Submitting gun designs to firearm manufacturers

[Justin]

Unfortunately I don't have the resources for a working model... how ever, I can explain my ideas fairly well... I don't know, lol.

So...

Basically what you're saying is that you want an engineer to create CAD drawings and a physical prototype for free based a verbal description and some freehand sketches?

That isn't going to happen, I'm sorry. At the very least you need to take some CAD classes and learn how to do a proper engineering drawing.

More likely than that, you need to go to school for some form of mechanical engineering.

I'm not trying to crush your dreams, but in the real world you can't just talk about what a great idea you have and expect people to implement it for you, because that will not happen, ever. If your ideas are truly that revolutionary, you're going to need to pull them off yourself.

 

[Wheeler44]

Get a file, a vise, an old piece of bar stock and start working.....Every time you think of your product start filing......When the barstock is reduced to filings, you should have gained the useful skill of hand filing....Now what is it that you can't make?/?/?/

W44..old, crusty, inventor, tinker and all around tin whacker...

 

[Dravur]

Funny....I am going through all this right now with a machine that I have been developing... It's not a gun, but it is kind of a cool idea. But, I shant discuss it on the interweb until I get that Pat Pending on my side..

oh and Autocad will be your friend...

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

I understand... I've got detailed sketches of the inner workings of the gun, more so do I have the sketches done of the outside. All I'm saying is, in theory, they'll be down right reliable. I never said they would be. If you read closer, it says that I "just want to bring the market something new, something cool, really. And dependable beyond measure." I'm telling you what I want to accomplish. I'm not saying my designs can't be beat for reliability, or even that I'm guaranteeing these guns will work without a hiccup. I've designed fail-safes into each gun so that no matter what be-fouls the experience, there's a way to clear the action, and if no serious damage is inflicted, it has the ability to keep shooting. This is all I'm saying.

 

[PLRinmypocket]

Most gun companies that also design their own guns in house will not even listen to your idea unless you have a patent on it, or at least a patent pending.

This is not to protect you...This is to protect the company from being accused of stealing your invention. Since the company designs guns in house, it is possible that they are currently designing the identical, or at least a similar gun to the one you are proposing.

Bottom line, get a patent application pending. You can do it yourself for cheap, though it may not be as good as if you get it done professionally. But at least it lets you shop your idea around with proof of your ownership of the idea.

If your idea is not patentable, like just another chambering of an existing design, then that's another issue, and then you need to sell a working prototype, since the idea has little or no value by itself. If you can't make a working prototype, you need to have some engineering calculation to prove your design will work.

 

[2000Yards]

Patents and all...

Hi LJ,

I'm a patent attorney with more than 10 years of experience. Some reasonable advice or comments I've seen so far in this thread:

Most gun companies that also design their own guns in house will not even listen to your idea ...

This is not to protect you...This is to protect the company from being accused of stealing your invention. Since the company designs guns in house, it is possible that they are currently designing the identical, or at least a similar gun to the one you are proposing.

Patents are expensive and take time that might be better spent getting your product ready to market.

Most of what Fish Miner said, especially:

PS AND NEVER NEVER NEVER - EVER- go to one of those late night invent now websites or call here for $$$ on your invention. They are a scam and are not to be trusted. Really Never ever go there. bad news....

I don't know the facts of your situation, so I'll speak in generalities. Nothing I'm saying should be construed as legal advice because I'm not your attorney and I really can't represent you.

A patent may or may not be right for you, but the unfortunate truth is that pursuing, protecting and enforcing intellectual property rights is expensive. Heck, let's just expand that to developing any good idea, whether it's a business, a community benefit program, a school, or a new rifle design, it doesn't matter. You will need money, either your money or that of another.

If you're serious about your idea, I strongly recommend you not attempt patenting it yourself. I've worked with many, many individuals who, after filing their patent applications, brought them to me after spending a few years wrangling with the Patent Office. In every case I can recall, either all their rights had been lost (primarily due to their lack of understanding of the laws or rules), or the patent they were issued was so narrow as to be effectively worthless (this happens quite often). All of these people are bright (Ph.Ds, rocket scientists, electrical or software design engineers, etc.), and they all read the Nolo press book on patenting, every other patent book they could lay their hands on, as well as dozens of what they thought were good working, issued patents. Patent law is not difficult to understand, however it is complex and constantly changing. Enough on that.

As some others have pointed out, you will need either design specs written up (perhaps you can do this yourself), you may need a patent (and will need some type of IP protection) to protect the idea while you secure a partner to either further develop it or one who will provide financing, and you may need a prototype or a model or some kind.

Sorry, have to run now. I had more to say but time for me has run out. PM me if you have questions.

2KYDS