FX AIR GUN SMOOTH TWIST BARREL

[richedmonds]

Any one know if the Smooth Twist Barrel has a patent? I like the smooth twist and I figured out how to make it. FX get $200.00 each and I would like to make my own air gun.
I got two barrel from one other supplier from Europe. Again big bucks $. And did not perform as good as the smooth Twist design.

 

[Alan]

The only worry you'd have is reselling what you make. Otherwise, have at it.

 

[richedmonds]

If I make the tooling, I would like to offer the barrel to other air gunners who build or tinker with there guns

 

[T3PRanch]

Offering it to others would likely be patent infringement. I am not sure FX owns the patent though because there have been other barrel patents in the past that employ a smooth and a rifled section. FX is unique in applying this to airguns though. FX refers to it as a proprietary process. Do a search on Google Patents. There is some interesting stuff there. 

Thurmond 

 

[BRS]

The term 'Smooth Twist' is part of the Patent that FX own, along with the system of making these barrels.
I would say you are quite free to attempt to make similar barrels* but you are not free to sell them as 'Smooth Twist' / 'SmoothTwist' or any other close variation of those words.


*FX bought the rights to Smooth Twist from Ben Taylor (Theoben) some years ago and spent many years (Blood, Sweat & Tears!) perfecting the system - do not assume it's an easy process. Getting it right involves sourcing VERY high quality tubing BTW, (Tolerances, ID, OD etc.)

 

[Jonnes]

If you make one for personal use, don't worry about patents. But as soon as you start selling them commercially, be sure you have a good lawyer and enough money to pay for the legal expenses and trails. The Smoothtwist principle is patented.