Rick Jamison used to write and he may have been editor for Handloader and then he wrote the reloading column for Shooting Times for quite awhile. He is very knowledgeable about shooting, reloading and wildcatting. Rick designed a type of short cartridge and a patent was granted. USRA Winchester felt his patent didn’t apply as there were various short cartridges prior to this. Rick won the lawsuit and USRA was “upset.” Many in the industry felt Rick did something wrong but the truth is, he had a patent and Winchester lnew it. Winchester paid a Royalty. Not aware of the long term settlement, I believe it was”secret” but he may still be getting a royalty on the ammunition - -or it may have been a one time settlement.

I am looking for a link to a thread with a little more specific information.

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slim

Rick didn't win the lawsuit, WSRA folded and settled the case for an undisclosed amount. No jury heard the case!


The patent #5,826,361 as applied to WSM cartridges was clearly invalid, and erroneously issued by a low paid government employee. You can get a copy of this patent on line at Google patents. Interesting reading! see if you think it amounts to anything over the 22 BR Remington, 22 dasher, or the 6mm PP (and a host of others), all before Rick knew which end the primer went into.

Winchester paid millions to get on with selling the new WSM cartridge, which they had invested $$$ into; and by settling they avoided the long term of litigation and the high legal fees (estimated in excess of $2.5 million plus appeal fees).

PS suggest we start another thread if one wants to continue discussion.

I forgot all this as it has been awhile. This is one discussion that will start and argument!

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slim