Over the years, I have "come up" with a number of ideas that seemed like a great idea at the time (but of course did not follow through on a patent...not even sure if I could on some of them)...only to have one company or another come out with basically that item...(now why didn't I file that patent)...

One of the last ones was an idea for a new style of muzzleloader...I was looking at my vintage 1863 (actually a 1874 production) and thinking about how it could be converted to a muzzleloader...easy enough to do since the 45-70 is basically a straight case...but since the Springfield is a trapdoor you could not mount a scope...THAT IS NO GOOD...

So what about a Farqahrson falling block design (like a Ruger No 1 in .45-70). Thread the chamber to accept a breach plug and you have a sealed system using 209 primers with an elegant 45 cal barrel that will easily withstand any reasonable (and being a Ruger probably most unreasonable) powder charges. And still be able to mount a scope on top.

Yeah...except the Ruger No 1 is a fairly expensive rifle.

Anyway I told my family and hunting buddies about it, then about 2 years later, TC comes out with the Omega...

Oh well, back to the drawing board...