So maybe this is dumb, but for awhile I've been kicking around the idea for a new muzzleloader design. As I've thought about it and played with some design ideas and drawings, I really think it would work and work well. A search on the internet shows that one company tried something similar but the company went out of business before the gun ever made it into production.
So here's where I'm at. Is there any company that will ever listen to "some guy with an idea?" Or do they only pay their engineers to come up with new ideas?
I'm guessing it will never go anywhere, but I'm really quite sold on the design and think it has potential, and the one other person I've talked to about it thought it was genius and surprised it hadn't been done yet.
So does anyone know? Is there a way to pitch an idea to a company and have them actually listen?

SuperKirby, you might want to talk to a patent attorney or do a patent search as a first step. If it's truly a new idea you should protect it before discussing it with others. If it's already patented you're wasting your time.

SORRY GUYS. I usually try to avoid foul language on the forum. But I didn't know how to say that without using the word "attorney".

I second that. Get a patent if you can first. If you dont a big company is just going to steal your idea.

We'll see what happens. I asked around a little. I can't afford a patent or patent lawyer, nor can I afford to make a prototype, and I never really thought I would get rich off it. Mostly I think it would be great design and to be able to walk into a store and say you designed the gun on the shelf would be pretty cool. Who knows, maybe some company will produce it and I get a free gun out of the whole deal.

I'm sure a lot of companies will listen to you if you're willing to give it away. Which you'd be doing without a patent.

You say another company had the same idea, but failed too produce it. If you know that. I'm sure all the other gun companies know about it too. They could be experimenting with the idea now.