Comments on: The World’s First Real 3D-Printed Gun https://www.isegoria.net/2013/11/the-worlds-first-real-3d-printed-gun/ From the ancient Greek for equality in freedom of speech; an eclectic mix of thoughts, large and small Wed, 03 Jun 2026 14:29:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.6.1 By: Scipio Americanus https://www.isegoria.net/2013/11/the-worlds-first-real-3d-printed-gun/comment-page-1/#comment-1015816 Scipio Americanus Sat, 09 Nov 2013 17:29:24 +0000 http://www.isegoria.net/?p=33388#comment-1015816 Thank you, Rod and Slovenian Guest.

The other problem with the gyrojet was the low initial velocity of the rounds. This can be corrected by using an initial, relatively small “kicker” cartridge that bumps the round’s muzzle velocity high enough that it can kill someone less than 5 m away. The pressure is still low enough that you still get most of the gyrojet’s advantage of low weapon weight.

I don’t remember the name of the project off the top of my head, but I read something a while back that indicated there was research being done on that basis and that they were doing pretty well.

]]> By: Slovenian Guest https://www.isegoria.net/2013/11/the-worlds-first-real-3d-printed-gun/comment-page-1/#comment-1014952 Slovenian Guest Fri, 08 Nov 2013 23:16:08 +0000 http://www.isegoria.net/?p=33388#comment-1014952 Speaking of Scipio Americanus, I recommend his Why Giant Robots Are Silly blog post and the linked Why mechas are stupid article.

]]> By: Bruce https://www.isegoria.net/2013/11/the-worlds-first-real-3d-printed-gun/comment-page-1/#comment-1014932 Bruce Fri, 08 Nov 2013 22:50:54 +0000 http://www.isegoria.net/?p=33388#comment-1014932 It seems to me Gyrojet went out of business because manufacturing rocket-pistol ammo took more precision than they could affordably price. Rocket rounds only have to last one shot. Sintering good enough for a GI .45 barrel is an order of magnitude better.

]]> By: Rod https://www.isegoria.net/2013/11/the-worlds-first-real-3d-printed-gun/comment-page-1/#comment-1014591 Rod Fri, 08 Nov 2013 16:13:43 +0000 http://www.isegoria.net/?p=33388#comment-1014591 Very nice white paper, Scipio Americanus.

]]> By: Scipio Americanus https://www.isegoria.net/2013/11/the-worlds-first-real-3d-printed-gun/comment-page-1/#comment-1014474 Scipio Americanus Fri, 08 Nov 2013 14:13:22 +0000 http://www.isegoria.net/?p=33388#comment-1014474 Bob, the parts produced by SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) are equal in strength to forged parts. For more info, I wrote this white paper for my company on the topic of metallic additive manufacturing:

http://prokalkeo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Prokalkeo_2013_3d_Metal_Manufacturing.pdf

]]> By: Bob Sykes https://www.isegoria.net/2013/11/the-worlds-first-real-3d-printed-gun/comment-page-1/#comment-1014370 Bob Sykes Fri, 08 Nov 2013 12:16:29 +0000 http://www.isegoria.net/?p=33388#comment-1014370 The question, of course, is durability. However, many people would not fire a gun more than a few hundred times, and a criminal might only fire it once. I expect that the process will be developed to the point that the guns are as durable as any. Also that the technology will become widespread and even sustain a black market.

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