Patents and rights to design ARs

[User702]

Even the commercial/sporting sector is getting in on the short stroke piston. Remington make the SR556 series that uses a gas piston in preference to DI.

[DL.]

As you said Mark, there's nothing new. The concept of piston driven AR's, the mating of Stoner's rotary locking bolt with a short stroke gas piston, was done in the late 60's early 70's. Remember the AR180/18, known then as the "poor man's M16"? Well that's exactly what it was, a piston driven AR. Even our very much maligned SA80 is a variation on that theme....

There's a lot of talk on the origins of rifles in this rather long thread-

http://www.arrse.co.uk/community/thread ... re.201163/

[HALODIN]

Aren't things like picatinny rails licensed from ARMS?

[snayperskaya]

The concept of piston driven AR's, the mating of Stoner's rotary locking bolt with a short stroke gas piston, was done in the late 60's early 70's.

On the other side the Russians were using short-stroke gas systems in 1938 with the SVT-38, then the SVT-40 and 1943 with the SKS, albeit with a tilting bolt.The Dragunov mated a short-stoke gas system with a rotary locking bolt in 1963.One thing to note is the Dragunov gas system shouldn't be confused with an AK system as the AK is a long-stroke with the gas piston attached to the bolt carrier.

[Blackstuff]

Aren't things like picatinny rails licensed from ARMS?

No, 1001 companies make them. And thankfully too, if ARMS owned them they'd cost twice as much as they do!

[HALODIN]

Are you sure? Perhaps they already cost twice as much as they could... In other industries, when someone invents a standard it's licensed.

[Demonic69]

Specific innovations would be but then patents expire. What is inventive about the AR-15 and even was it registered? Trademarks etc can last longer but you have to show specific and original design aspects.

I don't read my own signature!

[Blackstuff]

Are you sure? Perhaps they already cost twice as much as they could... In other industries, when someone invents a standard it's licensed.

Some info here but obviously the warnings about believing whats written on the internet come into play;

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/ar ... 18737.html

[HALODIN]

Thanks for the info, I'll digest it later when I have a bit more time.

Cheers!