGER
PRESSURE
RELEASED
MAINTAINED

Figure 6 – Action of the Trigger Mechanism

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43. The rear of the sear lever contacts the top front hammer moves clear of the base of the firing pin and the
of the sear, forcing the sear to rotate on its axis, loading firing-pin spring further re-asserts itself forcing the
the sear spring and disengaging the nose of the sear firing pin rearward through its retaining plate.
from the hammer bent.
54. As the rearward action commences, the sear
44. The hammer link spring forces the hammer to lever disengages from the sear, allowing the sear to
rotate on its axis until the hammer strikes the base of the rotate to the cocked position under the influence of its
firing pin. spring.
45. The hammer drives the firing pin forward, 55. The return spring guide that is held captive by
compressing the firing pin spring and forces the point of the locking lever disengages from the cam projection on
the firing pin through the firing pin hole in the breech the barrel. The stem of the locking lever, being
face to strike the primer cap in the cartridge and fire the positioned in the frame, provides an anchor for the
charge. compressing return spring.
46. Trigger Pressure Maintained (Figure 6B). As 56. After 5 mm of rearward movement, the
the slide recoils, the sear lever moves clear of the unlocking cam on the cam projection contacts with the
tripping lever. Pressure on the trigger causes the locking piece in the frame, forcing the barrel downward,
tripping lever to rise slightly into the path of the sear disengaging the locking lugs from the slide locking
lever. recesses. The return spring guide rides up the front face
of the cam projection, while the locking piece in the
47. On the forward movement of the slide, the front
UNCONTROLLED WHEN PRINTED

frame moves against the rear stop face, terminating

of the sear lever contacts the top of the tripping lever
rearward movement of the barrel.
forcing it forward. The mechanism remains in this
condition while pressure is maintained on the trigger. 57. The slide continues to travel independently for
the remainder of the rearward action, further rotating the
48. Trigger Released (Figure 6C). When pressure
hammer to the over-cocked position, where it is held in
is released from the trigger, the trigger spring re-asserts
rubbing contact with the underside of the breech piece.
itself, rotating the trigger to its ‘at rest’ position. The
tripping lever rides down the front of the sear lever to be 58. When recoil energy is almost completely
positioned directly under the sear lever by the action of absorbed by the return spring, the stop faces of the slide
the trigger spring operating on the tripping lever cam. and frame contact, arresting the rearward movement of
the slide.
49. The trigger mechanism is now positioned ready
to fire the next round. 59. During the rearward action, the claw of the
extractor grips the cannelure of the spent case,
Rearward Action and Mechanical Safety (Figure 7)
withdrawing it from the chamber. The base of the spent
50. When the pistol is ready to fire, the barrel case hits the fixed ejector and is thrown clear of the
locking lugs are held in position in the slide locking pistol through the ejection opening on the right-hand
recesses by the locking piece in the frame acting on the side of the slide.
locking face of the barrel cam projection.
Forward Action and Mechanical Safety (Figure 7)
51. After the primer cap is struck by the firing pin,
60. The forward action of the slide is activated by
firing the charge, the firing pin spring immediately re-
the compressed return spring re-asserting itself.
asserts itself, withdrawing the firing pin behind the
breech face. The propellent gases force the projectile 61. At the start of the forward action, the barrel is
out of the bore and the corresponding reaction force anchored against forward movement by the front of the
causes the barrel and slide to recoil onto the frame. This cam projection bearing on the rear of the return spring
action compresses the return spring throughout the guide, which is held captive by the slide locking lever.
rearward motion. The inner radiused surface in the slide bearing on the
top rear of the barrel also serves to prevent any upward
52. Mechanical Safety. For the first 5 mm of
movement of the barrel.
rearward movement, the barrel and slide stay locked
together and the breech remains sealed. During this 62. As the slide moves forward, the front lower
initial movement, the projectile leaves the bore and the edge of the breech face contacts the base of the top
gas pressure drops to a safe level before unlocking of round in the magazine, driving the round forward clear
the breech takes place. of the magazine lips. The nose of the round rides up the
cartridge guide into the chamber, while its base, moving
53. As the rearward action commences, the curved
up the breech face, is gripped by the claw of the spring
base of the firing-pin retaining plate rotates the hammer
loaded extractor.
on its axis compressing the hammer link spring. The

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UNLOCKED LOCKING
RECESSES SLIDE

FORWARD STOP FACE

REAR STOP FACE

LOCKING FACE

LOCKING PIECE
IN FRAME
BARREL RETURN RETURN SPRING LOCKING LEVER
SPRING STEM
GUIDE

LOCKING
LOCKED LUGS
UNCONTROLLED WHEN PRINTED

CAM PROJECTION

LOCKING CAM

UNLOCKING CAM

Figure 7 – Rearward Action and Mechanical Safety

63. The underside of the breech piece overrides the closing of the breech with the trigger pulled (ie fully
hammer allowing the hammer to rotate slightly on its automatic fire). The sear lever and sear do not make
axis under the influence of the hammer link spring. The contact with each other except in the last 5 mm of
nose of the sear engages the full bent of the hammer travel; until this happens, the pistol cannot be fired.
retaining the hammer in the cocked position.
66. Forward movement is arrested when the
64. Continued forward movement aligns the forward stop face of the cam projection contacts the
locking recesses in the slide with the locking lugs on the stem of the slide-locking lever.
barrel. The stop face in the slide contacts the rear of the
Slide Locking Lever (holding open device)
barrel, forcing the locking cam on the cam projection
against the locking piece in the frame. This action drives 67. When the last round from the magazine has
the barrel forward and upward into engagement with the been fed and fired, the slide recoils on the frame
locking recesses in the slide. In the locked position, the carrying out the rearward action, as described in
primer cap is aligned with the firing pin. The barrel and Paragraphs 50 to 59.
slide travel forward locked together for the remainder of
68. During the rearward action, the magazine
the forward action. The locking lugs are held in positive
platform rises under the influence of its compressed
engagement and the breech is closed by the action of the
spring, exerting upward pressure on the projection at the
locking face on the cam projection overriding and
rear of the slide-locking lever.
bearing surface on the top of the locking cam.
69. Toward the end of the rearward action, the
65. Mechanical Safety. The barrel and slide stay
recess on the left of the slide lines up with the rear of
locked together and the breech remains sealed for the 5
the locking lever, permitting the locking lever to rotate
mm of forward movement, during which, the front of
on its axis. The detent on the stem of the locking lever
the sear lever contacts the top rear of the tripping lever
partially disengages from the spring-loaded locking
forcing it forward. The trigger is only operative when
lever ball in the return spring guide (see Figure 4),
pressure is released from the trigger allowing the
slightly compressing the guide spring. The rear of the
tripping lever to be positioned, as described in
locking lever moves up into engagement with its recess
Paragraph 48. This ensures the round will not fire on

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in the slide under the influence of the magazine 78. The projection on the thumbpiece engages the
platform and spring. recess on the left-hand side of the slide, securely locking
the slide in the forward position. Accidental rearward
70. As the slide moves forward at the start of the
pressure on the slide will force the inclined faces in the
forward action, as described in Paragraphs 60 to 66, the
slide recess and on the safety catch into harder contact.
projection of the locking lever engages in the recess in
This action will cause the safety to try to rotate upward
the slide and arrests forward movement of the slide,
into deeper engagement, with its recess providing a
with the breech piece positioned just to the rear of the
more positive resistance to rearward movement.
magazine.
79. The projection on the safety catch engages
71. The slide can be released by applying
under the left-hand side of the sear, preventing
downward pressure to the thumb piece at the rear of the
rotational movement of the sear; thereby preventing the
locking lever.
sear from disengaging from the hammer bent should
72. Alternatively, the slide can be released by pressure be applied to the trigger.
removing the empty magazine, pulling the slide slightly
Mechanical Safety
rearward to release the locking lever and allowing the
slide to travel forward under the influence of the return 80. Some of the mechanical safety features are
spring. During this action, the locking lever spring re- described in Paragraphs 50 to 66. Additional safety
asserts itself forcing the ball bearing in the return spring features are as follows:
guide (see Figure 4) into its detent on the stem of the
a. The firing pin is shorter than its housing and
UNCONTROLLED WHEN PRINTED

locking lever, rotating the lever out of engagement with

is spring loaded rearward. It can only
the recess in the slide.
protrude through the breech face to hit the
73. When an empty magazine is removed and primer if struck a full blow by the hammer.
upward pressure is released from the locking lever, the
b. If the slide is not fully forward and in the
slide remains locked to the rear, due to forward pressure
event of premature hammer release,
exerted on the slide and locking lever by the re-asserting
however caused, the firing pin retaining
return spring.
plate cushions the hammer movement
74. When a loaded magazine is fitted, the slide can resulting in a diminished blow, which is
be released from the locking lever by either of the insufficient to fire the cartridge.
methods described in Paragraphs 71 and 72.
c. If the pistol is carried with a live round in
75. Should the action of the slide spring fail, the chamber and with the hammer fully
drawing the slide to the rear will bring the cam face at forward, a blow to the rear of the hammer
the front of the slide recess into contact with the cam will not transmit sufficient impetus to the
face of the thumbpiece of the slide locking lever. firing pin to fire the round.
Forcing the latter out of engagement with the slide
d. An undercut half bent situated on the
recess permits forward travel of the slide.
hammer hub is provided to engage the sear
NOTE and prevent firing pin protrusion should the
full bent on the hammer fail for any reason.
The hammer remains in the cocked position
regardless of the methods used for releasing the e. The pistol can only be fired with a magazine
slide-locking lever. fitted. This prevents accidental discharge of
a round in the chamber when the magazine
Applied Safety Arrangement (Figure 8)
is removed because the tripping lever
76. The safety catch can only be applied when the plunger becomes inoperative and the
slide is forward and the hammer is cocked or half tripping lever moves out of alignment with
cocked. the sear lever. Pressure applied to the trigger
with the pistol in this condition will fail to
77. When the safety catch is moved from the
operate the trigger mechanism.
‘FIRE’ to the ‘SAFE’ position, the spring-loaded
retaining detent rides from the lower to the upper recess f. If the slide is not fully forward, for any
in the frame, where it retains the catch in the ‘SAFE’ reason, the sear lever and tripping lever are
position. not aligned in their respective operating
positions rendering the trigger mechanism
inoperative.

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THUMBPIECE
PROJECTION

PLUNGER SEAR
& SPRING

NIB
UNCONTROLLED WHEN PRINTED

SAFETY CATCH ‘ON’ SAFETY CATCH ‘OFF’

Figure 8 – Applied Safety Arrangement

END
List WPN B 02.0 - Code 2 (DMO Job No 100259)

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