Universal modular gunstock

Abstract

A gunstock is presented which is individually capable of mounting a diverse assortment of long gun firearms. It is comprised of three primary components, these being a buttstock, a bedding chassis, and a forestock. These components are removably attached to one another, thereby permitting selective assembly and disassembly of the gunstock. The bedding chassis, which is the component that is attached to the firearm's action and barrel assembly, can be configured to accommodate various types of firearms. The utility of the gunstock derives from the fact that different types of firearms can be mounted to individual bedding chassis, which can be removably and interchangeably installed in the gunstock. Further, the bedding chassis acts as a base onto which components with varied configurations can be attached, permitting a firearm to be modularly reconfigured as circumstances warrant.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A gunstock for long gun firearms comprising, in combination: 
 a rigid bedding chassis constituting the portion of the gunstock to which the action of a firearm will be attached, said chassis having a top side, a bottom side, a forward end, a rearward end, a left side, and a right side;    a buttstock that is removably attached to the bedding chassis at the rearward end of said chassis, said buttstock having a forward end and a rearward end, an upper extent, and a lower extent, a right side, and a left side, and said buttstock having an elongated portion to facilitate the engagement of said gunstock with the shoulder of a user, and said buttstock having a hand grip portion; and    a forestock that is generally formed as an elongated channel, with a forward end, an aft end, a top side, a bottom side, a right sidewall, and a left sidewall, said top side having a channel in its forward portion suitable to accommodate a rifle barrel, and said forestock having a portion that is configured to accommodate the removable attachment of the forestock to said bedding chassis.    
     
     
         2 . The gunstock of  claim 1 , wherein a joint is formed between the buttstock and the bedding chassis, such that the buttstock has one element of the joint at its forward extent, and the bedding chassis has the other element of the joint at its rearward extent, and such that when these two elements are joined a single joint is formed; and said joint also being fitted with a fastening device, such that said buttstock and said bedding chassis are thereby removably attached to one another.  
     
     
         3 . The gunstock of  claim 2 , wherein said joint is a dovetail joint with two elements, which when assembled fill a volume of space, with a top side, a bottom side, a left side, and a right side, and such that the joint is formed when one element of the joint is inserted into the other element of the joint, with the inserted element being moved into its fitted position along a directional axis.  
     
     
         4 . The gunstock of  claim 3 , wherein said dovetail joint manifests a lateral taper, such that one end of the joint, this being perpendicular to said directional axis of insertion, is of lesser lateral width than the opposed end of the joint, this also being perpendicular to said directional axis of insertion, such that when the elements are assembled, the innermost element of the joint has a directional limit to its travel within the outermost element of the joint.  
     
     
         5 . The gunstock of  claim 1 , wherein the forestock has a fitted receptacle for the bedding chassis, such that when the chassis and the forestock are assembled they are in a predictable and consistent relationship to one another.  
     
     
         6 . The gunstock of  claim 5 , wherein the forestock has orifices that are oriented such that they permit passage of fastening devices there through and into the bedding chassis, and said bedding chassis being fitted with bores placed in such a manner as to accommodate said fastening devices, such that when the bedding chassis and forestock are assembled and the fastening devices are installed, the forestock is removably held fast to the bedding chassis.  
     
     
         7 . The gunstock of  claim 5 , wherein the forestock is provided with shallow recesses on its left and right interior sidewalls, said recesses being fitted to accommodate the respective left and right side profiles of the bedding chassis where these parts will come into contact.