Who invented the pointing die?
Curt:
Yep, this is how the developer of of the Hoover die (not the marketing entity) trys to get around the patent -- he can't. There are several ways to make the meplat closing portion of the die. Ferris is the ONLY one who has done it with a hobin (spelling) technique. MANY have tried to just machine a pointing cone. You need to look at the patents as they will tell you a lot about the development of the die.
Last year I received some information that Speedy made at least one pointing die many years ago. Speedy was and is a very inovative and great smith, so I have no reason to doubt what I heard. On the other hand, I can't confirm or deny that he ever made the die.
Like so many ideas, they are not usually original by the time they reach the patent stage. It may be "origional" to the person seeking the patent -- to the extent that he knew of no others and pays the big bucks for the patent search and process to confirm that.
If someone invented the die before Ferris Pindell, then it sure was not known to Ferris or myself. Nor was it revealed by a patent search. All I ever wanted to do was recapture the lost BC from the meplat trim. I would have been happy to purchase a die from someone rather than spend thousands of dollars to get it done.
Just as a little added info: Shortly after the success of the the Pindell die was known, MANY people tried to get a patent. Bubba had the finances, and Ferris had the direction to jump on it before they were scooped. Good for them.
Why did so many people want the patent? To sell dies to the public? NO, that community is too small. To sell pointed bullets? NO, anyone purchasing a meplat closing die could do that for themselves. Think about it. You can easily figure out who comprises THE BIG MARKET TARGET FOR THE MEPLAT CLOSING DIE. That would be the commercial bullet makers and . . . Uncle Sam.
I can't tell you the number of times that the wife has looked at me at the end of the month and asked "please tell me again why YOU did not seek the patent?" I just smile and pay the bills as best I can.
Jim
P.S. to readers: On information and belief, curt264 is the "developer" of the Hoover die. If I am wrong, I stand to be corrected.