Why do we — as a global society — have such a morbid fascination with guns? It is not only about shooting them, that is just a part of it that we leave to hunters, soldiers, criminals (and a few too many Americans), but we just love to talk about them, especially in the media, too. Now there is another one to talk about — the Zig Zag revolver — and it’s a six shooter but, seriously, it is not the only, nor the prettiest, nor the most complex thing you can make with a 3D printer.
The Zig Zag revolver is, however, one more project that pushes the boundaries of what can be done with 3D printing, as it is the first time a firearm 3D printed in plastic shoots more than one shot. As ugly as it may be, it does seem fairly reliable as demonstrated in the video (below) where it is shot over and over without failing. In this test it only used blanks, so as not to violate Japanese law, its country of origin.
What, in fact, does seem a little more worrisome than the gun itself is that, while Defense Distributed (makers of the first fully working .380 single shot pistol) has been growing quite a bit and turning into a “defender of the right of citizens to defend themselves,” 3D printed weapons databases seem to be popping up around the globe. The Zig Zag revolver test was first published on Kemuridama.com, a Japanese database of all 3D printed weapons. Are there really that many 3D printed guns around that we need a database? And most importantly, do they predict that there will be?
In a way guns are the exact opposite of 3D printing: one creates and the other destroys. Thus, although I am fascinated by guns, I do believe that there are more important things that the media and 3D printing in general should be concentrating on.
Doctors have been 3D printing models for life-saving surgeries for years, industries have been cutting costs and material waste through additive manufacturing since the early 90’s but you know what made the mainstream news on its very first shot (and miss, by the way): you guessed it. A 3D printed gun. The 3D printed gun from Defense Distributed’s Cody Wilson to be precise, and it was not even the Liberator, which went on to get even more headlines, but just the lower receiver of an otherwise standard .22 semiautomatic.
While most 3D printing projects back then had to work really hard to garner coverage in mainstream media, when the Liberator came out, it got so much press (Forbes, BBC, CNN, The Guardian, the NYT, Pop Science, Vice, Wired, PC Magazine… you name it) that it made it, and its creator, instant “celebrities”. At a time when 3D printing was just starting to make real progress, it almost seemed as if all the good was being undone, by media outlets whipping up a frenzy and implying that anyone, including criminals and terrorists, could now print guns and take over the world.
After that it was Solid Concepts’ turn: they 3D printed a full metal gun. Once again just surfing the wave of media attention. Solid Concepts is a serious 3D printing services company and has been 3D printing highly complex stuff for years and yet the media picked up on the 3D printer M1911 replica right away. Which, although historic, was not even such an amazing feat. After all: gun parts are not that complicated to replicate and assemble.
This new project is definitely quite a bit “uglier” than its predecessors and details on it are not clear. It has a gigantic 6 bullet barrel that might or might not be re-used after shooting. One thing is for sure, its size makes it impossible to qualify it as a concealeable weapon and I doubt that any wanna-be gunslinger will want to be seen with it. It’s wouldn’t be an easy one to holster, for sure.
So, to be clear, you’re a hoplophobe that spends an entire article whining about all the media attention printed guns get while dutifully perpetuating the very thing that… oh, what’s the use.
I think that, as a 3D printing site, we’re excused from the mainstream media, which is the media that I believe our author is referencing. We’re sort of obligated to cover noteworthy uses of 3D printing, including firearms (and I think this is an interesting 3D-printed firearm and an indicator of the growing databases), but I think that our author is trying to simultaneously deflate the hype.
I would contest the label hoplophobe as far as Davide is concerned — as he said in the article, he is fascinated by guns, rather than being irrationally afraid of them. I concur with Mike below, in that I believe that Davide is highlighting the frenzied reporting of mainstream journalists — almost as if they are trying to make people afraid of the technology and what it can do.
This does at times seem like it is an unresolvable issue, with such strong feelings on both sides of the argument. My contention would be that that does not mean that the debate, or considered reporting of the issue, should stop.
for those, like myself, who did not know the term: Hoplophobia is a neologism, originally coined to describe an “irrational aversion to firearms, as opposed to justified apprehension about those who may wield them.”[1] It is sometimes used more generally to describe the “fear of guns”[2][3] or the “fear of armed citizens.”[4]…
But seriously, how can I be an hoplophobe If I am fascinated by guns? The second point (about whining) is more on target, however, as a 3D printing website we are supposed to talk about everything – that we find out about – that has to do with 3DP. All the while expressing some “justified apprehension about those who wield them”…
There is a clear bias here….
“leave to hunters, soldiers, criminals (and a few too many Americans)” – There is no mention of law abiding citizens exercising their right to defend themselves and others against harm.
“What, in fact, does seem a little more worrisome than the gun itself” – A gun is only worrisome in the eyes of a hoplophobe. To someone else, it is merely a tool that can take a life as easily as it can save one.
” 3D printing was just starting to make real progress, it almost seemed as if all the good was being undone [by guns]” -IMO, 3d printing guns IS progress…
The media is obsessed with guns because of the passion exhibited by both sides of the viewer isle. The topic is a traffic generating golden goose. The media is just like any other business, only concerned with covering topics that will generate the most revenue, not what will inform and advance mankind.
The title is catchy and the parens are a clever move. Can’t help but notice that #MikeMolitchHou did a piece entitled ‘Individual freedom, collective violence’ that remains spot-on and relevant almost a year later. It is a given that the topic drives ratings point (and that’s what mainstream media care about, isn’t it) but unfortunately they lack the media space/time to invite debate/discuss the ramifications and possible magnitude of the topic. I am just relieved to be reassured that there are well-informed journalists/authors at 3D Printing Industry who approach their duty and task conscientiously.
Heh, the youtube video was taken down, the website redirects and won’t let you log in for viewing, and [sadly, I believe] the very talented man pictured was given a 2 year sentence for this. About as non-brilliant as their current tax policy, some of the highest in the world – killing jobs, destroying industry and making them 3rd after China. (why?) C’mon guys, pull your heads out..