TLDR: No one can say what the future holds for 3D-printed guns, but the possibility of printing off weapons at home is a great avenue for fiction to explore.
Like smart guns, 3D-printed firearms are an emerging technology that’s perfect for speculation when writing fiction. This is an area of firearms the real world isn’t yet sure about. With the proliferation of 3D printers across the consumer market, you can bet 3D-printed firearms will be showing up in fiction sooner rather than later.
Like any other industry, the firearms market is subject to fads and flavors of the month, especially when it comes to handguns. The hype machine bit me good for the latest hot model on the block, the Taurus Curve. I think it’s worth noting for fiction writers, because it’s a fresh take on many of the features characters need in a handgun. Continue reading
Yesterday, I was interviewed by Bethany Moore, a KWTX TV reporter in Waco, Texas, about autopsy reports from that “biker gang shootout” you might’ve heard about back in May (it made national news). The clip aired last night, and I managed to capture the live stream, seeing as how I don’t live in Texas and all. Pardon the buffering (you can see a better video here).
This is a Smith & Wesson Model 40. It’s one of the few revolvers to use a safety. Instead of a switch or button, it uses what’s called a “grip safety.” It sits behind the grip, and must be pressed (i.e. palmed) before the gun can fire. This is the exception, not the rule. The vast majority of revolvers do not use safeties. (Smith & Wesson photo)
TLDR: Assume that revolvers don’t use safeties unless you can prove otherwise through research. Mention that specific model in the story.
Here’s an easy one. The short answer is no, revolvers do not have safeties in the same way some semi-automatic pistols do. There isn’t a switch or other device to press before the revolver can be fired. Usually.
Yes, THAT Kalashnikov, aka the AK-47. (Shutterstock photo)
Today I’m honored to host journalist and crime writer BJ Wolf, author of the forthcoming Karen Yellowtail books (don’t miss it). Wolf had the good fortune to meet with Mikhail Kalashnikov, inventor of the AK-47, before he died in 2013. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to invite Wolf here to share the experience.
Despite creating what’s arguably the most iconic firearm in history, many don’t know that Kalashnikov never made a dime from the gun. Patents in the Soviet Union were property of the state, meaning Kalashnikov had to resort to other means to make ends meet. As you’ll read below, this meant licensing his name to some unusual endeavors.
Enjoy!
~Ben
The Writer's Guide to Weapons 