Oct. 29, 2014 | By Alec
For all its manufacturing potential, 3D printing technology has mostly received mainstream attention for its abilities to produce guns, and that's hardly surprising. Regardless where you stand in that debate, everyone will admit that plastic guns add a new level of confusion to gun ownership as they are impossible to detect by officials.
However, unlike Yoshitomo Imura's plastic pistols, it is sometimes overlooked that metal guns can already be 3D printed as well. About a year ago, we first reported on the 1911 metal pistol. Consisting of 33 different metal components, this fully 3D printable gun was revealed by Solid Concepts and proved to be very fireable.
And we just learned of its 'successor', that is fancier, sturdier and more patriotic thanks to an added inscription quoting the Declaration of Independence. While the 1911 was already capable of firing, this new gun that has been dubbed 'Reason', looks much sturdier. Unlike its predecessor, however, we haven't yet seen any proof of this gun being able to fire.
You might wonder, like I did, why a gun is called Reason, but supposedly it seemed like a good name for a gun, as 'who can argue with reason?' Some of you might prefer a nice argument instead.
It has been created by Eric Mutchler, who is employed by the Solid Concepts – the company that developed the world's first 3D printed gun. However, unlike reported online, Mutchler has told reporters of the Reason news website that this gun is strictly a private project and hasn't been made by his employer Solid Concepts. With it, he wanted to illustrate just how far 3D printing technology had come since the first gun, and the intricate design surely showcases that.
The weapon has been made out of stainless steel components, though the handle has been store-bought. How would you 3D print something like this? Why, with an EOS M280 3D printer that is capable of extremely precise laser sintering (also known as SLS technology).
Unlike the toy-like appearance of Yoshitomo Imura's guns, this really looks like the real deal. It can chamber 10mm ammo and has been developed using CAD technology. This is very impressive, considering the intricate detail; even the trigger is shaped like Mutchler's initial 'M'. Reportedly, it didn't even need clean-up.
So what will happen with the gun? Frankly, we don't yet know. Unlike the 1911 model, which was sold, no price tag has been added to 'Reason', while no CAD files have been released. We will keep you updated as soon as we learn more.
Posted in 3D Printing Applications
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So print some plastic bullets....
Jim-Bob wrote at 11/17/2014 12:31:39 PM:
So long as governments have guns, ordinary people need to have them as well. History has shown that reasonable governments can easily turn against their people-especially if they are defenseless. Because I understand this, I see firearms ownership as a fundamental human right. For without firearms ownership, all of the other rights exist only at the whim of the powerful. Can they be used for evil? Certainly. However, that possibility is the price one pays to live in a free society. This is why I love the idea of 3D printed firearms. It makes it far more difficult for governments to eliminate this basic right from free men. I may not want to actually fire one, but I feel far safer knowing that the possibility exists.
lassi wrote at 11/9/2014 8:33:47 AM:
"HORRIBLEE" yeah it ruined the cnc industry.. oh wait it didn't. this just looks like the 1911 with some decals though. a 1911 with unnecessary parts slimmed down would have been prettier..
bp wrote at 10/31/2014 7:41:00 PM:
This is what is going to ruin this industry...all it takes is one person to murder with these 3d printed guns. Horrible.
Richard Ortiz wrote at 10/31/2014 4:25:51 PM:
Re: the plastic guns: While the gun may be undetectable, it still uses metal bullets that are detectable. Without the bullets, it’s useless. I don’t understand all this brouhaha about plastic guns being undetectable, when it’s useless without its bullets. Or don’t people think? This metal gun is an impressive work of art.
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