Method of making a hardened bullet US 5464487 A

KeithB

Resident Half Fast Machinist
Probably some economic reason to do so, although its not clear what that would be. Don't think any of us have to worry about being sued over it.
 

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
It is about the money. But it appears the patentee never sued anyone for doing this, and the patent lapsed in 2004. Reading to the bottom, Bull-X bullets got the patent, then it was used by Blunt, CCI bullets, and then expired.
 

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
They would be pretty hard pressed to sue anyone over a process that has been universally done for over a hundred years. Numerous books and publications on the process pre-dating his "patent" by at least a hundred years. Would be surprising if a legit patent was ever issued. Most likely done and or posted online as a joke.
 

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
People are getting wacky over patents these days.
Amazon applied for a patent on photographing "things on a white background without shadows"
That is BS...... A good photographer figures that out early on in his career because it is a part of his business !
Did that 45 years ago & it is acquired knowledge! now Amazon wants to patent it!
Good luck to them trying to keep folks from doing that with out paying them a royalty
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
All sorts of crazy patents out there. Some guy had patented the car, even though people had
built many cars before his patent. IIRC he collected many, many millions in royalties by very early
car makers (like GM) who were scared to take him on in court. Henry Ford took him on and won,
the patent was BS.

Then again there are us poor fools who patented a real thing, expecting it to keep people
from producing it for profit. Turns out at least one big gunsmith makes a solid side business
of stealing patented gun parts and selling them. Costs way too much to sue, I know of at least two patents
they cheated on, extended middle finger (in a polite letter from their attorney) when notified of
the infringement. The other poor shmoe is another well known custom smith, tried to sue them, but
rapidly ran out of $$. Patents are overrated, esp for modest inventions which don't throw off
enough big bucks to fund a hugely expensive lawsuit to enforce the patent.

Bill
 

KHornet

Well-Known Member
Have always figured that due to lawyer cost, for the average smuck,
patents are far to costly a proposition.

Paul