Silencer/LDC

[Doc]

Just wondering if anyone has any insight as to how many LDC's are sold in the aftermarket? I was wanting to patent and produce my silencer design but is it worth the time and cost of a utility patent? Yes it is unique and never been done before. It can be made to fit and work with almost all air rifles and it works best on shrouded guns but can be vented to a hollowed out section of the stock with some sound absorbing material. I was thinking about targeting the Marauders and Airforce brand.

[iride]

Do not forget the Cricket guys, I am running PVC LDC that slips over the stock shroud, Pretty cheap but it works very good,,,,
I think on the LDC front you can make some very cheap ones and sell a ton of them, Or build a very expensive one and sell a few of them....
Just my two cents,
I run LDCs on my 25 Marauder and on both my crickets,
Quite = stealth and you need that in an air gun...
I think anyway....
Mike

[Doc]

The beauty of this LDC is that it is very compact and you can make it as long or short as you want. It is a can less style. Picture shows it three chambers long but it can be as many or few chambers as you like. Whats inside the chambers is what makes it a patent idea but not sure its worth the cost of the patent.

[Masked Marauder]

Is it worth it to pursue a utility patent? A multiple part question and not easily answered.

Answer this question before you consider applying for a patent.

1. Have you done a prior art search in the US Patent and Trademark Office?
Cost approximately: $1000.00

What you may consider novel (new) may have been granted utility patent status a hundred years ago.

Masked Marauder

[Doc]

Yes I have already had the search done by a patent lawyer. Cost 450.00. I just dont know if the volume of sales would justify a patent.

[SHOOTINIT]

not a road you want to go down unless you have your ffl.

[Doc]

Its not a problem as long as it doesnt readily fit a firearm. Many companies making them for air rifles. You would need a manufacturing license and could only ship to FFL dealers if you were making them for firearms.

[Barnydaddy]

xxx

[AlanMcD]

Doc,

I am one in the camp that gets nervous about making these. I'm not trying to be a naysayer, but once you sell these to others and they do something stupid with them, you put yourself at risk for what I will call "overzealous law enforcement" that go looking for others to persecute. Yes, you will be in the right, but it does not mean that there is no risk of you having to spend a boatload of cash on lawyers defending yourself - it may be a small risk, but it is still there.

As an alternative, if this idea is a genuine breakthrough, have you considered the value of obtaining the patent and selling the rights or licenses to use it? While that would potentially limit your upside some from making and selling them, it would turn it into more of a passive income source (no manufacturing business) with zero risk of the law enforcement folks ever knocking on your door. And while patenet enforcement is always a task for you when you hold them (gotta stop the cheats), you have "partners" helping you do so via the licensees that don't want those cheats out there either as they loose their exclusiveity on selling your better mouse trap.

Only you know what is in there right now, and what the comparable manufacturing costs might be on these and thus the potential business value to a licensee. But that would drive the value that way.

Just a thought . . . .

[RayK]

Seems tons of people are making something to add:

Neil Clague
TKO 22
Tim McMurray (Mac1)
Citrus Airguns
And here is a whole list of people making/selling them
http://www.airgunartisans.com/AAMuzzlebreakMain.htm


I'd like to get one of yours because it sounds like it might be better. More quiet is always better for me.

Ray