Kuiu’s rifle cover is a copycat design

[Poser]

Kuiu’s rifle cover is clearly a direct knockoff of the preexisting SoloHntr cover that’s been on the market for a number of years. While the design was apparently not patented, possibly not patentable, it’s the same cover, the same cut, possibly the same fabric.

Not sure what to say about that other then to point out that it’s shameful. The non clothing R&D at Kuiu (looking at you backpacks) has always been lackluster. Now, they can’t even create their own designs. Doesn’t change much in the big picture of the success of the brand, but, in my eyes, it definitely chips away at the credibility and ethos of the brand.

Call it how you see it.

 

[RyanT26]

This doesn’t seem like a very positive post.
Negative and specific company. Not very rokslide of you.

 

[mtnwrunner]

Yup, it will turn negative and I'm sure some bashing will take place.

Randy

 

[realunlucky]

This doesn’t seem like a very positive post.
Negative and specific company. Not very rokslide of you.

Your comment hasn't gone unnoticed

Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk

 

[Ryan Avery]

Let's open this back up and see if we can have an adult conversation.

I own/owned two Solo hntr rifle covers(the lighter weight version), one muley freak rifle cover, which the Kuiu cover looks like, and another, I think it's from midway, don't remember. All have ripped on the butt or the muzzle end. This tells me there is room for improvement. So if Kuiu's fixed these problem areas, I could care less if it looks like other companies. Yes, I know solo hntr made an upgraded version, but it's more money and weighs more.

Somebody made the first glove, backpack, muzzle brake, bino harness...... Then someone thought they could do it better, cheaper, or faster.....

 

[Desk Jockey]

Hmmmm. I recall Ole Call talking about how people were trying to get him to spill the beans about how first lite was printing camp on wool back in the day. That dang sexual tyrannosaurus just kept his lips shut beneath that glorious stache I remember owning a Kifaru pack a while back that had a rifle sleeve and may have gotten a little too close to an eberlestock design And had to get discontinued.

so…I tend to buy gear based on the designs and companies I like. I guess part of that is based on the company’s integrity. Lots of companies in this industry and others trying to solve the same problems that may get “inspired” by the solutions others come up with.

FWIW I have one of those solo covers in the gear bin and you just reminded me I need to pull it out for an upcoming hunt. Thanks

 

[Jmort1754]

I could care less who copies who.. That is out of my scope of practice. I personally support the companies I want who provide the products that I want. Just like you should support your chosen companies.

 

[2531usmc]

There are probably a lot of Roksliders out there asking “how do you copy a rifle cover that, with the exception of fabrics, has been used for a couple hundred years”? From leather rifle covers on Daniel Boone’s flintlock all the way to waterproof goretex covers on cablelas gun cases. They are all basically the same

secondly, why would somebody get so upset over this? As Hillary would say “why does matter”?

 

[9.1]

I don't have experience with either, but I've been doing some reading in preparation of a purchase. I like the Kuiu version a little better. Kuiu's cover seems to be more fitted, and it includes a hook and loop closure that I'm not seeing on the Solohuntr. They also reinforce the area around the scope. The Cordura fabric they use should handle abrasion better than the lightweight ripstop version of the Solohuntr, and it weighs less than the extra rugged version of the Solohuntr. If the products were equivalent, I'd prefer to make a purchase from the company that originated the idea, but that doesn't seem to be the case (pun intended) here.

I did a quick search for patents on rifle covers like these and wasn't able to find one. However, it looks like Solohuntr is taking advantage of Daniel Evans's expired parent number US5661920A by selling neoprene scope covers. That is ok though, because everyone else sells neoprene scope covers, right?

 

[Coopsdaddy]

Look how many have copied hpg kit bags.
Just the nature of the beast.

 

[browning2480]

Probably all made in the same Chinese factory, so who cares.

 

[Will_m]

No patent so it seems fair. If anything copying designs is good for innovation and driving price points down, especially with a domestic company. I certainly wouldn’t abstain from copying another design on some notion of honor, assuming everything was legal.

 

[dtrkyman]

They must be the first to copy something?

 

[Reburn]

I have a solo hunter and havent used it because it didnt fit my suppressor well. I cant remember if that was with the thermal cover on the suppressor or not. Either way it sits in my gear bin unused. I just use a neoprene scope cover to keep my lenses clean and a electrical tape muzzle cover and could care less if my gun gets dust and rain on it during the hunt.

From a strict personal perspective view I'm disappointed with kuiu for what looks like a knockoff. Time and testing will tell if its a better mouse trap.

I am open to a company copying a non patented design if they can improve on it. If its a straight copy without innovation then it rubs me wrong.

 

[dieselchessy]

Having grown up in the rainforest of the Pacific northwest and never having seen one of these things other than on TV.
Can someone explain to me the use/purpose of a rifle cover?

 

[svivian]

It’s probably made in the same factory… I used to sell optics at a sporting goods store and you would see three different manufacturers with essentially the same bino/binos. The best was Alpens top end spotter compared to the vortex razor gen 1 spotter. Literally was the exact same just different colors.

 

[VinoVino]

Having grown up in the rainforest of the Pacific northwest and never having seen one of these things other than on TV.
Can someone explain to me the use/purpose of a rifle cover?

In the same boat as you. But looks like a lightweight way to just keep your rifle clean and dry while hiking it in somewhere. I usually put a piece of black electrical tape over the muzzle, have a synthetic stock, stainless barrel and action, and have scope caps.

But if I were to be out on a day like today, where it’s just raining heavily the whole time, and I’m hiking into camp, it might be nice to have a little protection.

 

[Reburn]

In the same boat as you. But looks like a lightweight way to just keep your rifle clean and dry while hiking it in somewhere. I usually put a piece of black electrical tape over the muzzle, have a synthetic stock, stainless barrel and action, and have scope caps.

But if I were to be out on a day like today, where it’s just raining heavily the whole time, and I’m hiking into camp, it might be nice to have a little protection.

But there is the rub. Its codura. Enough rain and its gonna wet out. And then it would be heavy and wet right up against your gun and something else to have to dry out.

 

[mtnbiker208]

Ken Kodak and Paul Polaroid are the best designers ever!

 

[cuerro viejo]

Kuiu’s rifle cover is clearly a direct knockoff of the preexisting SoloHntr cover that’s been on the market for a number of years. While the design was apparently not patented, possibly not patentable, it’s the same cover, the same cut, possibly the same fabric.

Not sure what to say about that other then to point out that it’s shameful. The non clothing R&D at Kuiu (looking at you backpacks) has always been lackluster. Now, they can’t even create their own designs. Doesn’t change much in the big picture of the success of the brand, but, in my eyes, it definitely chips away at the credibility and ethos of the brand.

Call it how you see it.

You didn’t see that Tim Burnett essentially works for Kuiu? Must of thought he still had a contract w/ Under Armor.