Working Gun made with 3D Printer

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**Wyrmalla**

Source

The BBC's Rebecca Morelle saw the 3D-printed gun's first test in Austin, Texas

The controversial group which created the firearm, Defense Distributed, plans to make the blueprints available online.

The group has spent a year trying to create the firearm, which was successfully tested on Saturday at a firing range south of Austin, Texas.

Anti-gun campaigners have criticised the project.

Europe's law enforcement agency said it was monitoring developments.

Victoria Baines, from Europol's cybercrime centre, said that at present criminals were more likely to pursue traditional routes to obtain firearms.

She added, however: "But as time goes on and as this technology becomes more user friendly and more cost effective, it is possible that some of these risks will emerge."

Defense Distributed is headed by Cody Wilson, a 25-year-old law student at the University of Texas.

Mr Wilson said: "I think a lot of people weren't expecting that this could be done."

The gun was assembled from separate printed components made from ABS plastic - only the firing pin was made from metal
3D printing has been hailed as the future of manufacturing.

The technology works by building up layer upon layer of material - typically plastic - to build complex solid objects.

The idea is that as the printers become cheaper, instead of buying goods from shops, consumers will instead be able to download designs and print out the items at home.

But as with all new technologies, there are risks as well as benefits.

Personal liberties
The gun was made on a 3D printer that cost $8,000 (£5,140) from the online auction site eBay.

It was assembled from separate printed components made from ABS plastic - only the firing pin was made from metal.

Mr Wilson, who describes himself as a crypto-anarchist, said his plans to make the design available were "about liberty".

He told the BBC: "There is a demand of guns - there just is. There are states all over the world that say you can't own firearms - and that's not true anymore.

"I'm seeing a world where technology says you can pretty much be able to have whatever you want. It's not up to the political players any more."

Asked if he felt any sense of responsibility about whose hands the gun might fall into, he told the BBC: "I recognise the tool might be used to harm other people - that's what the tool is - it's a gun.

"But I don't think that's a reason to not do it - or a reason not to put it out there."

Gun control
To make the gun, Mr Wilson received a manufacturing and seller's licence from the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Donna Sellers, from the ATF, told BBC News that the 3D-printed gun, as long as it was not a National Firearms Act weapon (an automatic gun, for example), was legal in the US.

She said: "[In the US] a person can manufacture a firearm for their own use. However, if they engage in the business of manufacture to sell a gun, they need a licence."

Amid America's ongoing gun debate in the wake of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, US congressman Steve Israel recently called for a ban on 3D guns under the Undetectable Firearms Act.

Groups looking to tighten US gun laws have also expressed concern.

Leah Gunn Barrett, from New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, has said: "These guns could fall into the hands of people who should not have guns - criminals, people who are seriously mentally ill, people who are convicted of domestic violence, even children."

3D printing technology has already been used by some criminal organisations to create card readers - "skimmers" - that are inserted into bank machines.

Many law enforcement agencies around the world now have people dedicated to monitoring cybercrime and emerging technologies such as 3D printers.

Ms Baines from Europol said: "What we know is that technology proceeds much more quickly than we expect it to. So by getting one step ahead of the technological developments, we hope and believe we will be able to get one step ahead of the criminals as well."

Chances that this will be banned long before it goes into production? It'll be leaked online even if it is though. The question is how viable they would be as an alternative to "zip" guns, and well, what're the chances that it'll explode in your face like a zip gun.

**KalashnikovMarine**

I'd like to see the video of this thing in action, as well as caliber and accuracy reports. Honestly? It sounds like an expensive way to fill yourself with shrapnel.

**Wyrmalla**

The source has a video. I'm just thinking that even if they do make it affordable it'd be easier for criminals to either buy a real gun, that would be a lot more reliable, or make their own. I mean I don't see any other use for this thing other than for criminals to use where a regular gun wouldn't be easier to obtain.

**Cheesecat**

Wyrmalla wrote:
The source has a video. I'm just thinking that even if they do make it affordable it'd be easier for criminals to either buy a real gun, that would be a lot more reliable, or make their own. I mean I don't see any other use for this thing other than for criminals to use where a regular gun wouldn't be easier to obtain.

Couldn't it be used for housing?

**Palindrome**

KalashnikovMarine wrote:
I'd like to see the video of this thing in action, as well as caliber and accuracy reports. Honestly? It sounds like an expensive way to fill yourself with shrapnel.

He fires 1 (presumably) .22 round in the video.

I can see no good reason for this to exist.

**Kilkrazy**

Can you 3D print ammunition?

**Do_I_Not_Like_That**

Kilkrazy wrote:
Can you 3D print ammunition?

Absolutely. If you take the idea down to its basic level, then anything designed to propel any sort of ammunition would not have a problem firing any missile. Ok, it wont be as complicated as a bullet, but even a ball bearing fired at a certain velocity can do damage.

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KalashnikovMarine wrote:
I'd like to see the video of this thing in action, as well as caliber and accuracy reports. Honestly? It sounds like an expensive way to fill yourself with shrapnel.

When Thomas Jefferson and his friends sat down to draft the constitution, I wonder if they had guns rolling out from 3D printers in mind!

**Kilkrazy**

You can 3D print cordite?

**Do_I_Not_Like_That**

Kilkrazy wrote:
You can 3D print cordite?

I was thinking more of the crossbow principal i.e that tension thing they use, but then it wouldn't be a gun, it would be a gunbow!

**Easy E**

Finally, an interesting Gun Thread on Dakka.

**Frazzled**

KalashnikovMarine wrote:
I'd like to see the video of this thing in action, as well as caliber and accuracy reports. Honestly? It sounds like an expensive way to fill yourself with shrapnel.

Yea. I'm sure in the future with new materials-not a problem. Right now though? I'm just going to go stand behind this brick wall..over there...

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Kilkrazy wrote:
You can 3D print cordite?

IN STALINIST RUSSIA CORDITE PRINTS YOU!

Are you asking can you print smokeless powder? No.

You could print a nice spear gun though. Get a spear gun, a bright red kilt, a nice rubber chicken hat, and an inflatable dingy and you're all set for your next shopping adventure.

**CptJake**

I'll just say there are plenty of reasons real guns tend to have metal parts, and note that he brought two extra barrels with him, probably for a reason.

**Dreadclaw69**

So according to the video its built with "layer upon layer of plastic" and uses a .22 rimfire round. At least the Europol agent was pretty blunt about criminals getting their hands on weapons "more easily offline".

For me the jury is out on this. Was a firearm made? Yes. However only in a relatively small caliber, with what appears less than stellar materials, with only one round fired, there was nothing indicating how or if the firearm could be reloaded, nothing to show its accuracy and it was pretty bulky.

**djones520**

Dreadclaw69 wrote:
So according to the video its built with "layer upon layer of plastic" and uses a .22 rimfire round. At least the Europol agent was pretty blunt about criminals getting their hands on weapons "more easily offline".

For me the jury is out on this. Was a firearm made? Yes. However only in a relatively small caliber, with what appears less than stellar materials, with only one round fired, there was nothing indicating how or if the firearm could be reloaded, nothing to show its accuracy and it was pretty bulky.

Well... the first computer was pretty bulky as well. This in itself might not prove to be much, but who knows where we'll be in 10 years.

**skyfi**

video

**Frankenberry**

Not sure how you can ban this, given how the internet works. A great innovation if you ask me.

**CptJake**

Frankenberry wrote:
Not sure how you can ban this, given how the internet works. A great innovation if you ask me.

The US Gov't has proved they can ban pretty much anything. Enforcing the ban is a different matter.

**Breotan**

I'm guessing the bullet had minimum powder, too. Still, gangs make zip guns using nothing more than pipe, wood, nail, and a large rubber band.

**Desubot**

skyfi wrote:

I like how that trigger is broken

**Ouze**

This isn't the first working 3D printed gun, technically. These same guys had made several prototypes that would fire about a dozen rounds before breaking.

**Dreadclaw69**

Silly question but how difficult are these to reload? The links in this thread only show single shots being fired.

**Wyrmalla**

I'm guessing you need to to disassemble the things at least time part to reload them. The time required to do that though would probably make doing so moot however.

**Dreadclaw69**

Yeah, that's what my take was on it too. So in its current guise its hardly a viable weapon for many nefarious purposes

**KalashnikovMarine**

It's more proof of concept/proof of technology then anything. Which has kinda been defense distributed's whole purpose. "You can't ban this stuff even if you wanted to!"

**skyfi**

Dreadclaw69 wrote:
Yeah, that's what my take was on it too. So in its current guise its hardly a viable weapon for many nefarious purposes

but it sure is a start!

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Desubot wrote:
skyfi wrote:

I like how that trigger is broken

right?

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Frankenberry wrote:
Not sure how you can ban this, given how the internet works. A great innovation if you ask me.

+1

**azazel the cat**

KalashnikovMarine wrote:I'd like to see the video of this thing in action, as well as caliber and accuracy reports. Honestly? It sounds like an expensive way to fill yourself with shrapnel.

Seconded. Also:

Holeeeee gak. If this works, then the US government really, really needs to get ahead of this and outlaw it quick with penalties for the blueprint distribution as well. If the blueprint distritubors have no penalty, then it'll create an effectively unlimited supply of untraceable handguns.

Like meth, this is one of those destructive situations that will be not too difficult to stop if actions are taken before the wave starts, because once it starts, -like meth- it'll be impossible to stop.

And before anyone shouts "2nd amendment forever", please note that there cannot be anyone who honestly wants an unlimited supply of untraceable firearms flooding the streets. Seriously. By the very nature of it being untraceable, this will be the bad-guy-with-a-gun's choice of gun.

Frankenberry wrote:Not sure how you can ban this, given how the internet works. A great innovation if you ask me.

Help me understand why you think an innovation that will see a higher degree of piracy than any other medium ever, and is likely only going to be used against the public good in an uncontrolled manner is "great:". I'm seriously interested in hearing your explanation.

EDIT: I don't think it's too far of a stretch to be able to (moderately) easily create a version akin to a volcanic pistol, which can be reloaded quite quickly.

**Hlaine Larkin mk2**

And 3D printers will become cheaper in the future which just increases their availability

**Soladrin**

Kilkrazy wrote:
You can 3D print cordite?

You can 3D print living cells. I'm pretty sure they can manage printing cordite with a little research.

**azazel the cat**

Yeah, that's why this needs to be regulated -harshly- while Pandora's Box is still just a proof of concept; before it's opened.

Sadly, I'm not certain how to do that without significantly violating the 1st & 4th amendments.

**Soladrin**

So, simple question. Is making an untraceable fire arm illegal?

If the anwser is yes, then this thing is Illegal to start with.