GB2450384A

GB2450384A - Secure storage rack for guns

Info

Publication number: GB2450384A
Application number: GB0712279A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Tyson; Derek Pratt; David John Soper
Original assignee: Fritz Schaefer GmbH
Current assignee: Fritz Schaefer GmbH
Priority date: 2007-06-22
Filing date: 2007-06-22
Publication date: 2008-12-24
Anticipated expiration: 2027-06-22
Also published as: GB2450384B; GB0712279D0

Abstract

A storage rack for guns comprises a plurality of uprights and cross members forming a rack structure. A number of recesses 11b are arranged within a butt beam that forms a cross member with the recesses arranged to receive the butts of guns. A front beam 20 forms another cross member and includes a number of upstanding posts 21 that are spaced to receive the forward part of a gun there between. Two rails 30L, 30R are arranged at either side of the rack to receive the ends of a locking bar 40. The locking bar has holes 44 at each end that are aligned with holes 31L, 31R within the rails for a locking member such as a padlock to pass. The locking bar is located such that it prevents removal of guns from the rack. The guns can be supported in a horizontal condition or upright with the butts engaging a base member (figs 18 and 19). The locking bar may be replaced by a plurality of securing elements that are positioned to prevent dismantling of the guns while in situ.

Description

STORAGE RACk The present invention relates to storage racks, and is

particularly concerned with a storage rack for a demountable assembly. The present invention principally relates to a weapons storage rack which provides secure storage for demountable, and particularly military, weapons.

Weapons storage racks are known in which a long weapon such as a rifle or carbine is received in either a vertical orientation, standing on its stock or butt end, or in a horizontal orientation. The butt is received in a fixed recess to locate it in place, with the muzzle received in a fixed location, cradle or ring to hold the weapon stably. Where a cradle is provided, the cradle surrounds the muzzle end of the weapon on three sides, and the weapon is placed in the rack by locating the butt end in the recess, and swinging the muzzle end of the weapon into the rack so that it is received in the cradle. The weapon is easily removed from the rack, simply by swinging the muzzle end out of the cradle and lifting the weapon out of the rack. However, the weapon may fall out of the rack if the rack is subjected to a shock such as an earthquake, or by movement of the rack, for example if the rack is portable or vehicle-mounted.

To provide a more secure storage, the muzzle end of the weapon may be received in a fixed ring which entirely surrounds the muzzle end of the weapon when it is in position. The weapon is placed in the rack by passing the muzzle upwards through the ring, aligning the butt with the butt recess, and lowering the weapon so that the butt enters the butt recess.

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The weapon is removed from the rack by lifting the weapon so that the butt clears the butt recess, swinging the butt end out of the rack, and lowering the weapon to bring the muzzle downwards through the ring. A weapons rack of this type will retain the weapon in place if subjected to an earthquake shock, or to some movement in a vehicle- mounted rack. The security of the rack may be further improved by providing a lockable cap which can be positioned over the muzzle end, to prevent lifting of the weapon clear of the butt recess. The weapon can then only be removed from the rack if the lockable cap is unlocked and swung clear.

A disadvantage of such an arrangement is that the weapon may be removable from the rack, even if secured by a locked cap, by disassembling the weapon and removing it piecemeal from the rack, and then reassembling it. In the case of military weapons, soldiers are trained in the procedures required to dismantle many military weapons, and thus a first avenue of attack on a secure gun rack by a person with military training may well be an attempt at dismantling the weapon.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a secure storage system for a demountable assembly, in which the assembly may prevented from being removed from the storage system either as a unit or by disassembly.

A further objective is to provide such secure storage for a plurality of demountable assemblies, in a modular rack system.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage system for an assembly which is demountable by relative movements between its constituent parts, the storage system comprising at least one support for engaging and supporting the assembly, and at least one securing element which is adapted to engage the assembly so as to prevent relative disassembling movement between two assembly parts.

In one embodiment, the storage system is a weapon rack comprising: a butt recess dimensioned to closely receive the butt end of a weapon; a muzzle cradle positioned and shaped to at least partially surround the barrel of the weapon; and a number of securing elements releasably fixed relative to the butt recess and the muzzle cradle and adapted to engage the weapon at locations selected so as to prevent removal of the assembled weapon from the butt recess and muzzle cradle, and wherein the securing elements engage the weapon to prevent disassembly of the weapon by relative movements between its parts.

The butt recess and muzzle cradle serve to hold the receiver of the weapon in place, and securing elements engage removable parts of the weapon such as the trigger group, barrel, sight, breech mechanism or the magazine, to prevent their removal from the receiver.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a gun rack according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which weapons are stored in a horizontal orientation; Figure 2 is a side view of the front beam of the gun rack of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end view of the front beam; Figures 4, 5 and 6 are front, top and enlarged end views of a locking bar, respectively; Figures 7, 8 and 9 are rear, front and end views of a butt beam, respectively; Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional view of the butt beam of Figures 7 to 9, taken on line X-X of Figure 8; Figure 11 is a schematic perspective view of a gun rack according to a second embodiment of the invention, in which weapons are stored in a vertical orientation; Figure 12 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the muzzle beam of the gun rack of Figure 11; Figure 13 is a schematic perspective view of a gun rack according to a third embodiment of the invention, the muzzle beam in this gun rack being different from that shown in the embodiment of Figure 12; Figures 14 to 16 are side, plan, and rear views of the alternative muzzle beam for the gun rack of Figure 13; and Figures 17 to 19 are side views showing the positioning of locking bars in relation to weapons received in the gun racks of the present invention.

Referring now to Figure 1, there is illustrated a gun rack comprising six vertically-extending uprights 1 to 6, arranged in two rows along opposite sides of a generally rectangular base 7. The base 7 may be an actual base plate component, or may simply be a rectangular floor area along opposite sides of which the uprights 1 to 6 are arranged. The uprights 1 to 6 are preferably secured to the base or to the floor, preferably by tamper-proof fixings or by welding or otherwise permanently attaching the uprights to the floor structure.

The uprights are preferably sturdy metal columns, pre-formed with openings to receive hooks on which transverse elements may be supported. Such columns are well known as components in modular racking systems commonly used in storage and distribution depots.

In the embodiment illustrated, the uprights 3 and 6 will be referred to as defining the "front" of the rack, and the uprights 1 and 4 as a defining the rear face of the rack. The rear face of the rack may be closed by a tamper-proof rear panel 8, fixed to the uprights 1 and 4 for example by welding or by suitable tamper-proof fasteners (not shown) Similarly, the sides of the rack may be closed by side panels 9 and 10, which are fixed to the uprights 1, 2 and 3 and 4, 5 and 6, respectively. The side panels 9 6 -and 10, and the rear panel 8, may for example be solid steel sheet panels, or they may be perforated sheet metal or other metal mesh, to prevent access by hand or tool to the sides and rear of the gun rack.

In the illustrated gun rack, weapons are held in the rack in a horizontal orientation, with their muzzle ends facing towards the front face of the gun rack.

Between the uprights 1 and 4 at the rear of the rack, a butt beam 11 is fixed in position to extend horizontally from the upright 1 to the upright 4. The butt beam 11 is hollow, rectangular in cross-section, and has a front wall ila formed with a number of openings lib each shaped and dimensioned so as closely to receive the butt or stock of the weapon to be stored. Contact with the ulterior surface of the rear face of the butt beam 11 will limit the distance by which the weapon can be introduced through the opening lib. The butt beam 11 thus provides a secure location of the butt end of the weapon in the longitudinal direction of the butt beam 11, and in the vertical and horizontal directions transverse to the butt beam (as seen in the Figure).

The butt beam 11 is shown in more detail in Figures 7 to 10. At either end of the butt beam 11, a bracket 12 with downwardly-projecting hooks 13 is provided.

The butt beam 11 is attached to the uprights 1 and 4 by aligning the hooks 13 with openings formed in the uprights, inserting the hooks into the openings by a horizontal movement of the butt beam 11, and engaging the hooks fully with the uprights by a vertical downward movement of the butt beam 11 relative to the uprights 1 and 4. To prevent removal of the butt beam from the uprights, anti-tamper screws may be passed through the brackets 12 into the uprights, all the brackets may alternatively be bonded or welded to the uprights once assembled.

Between the uprights 2 and 5 there extends a front beam 20, seen in greater detail in Figures 2 and 3.

The front beam 20 has a number of upstanding posts 21 extending upwardly from its upper surface, the space between each pair of adjacent posts 21 being aligned with an opening lib in the butt beam 11. The spacing between the uprights 1 and 4 and the uprights 2 and 5 is arranged to suit the weapon being stored, so that when the butt of the weapon is received in the opening llb in the butt beam 11, the front beam 20 is positioned beneath the foregrip of the weapon, abutting the front of the trigger guard. The front beam 20 supports the muzzle end of the weapon, and its engagement with the trigger guard prevents forward movement of the weapon once in the rack. The posts 21 engage the sides of the foregrip, and the sides of the opening lib engage the sides of the butt of the weapon, to prevent lateral movement of the weapon in the rack. The posts 21 may be cylindrical in cross-section, or maybe elongated in the direction of the front beam 20 so as to provide a greater spacing between adjacent weapons in the rack but to deny access to the space between weapons received in the rack.

The ends of the front beam are provided with brackets 22 with hooks 23, similar to the brackets 12 of the butt beam, for fixing the ends of the front beam 20 to the uprights 2 and 5. Again, tamper-proof fixings or welding may be used to prevent removal of the front beam 20 from the uprights.

To secure the weapon in the rack, a pair of channel section rails are provided along each side of the rack, a right-hand rail 30R extending between the uprights 4 and 6, and a left-hand rail 30L extending between the uprights 1 and 3. The rails are formed with fixing holes 31L and 31R, positioned along the length of the respective rails at a predetermined location.

A removable locking bar 40 is provided at its ends with locking holes 44, the length of the locking bar being such that its ends can be received in the respective rails 30L and 30R. With the locking holes 44 of the bar 40 aligned with the fixing holes 31L and 31R in the rails, padlocks (not shown) may be passed through the aligned holes to secure the locking bar in position. The rails 30 and locking bar 40 are vertically positioned on the uprights so that, when the locking bar 40 is engaged in the rails and locked thereto, the under surface of the locking bar 40 bears on the upper surface of the foregrip of the weapon to prevent the muzzle of the weapon from being lifted.

The weapon is thus securely retained in the rack by the positioning of the locking bar 40, the front beam 20, and the engagement between the butt end of the weapon and the butt beam 11. This engagement is schematically illustrated in Figure 17, the weapon shown being an SA8O Carbine. The positioning of the front beam 20 and locking bar 40 in this arrangement is selected so that dismantling of the weapon in situ is prevented, the engagement with the trigger guard preventing removal of the trigger group from the receiver of the weapon, and the enclosure of the butt within the butt beam 11 prevents withdrawal of the breech components through the weapon's stock.

Figures 4 to 6 show a preferred embodiment for the locking bar 40. In this embodiment, the locking bar comprises a tubular outer member 41, which contains a solid inner core 42. In this embodiment, the inner core 42 is a solid rod. it is to be understood, however, that the core may itself be a tubular member.

Locking lugs 43 are secured by welding to the respective ends of the outer member 41, the locking lugs 43 providing locking holes 44 through which padlocks may pass to secure the locking bar 40 in the rails 30. The solid inner core 42 is freely rotatable within the tubular outer member 41, so that any attempt to saw through the looking bar is resisted.

When the saw reaches the inner core, the inner core simply rotates and is not cut by the saw.

In the embodiment shown, a single pair of rails 30 and a single locking bar 40 is provided. It will be understood that a pair of rails having two sets of fixing holes 31 may be provided, so that two locking bars 40 may be secured to engage the weapon at two distinct locations. Furthermore, a second pair of rails may be provided to extend underneath the weapon in the embodiment shown, so that further locking bars may be secured against the weapon to prevent dismantling of underparts such as grips or trigger mechanisms, or the removal of magazines, etc. The number and positioning of the locking bars will be chosen for each weapon, locking bars being positioned to prevent relative movement between the parts of the weapon and thus prevent stripping or dismantling of the weapon to remove it piecemeal from the rack.

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Figure 11 illustrates an alternative arrangement for the gun rack of the present invention. In this rack, four uprights 101, 102, 103 and 104 with a rear panel 108 extending between the uprights 101 and 102, and respective side panels 109 and 110 extending between the uprights 101 and 104, and 102 and 103, respectively. As in the previous embodiment, the rear and side panels 108, 109 and 110 serve to prevent access to the rear and sides of the rack.

In the rack shown in Figure 11, weapons are stored in a vertical orientation, between a butt beam ill and a muzzle beam 120. The butt beam lii is of hollow rectangular cross-section, and is fixed to all four of the uprights at their lower ends. The upper surface lila of the butt beam is provided with a number of rectangular cutouts lllb, each of which closely surrounds the butt of a weapon to be stored in the rack. At the corners of the butt beam, hooked brackets 112 are provided similar to those shown in relation to the previous embodiment, for securing the butt beam 111 to the four uprights.

A muzzle beam 120 similarly extends between all four of the uprights, the muzzle beam comprising two transverse beam elements 120a and 120b, extending between the uprights 101 and 102, and 104 and 103, respectively. Between the transverse beam elements 120a extend a number of separators 121, spaces between adjacent separators being dimensioned so as to closely receive the muzzle end of a weapon. The spaces between adjacent separators 121 aligned with respective cutouts lllb of the butt beam ill. 11 -

Figure 12 is an exploded view of the muzzle beam 120.

The transverse beam elements 120a and 120b provided at their ends with hooked brackets 122 for engagement into apertures in the respective uprights to which they are attached. Beam element 120a is provided with a number of tubular separators 1210, and beam element 120b has a similar number of solid separator elements 121i which are aligned and sized so that the solid separator elements 121 can each enter a respective one of the tubular separators 1210, when the two parts of the muzzle beam are aligned as shown in Figure 12.

Preferably, the solid separator elements l2li extend the entire length of the tubular separators l2lo.

However, it is understood that the solid separator elements may only extend part-way into the tubular separators 1210. While the tubular separators 1210 and the solid separator elements 1211 are shown in this embodiment as circular in cross-section, it is to be understood that other shapes such as square or rectangular-section tubular elements may be used, with correspondingly-shaped solid elements being received therein.

To assemble the gun rack of Figure 11, the four uprights are first placed in position and the butt beam 111 is then mounted to the four uprights, by the hooked brackets 112 provided at its corners. The hooks of the hooked brackets of the butt beam will face in the same direction, so that the butt beam bracket hooks can be offered up to apertures in the respective uprights, and the butt beam may then be moved horizontally to engage the hooks in the apertures, and then downwardly to complete the engagement. r

To assemble the muzzle beam, the two parts of the muzzle beam are separated, and the transverse beam element 120a is positioned behind the uprights 101 and 102, while the transverse beam element 120b is positioned in front of the uprights 104 and 103. The tubular separators 1210 are aligned with their respective solid separator elements 121i, and the two parts of the muzzle beam are brought together. The brackets 122 at the respective ends of the transverse beam elements 120a and 120b are aligned with apertures in the four uprights, and the hooks 123 on the brackets are engaged in respective apertures by the final movement bringing together the two parts of the muzzle beam. A downward movement of the assembled muzzle beam completes the engagement of the hooks into the apertures of the uprights. The muzzle beam and butt beam may then be fixed in relation to the uprights, for example using tamper-proof fasteners or welding.

Similarly to the previous embodiment, rails 130R and 130L are provided between respective pairs of uprights 101 and 104, and 102 and 103, the rails 130 being provided with fixing holes 131R and 131L, positioned along the lengths of the respective rails at a predetermined location. In the illustrated embodiment, three rails are provided on each side of the rack, upper rails 13ORU and 13OLU being positioned slightly below the muzzle beam 120, lower rails 13ORL and 13OLL being positioned slightly above the butt beam 111, and intermediate rails 130R1 and 130L1 being positioned vertically between the upper and lower rails on each side of the rack. As before, the rails are provided with fixing holes 131, to enable locking bars 140 to be attached to the respective pairs of rails, by locking devices such as for example padlocks.

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As in the previous embodiment, the rails 130 and fixing holes 131 are positioned so that the locking bars 140 engage weapons stored in the rack to prevent movement of the weapon relative to the rack, and also prevent disassembly of the weapon by preventing relative movement of the individual parts of the weapon. The rack of Figure 12 is shown in side view in Figure 18, with the butt of a weapon received with in the butt beam 111, the muzzle end of the weapon extending between an adjacent pair of separators 121, and three locking bars 140 engaging the weapon at three locations to secure it against upward and downward movement, and to prevent removal of parts of the weapon.

To complete the assembly of the gun rack, the side and rear panels 108, 109 and 110 are fixed to the uprights. The uprights may then be fixed to the floor, or secured to the interior of a vehicle or a container, as before.

Figure 13 shows a further alternative gun rack assembly, for storing weapons in a vertical orientation.

The gun rack of Figure 13 is similar to that of Figure 12, the differences being firstly that the gun rack in Figure 13 has only two pairs of rails 130 and two locking bars 140, and secondly that the muzzle beam of the gun rack of Figure 13 is of different construction from the previous embodiments.

The muzzle beam of Figure 13 extends between the rear uprights 101 and 102, and is of pressed steel construction. The muzzle beam 220 is shown in detail in Figures 14 to 16. Referring to these Figures, the muzzle beam 220 comprises a pressed steel "Z" section, with a horizontal upper shelf 221, and angled centre section 222 and a horizontal lower section 223. The upper shelf 221 is formed with a number of cutouts 224, each dimensioned to receive the muzzle end of a weapon. The ends of the muzzle beam are provided with hooked brackets 225 for engaging openings in the uprights 101 and 102, to secure the muzzle beam 220 thereto.

Assembly of the gun rack of Figure 13 is substantially the same as the assembly of the rack of Figure 11, save that the muzzle beam to 220 is offered up from the rear to the uprights 11 and 102, and is secured by engaging the hooked brackets with apertures in the uprights, and optionally fixing with tamper-proof fasteners or welding.

Weapons are placed in the racks of Figure 11 and Figure 13 by tilting the muzzle to the rear, and a bringing the muzzle of the weapon upwardly through the muzzle beam, either between two separators 121 or through one of the cutouts 224. The butt of the weapon is then swung to the rear until it is aligned with the corresponding cutout lllb in the butt beam 111, and the weapon lowered so that the butt end is received within the butt beam 111 and stands on the lower inside face of the box-section butt beam.

Locking bars 140 then placed between the respective pairs of rails 130, and secured in position to engage the weapon and prevent its removal or disassembly.

Figures 18 and 19 are side views respectively of the gun racks of Figures 11 and 13, showing the relative positions of the locking bars 140 in relation to weapons held in the racks. It will be appreciated that the lowermost locking bars 140 seen in Figures 18 and 19 are preferably locked into place before weapons are placed in the rack, these locking bars serving to limit the rearward swing of the weapon as it is introduced into the rack. Further, removal of these lowermost bars is not necessary for removal of the weapon, provided that the other bars are removed. The lowermost bar may thus be permanently fixed in position, rather than being removably mounted.

If vertical space permits, a second butt beam may be installed between the uprights at a position above the muzzles of weapons held in the rack in a first row, to provide for a plurality of horizontal rows of vertically-oriented weapons to be stored between the same four uprights.

To further enhance the security of the gun rack, a lockable door may (not shown) be provided in any of the illustrated embodiments, to prevent access through the front of the rack. The rack may be assembled within a room in a building, or may be mounted within a vehicle, or in an enclosure such as a shipping container or other portable housing.

For ease of assembly, the butt beam, muzzle beam and rails required to be assembled for a particular weapon may be colour-coded, or may bear indicia to identify the weapon for which they are intended. Likewise, the uprights may be coloured or otherwise marked to indicate the positions at which components should be attached to provide a gun rack for a particular weapon.

Claims

Claims: 1. A storage system for a demountable assembly comprising first

and second parts, the storage system comprising at least one support for locating and supporting a first part of the assembly, and at least one securing element which is adapted to engage the second part of the assembly so as to prevent relative disassembling movement between two assembly parts.
2. A weapon rack for storing a weapon having a butt end and a muzzle end, the weapon rack comprising: a butt recess dimensioned to closely receive the butt end of the weapon; a muzzle cradle positioned and shaped to at least partially surround the barrel of the weapon; and a number of securing elements releasably fixable relative to the butt recess and the muzzle cradle and adapted to engage the weapon at locations selected so as to prevent removal of the assembled weapon from the butt recess and muzzle cradle, and wherein the securing elements are positioned relative to the weapon so that they engage the weapon to prevent disassembly of the weapon by relative movements between its parts.
3. A weapon rack according to claim 2, wherein the butt recess comprises an opening formed in one face of a box-section beam, and wherein the butt end of the weapon is receivable within the beam through the opening.
4. A weapon rack according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the muzzle cradle comprises an opening adapted completely to surround the barrel of the weapon.
5. A weapon rack according to claim 2, wherein the muzzle cradle comprises a beam and a plurality of separators extending substantially perpendicularly to the beam, two adjacent separators being spaced to receive the weapon barrel between them.
6. A weapon rack according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the butt recess is an upwardly-open recess, and the weapon is stored with its muzzle end above its butt end.
7. A weapon rack according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the butt recess is formed in a side surface of a horizontally-extending beam, and the weapon is stored with its muzzle end substantially level with its butt end.
8. A weapon rack according to any of claims 2 to 7, comprising a number of butt recesses provided in a row and a like number of muzzle cradles provided in a substantially parallel row, and further comprising a number of elongated securing elements extending in a direction parallel to the rows.
9. A weapon rack according to any of claims 2 to 8, wherein the butt recess is provided by an opening in one side of a hollow-section beam, the interior surface of the beam opposite the opening forming a base of the recess.
10. A weapon rack according to claim 9, wherein the hollow-section beam is of rectangular cross-section.
11. A weapon rack according to any of claims 2 to 10, 19 -wherein the muzzle cradle comprises a first beam having a number of parallel and substantially coplanar transversely-extending tubular sockets extending therefrom, and a second beam having a like number of parallel and substantially coplanar pins extending therefrom, respective pins being engagable in respective sockets when the two beams are aligned and brought together, so that each two adjacent sockets define a muzzle cradle.
12. A weapon rack according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the pins extends the entire length of its respective socket.
13. A weapon rack according to any of claims 2 to 12, wherein the butt recess and the muzzle cradle are supported by a number of upright column members.
14. A weapon rack according to claim 13, wherein the upright column members are provided with respective series of openings extending in rows along their lengths, and wherein the butt recess and the muzzle cradle mounted to respective column members by means of hooks engaging in the said openings.
15. A weapon rack according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the weapon rack comprises four upright column members, and wherein the butt recess is provided in a butt beam extending between a first and a second of the said column members.
16. A weapon rack according to claim 15, wherein the muzzle cradle is provided by a muzzle beam extending between a third and a fourth column member.
17. A weapon rack according to claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the securing elements are fixable to rails respectively extending between a first and third and a second and fourth column member.
18. A weapon rack according to claim 17, wherein the securing elements are elongate and are provided at their ends with securing holes, and wherein the rails are provided with securing holes, the securing elements being fixable to the rails by means of padlocks passing through the securing holes in the rails and the securing elements, respectively.
19. A securing element for a weapon rack according to any of claims 2 to 18, the securing element comprising: an elongate tubular main body; a pair of securing lugs fixed to the main body at its respective ends; and a central core positioned within the elongate tubular main body and extending between the securing lugs, the central core of being freely rotatable within the main body, and held captive within the main body in the axial direction by the securing lugs.
20. A securing element according to claim 19, wherein the central core is a solid rod.
21. A weapon system comprising a demountable weapon and a storage rack therefor, wherein the weapon comprises a butt end and a muzzle end and is constituted by at least a first weapon part movable relative to a second weapon part in order to effect dismantling of the weapon, and wherein the storage rack comprises: r a butt recess to receive the butt end of the weapon; a muzzle cradle positioned and shaped to at least partially surround the barrel of the weapon; and a number of securing elements releasably fixable relative to the butt recess and the muzzle cradle and adapted to engage a first part of the weapon at locations selected so as to prevent removal of the assembled weapon from the butt recess and muzzle cradle, and wherein the securing elements are positioned relative to the weapon so that they engage the second weapon part to prevent disassembly of. the weapon by relative movement between said first and second weapon parts.
22. A method of storing a weapon in a storage rack, wherein the weapon comprises a butt end and a muzzle end and is constituted by at least a first weapon part relatively movable to a second weapon part in order to effect dismantling of the weapon, and wherein the storage rack comprises: a butt recess to receive the butt end of the weapon; a muzzle cradle positioned and shaped to at least partially surround the barrel of the weapon; and a number of securing elements releasably fixable relative to the butt recess and the muzzle cradle and adapted to engage the weapon at locations selected so as to prevent removal of the assembled weapon from the butt recess and muzzle cradle, and wherein the securing elements are positioned relative to the weapon so that they engage at least one of the first and second weapon parts to prevent disassembly of the weapon by relative movement between said first and second weapon parts, the method comprising the steps of: placing the muzzle end of the weapon in the muzzle cradle; introducing the butt end of the weapon into the recess until the butt end contacts the base of the recess; and fixing one or more securing elements relative to the muzzle cradle and the recess, so that the securing elements contact the weapon to prevent movement of the weapon toward its muzzle end, and prevent relative movement between first and second weapon parts.
23. A weapon rack substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 10, Figures 11 and 12, or Figures 13 to 16 of the accompanying drawings.
24. A weapon system comprising a weapon and a storage rack substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 17, Figure 18 or Figure 19 of the accompanying drawings.
25. A method of securely storing a weapon in a rack, substantially as herein described.