Monson, MA –-(Ammoland.com)- Polymer Injection Molding announced today that the US Patent Office has awarded it U.S. Patent 68,062,736 for overmolding gunstocks coated with a decorative or protective substrate.
Overmolding typically is used to enhance synthetic stocks by molding a soft, rubberlike material to areas of a gunstock that are gripped (forend and pistol grip) by shooters. Overmolding also is used to decorate stocks with contrasting colors and textures.
Overmolded gunstocks are a staple of the higher-end, value-added, synthetic gunstock market. They add value in both form (contrasting materials and color) and function (improved gripping capability). Typically, overmolding material is applied directly to a synthetic stock surface. Applying overmolding to a decorated gunstock (camo, wood grain, etc.) has proven to be extremely difficult and costly and has not been practiced widely. As a result, the value-added, overmolded stock market has been dominated by black, grey, tan or other basic, out-of-the-mold colors.
Polymer’s patented technology changes all that. Overmolding can be applied readily over camo-dipped stocks to produce the ultimate value-added synthetic stock.
According to Polymer Injection Molding President, Jim Ryan, “We’ve been overmolding plastic parts for years. Razor, toothbrush, pen and screwdriver companies all use it to add value. It was a natural for gun manufacturers to get into adding value through overmolding. We did our first overmolded stock for a gun manufacturer over ten years ago. It wasn’t long before everybody wanted to camo and overmold the same stock. That proved to be easier said than done. Masking the overmolded part makes a horrible mess and overmolding directly over camo (without our process) has big adhesion problems. We experimented for a long time before coming up with a process that worked. We overmold over camo day-in and day-out without any problem. It looks great and holds up as well as direct overmolding applications”.
Craig Dougherty, Polymer’s Director of Marketing echoed Ryan’s comments. “The ultimate added value is to decorate with camo and overmold the grip areas with a complementary color. We’ve done a lot of basic black over camo but overmolded tan, grey and green grips really punch it up. Now that our technology is protected, we expect to be doing more variations for our valued customers”.
Polymer is no stranger to adding value to molded gunstocks. It is licensed to apply camo through a dip process and its proprietary ArmorSoft satin protective finish is revolutionizing the non-decorated synthetic stock market. In addition, its breakthroughs in recoil-pad materials and designs are allowing gun companies to enhance perceived value of their products.
As Ryan states “We are not content to simply be molders. We are innovators. Our mission is to save our customers money and valuable time by molding and finishing stocks in as little time as possible. Our industry leading “Mold it, Dip it and Ship it” program is proof positive of how increased efficiencies on our part mean increased profits for our gun company partners”.
In addition to producing gunstocks, recoil pads and other gun components, Polymer Injection Molding produces a range of high quality parts for the defense industry.
About Polymer Injection Molding:
Located in Monson MA, Polymer Injection Molding (a.k.a. “Gun Valley Molders) is a Division of Polymer Corporation of Rockland MA. Polymer Corporation specializes in molding, casting and machining precision plastic parts for a variety of industries with demanding applications.
For more information, contact Polymer Injection Molding President, Jim Ryan, at (413) 267-5524 or visit the Polymer website at www.gunvalleymolders.com.
