'Clone' question

[BlackGold]

Being new to handgunning I hear the word "clone" alot, 1911 clone, etc.
My questions are:

Certain pistols have been cloned more than others, how does this work on the patent issues, if any?

Are these pistols soo good that they are cloned by other companies? Any why?

Would Taurus models be S&W clones, or how does that work?

 

[WillBrayJr]

When a patent expires, other manufacturers can legally build the same gun with their name at a lower price. Alot of 1911A1s are clones. Some of them like Springfield's GI is a clone of Colt at half the price and twice the quality.
Since the patent has ran out on Browning's Hi-Power, it can now be copied and has been by Charles Daly.

No manfacturer copies another manfacturer's line.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Being new to handgunning I hear the word "clone" alot, 1911 clone, etc.
My questions are:

Certain pistols have been cloned more than others, how does this work on the patent issues, if any?

The patents on the M1911 have long since expired. In addition, some companies have licenses to "clone" certain designs (an example is Taurus, which holds rights to produce Beretta designs as a result of a prior business arrangement with Beretta.)

Taurus and some other companies produce other clones -- such as the M1892 Winchester, Colt and Remington cap-and-ball revolvers, and so on.

Are these pistols soo good that they are cloned by other companies? Any why?

Yes -- there is no reason to clone a gun that no one will buy. The Colt M1911 is the ultimate example -- it was "cloned" by Springfield (the US Armory) and by many private companies under contract to the government during wartime.

Today, it is so popular that several companies make a nice profit by selling all they can make.

Would Taurus models be S&W clones, or how does that work?

Taurus models are not S&W clones. They may look like S&Ws, but they have different lockwork.

 

[f4t9r]

When a patent expires, other manufacturers can legally build the same gun with their name at a lower price. Alot of 1911A1s are clones. Some of them like Springfield's GI is a clone of Colt at half the price and twice the quality.

since you have one opinion , I felt led to give mine , which means nothing to anybody else.
yes lots of 1911 clones. springfield GI is not twice the quality as a colt !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Keaner]

Anyone else find it ironic that a post with the title 'clone' was a double-tap?

Ah, its the little things in life!

Anyway: Just like all things, when a patent runs out, the weapon can be remade by anyone. That is why there are dozens of 1911 manufacturers, and why similar gas systems can be used in different rifles.

BTW: For the 1911, I believe that the US Military requires that you put the patent to the weapon in public domain in order to be accepted as a military weapon. This would explain why the ar-15 is so commonly available.

 

[f4t9r]

Anyone else find it ironic that a post with the title 'clone' was a double-tap?

Ah, its the little things in life!

Thats a good point LOL !!!!!!!!!!

 

[jason10mm]

I would offer up some additional vocabulary on this issue.

Clone: faithful reproduction made with permission, accurately reproduced to the point where parts interchange. E.g. War-time 1911s made by Springer, etc.

Copy: An attempt to reverse engineer or "improve" something, not always understanding the hows and whys of things. Quality control varies from decent to atrocious. E.g. BHP and the Arcus 94.

Replica: Cosmetically similar, but internally different. Could be non-functioning or altered to add safeties/work around patents. Important thing is that it LOOKS similar. E.g. some of those cowboy guns that look like a Peacemaker, but have totally different lockwork.

 

[mrmeval]

Yea, IIRC Norinco was twice the quality of Springfield until they got their metal problems fixed.

since you have one opinion , I felt led to give mine , which means nothing to anybody else.
yes lots of 1911 clones. springfield GI is not twice the quality as a colt !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Trebor]

BTW: For the 1911, I believe that the US Military requires that you put the patent to the weapon in public domain in order to be accepted as a military weapon. This would explain why the ar-15 is so commonly available.

Nope, that's not it. The government does not require that patents be placed in public domain. They may be the rights to license out the design to other manufacturers, if the contractor agrees in the contract, but otherwise the patent holder holds the patent. In fact, Colt has the exclusive contract to supply the M4 to the govt. Colt actually sued the government several years back when the government released the technical details of the M4 to other manufacturs as part of RFP when the government tried to add other manufactuers to the M4 contract. Colt won, btw.

The AR 15 is over 40 years old now. The basic patents have expired. That's why you see so many AR clones now. Colt recently filed lawsuits against some of the other manufacturers over the M4 htough.

 

[Keaner]

Ah, thanks Trebor, I did not know that!