Cody Wilson head of Defense Distributed promised this would happen:
All sixteen pieces of the Liberator prototype were printed in ABS plastic with a Dimension SST printer from 3D printing company Stratasys, with the exception of a single nail that’s used as a firing pin. The gun is designed to fire standard handgun rounds, using interchangeable barrels for different calibers of ammunition.
Full Story – Forbes
I had zero doubts in my mind, because I am familiar with different 3D printing technologies. That said, I have to say I’m surprised they were able to do it with strictly ABS material, barrels and all considering the high chamber pressures (unless that was a reporting error by Forbes?).
Looks AR-15 inspired with the grip and the trigger guard.
Because I never have 100% positive things to say, I’ll let you in on my two constructive criticism beefs:
- I don’t like how they call this gun the Liberator (after the WWII FP-45 Liberator single shot handgun)… sure there are MANY similarities, but I would have liked to see a unique name that would stand alone for this gun.
- Why god?… Why does it have to be so ugly? Answer: It doesn’t. I’ve always believed very strongly that aesthetic design and engineering can co-exist if people are willing to put in the work. I know I’m probably one of the few who cares about this, but it would have taken so little extra effort to turn this from a block of plastic into a beautiful looking firearm that would look right at home next to factory produced name brand guns on the shelf.
Keep up the good work guys! I’m looking forward to seeing the test firing videos, and following that of course the sound of a lot of pants being shit. Music to my ears.
Thoughts?
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Why does it look so ugly? It’s function over form, proving that the initial design works. Now that it does, you can make it look like whatever you want. That’s the joy of 3D printing. Star Trek phaser? Done! Desert Eagle? Done! A scale model of Dianne Feinstein’s head? Sure, why the hell not!
ha a model of her head might be better for shooting AT.
Judging by the design it looks like they wanted to maintain the highest possible structural integrity.
Using other materials than ABS will improve material hardness and leave room for aesthetics.
I think we are in for a double pants shitting. Not only is it a 3D printed gun but it is an undetectable plastic gun.
Oh, the horror.
There’s a nail for firing pin, and a 6oz chunk of metal, just for compliance. He’s not gonna forfeit his FFL that he only got last month just for a plastic zip gun :)
The trigger is broken :-)
One to many tac-reloads.
Ha it IS a prototype so, ugliness should be expected. Ever see a new model car being tested out on the track?its covered in this horrible checkered paint job to breakup the changes in the body.
http://dy.snimg.com/story-image/4/77/2829082/94742-650-366.jpg
I remember watching an interview about Def. Dist. and I swear that cody wilson guy was designing this single shot pistol for a similiar purpose as the liberator, to give someone a gun even when they are “not allowed” to have them. The liberator was accurate enough to walk up to a patrolling Wehrmacht soldier and put it to his chest and now youve aquired a better weapon.
It’s more important to make the idea of gun control irrelevant.
Now he needs to make one that uses black powder, lead ball, and a blasting cap. Make ammo control irrelevant.
I wonder how the polymer barrel holds up? If it’s smoothbore, it will drastically decrease velocity and accuracy. If it’s rifled, it will probably quickly become smoothbore.
“That punk pulled a Liberator on me, you know what that is? It’s a plastic gun made in the USA. It brought innovation and manufacturing back to this great nation. Also, it doesn’t show up on your airport metal detectors and probably costs only slightly less than Di Fi’s hairdo and manicure.” – John McClane , Die Hard 5: Are We Dead Yet?
I’m guessing that this pistol is smoothbore, in which case it could essentially serve the same purpose as the original WW2 Liberator pistol, as a throwaway weapon used to aquire better weapons. But I agree that a new name should be used, at least call it a “21st century Liberator”, “Liberator 2013” or something like that. Hell! how about simply the “Wilson Pistol” : D.
Looks like a rivet gun to me.
Why god?… Why does it have to be so ugly? Answer: It doesn’t. I’ve always believed very strongly that aesthetic design and engineering can co-exist if people are willing to put in the work.
Your Glock fanboy membership has hereby been revoked for this statement.
haha I really like the look of Glocks!
I can’t get to the Forbes article, but generally speaking, the .45 ACP round isn’t
considered “high pressure”. I do some reloading of this and other cartridges
and straight wall pistol cartridges (in general) can be loaded on the “mild” side
quite easily. But the .45 ACP is generally done that way from the factory unless
you opt for personal defense rounds or +P loads.
You know? Its still easier to go to home depot and build a zip gun. Or a slambang. Guns like the fp-45 or the deer gun can be produced pretty easily. Awesome proof of concept but not really anything to write home about.
+1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=drPz6n6UXQY
Not sure if the Forbes link has a video but….I sighed when he shot the gun then went into music at the same time :|
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