Optics, probably.
+1 ^^^^^ This ^^^^^
Also:
Incremental materials development
Projectile development for LE and SD
John
Optics, probably.
As 3D printing becomes better and cheaper at the same time, I think it won't be long before somebody begins selling anatomically personalized guns. You'll have a handgun that literally fits you like a glove. Take a step further and you'll have custom-length magazines tailored to your hand size. You can have a concealed carry pistol with a grip and mag that extend exactly to the bottom of your pinky, and not a milimeter more.
The somewhat perpendicular grip angle is necessary for reliable feeding from a box magazine. The mag geometry is the limit rather than the grip.Gotta say...this intrigues me. Think they could change the shape of a pistol completely? Something that isn't the traditional handle attached to a barrel at 90ish degrees?
I think we have a winner here!The idea of a custom 3D printed pistol is interesting. Take something like the Sig P320 system and then allow a huge number of changes that can be done by a user online, such as grip length, texture, trigger guard style, and inclusion of a rail could all be done. The user builds the pistol frame that they want, chose a color, submit payment and a week later the finished grip module arrives at their house. That would be pretty cool.
As 3D printing becomes better and cheaper at the same time, I think it won't be long before somebody begins selling anatomically personalized guns. You'll have a handgun that literally fits you like a glove. Take a step further and you'll have custom-length magazines tailored to your hand size. You can have a concealed carry pistol with a grip and mag that extend exactly to the bottom of your pinky, and not a milimeter more.
This has already been done . . .
Four years ago with the "Liberator" - a copy of the cheap pistol dropped into France during WWII for the French Resistance.
[...]
Three years ago with a 1911 clone using a sintering printer:
[...]
A year ago with a plastic 22 LR (this is the test firing):
[...]
The latter guy now has one with a .357 magnum barrel liner:
[...]
The problem with these is they're "ghost" guns. Not illegal to make, but illegal to transfer to anyone else at the federal level unless they have a firearm manufacturer's license, serial number them, and meet all the other legal requirements as a manufacturer. Some states may have their own prohibitions. I believe California requires all firearms now to have serial numbers, even ancient antiques. They require sufficient metal as the undetectable firearm act was renewed in 2013 as-is without additional provisions. Don't blame that on Obama; it sailed through the House and Senate without opposition . . . the Senate vote was unanimous.
John
Gotta say...this intrigues me. Think they could change the shape of a pistol completely? Something that isn't the traditional handle attached to a barrel at 90ish degrees?
The somewhat perpendicular grip angle is necessary for reliable feeding from a box magazine. The mag geometry is the limit rather than the grip.
The answer is, again, HK P7.
From the article about it in TTAG
I will admit it results in a grip on the large side of normal but I have big hands and it means my wife won't try to commandeer it.
That's not quite what he was talking about here.
The Sig P320 that he specifically mentioned is a modular design that has the firing components only as the serial numbered part registered as the firearm, with the grip frame, slide, barrel, and all other components totally legal to buy off the shelf without having to go through the channels used with firearms.
Those other parts aren't classified as firearms, only pieces of steel and plastic.
Because of the unique design of the P320, you could indeed fully legally construct a frame of any type you like on a 3-D printer to do high-tech customization.
The BATFE wouldn't have a thing to say about it, much as the idiot anti-gunners might try and huff and puff over it.
Of course, you wouldn't be able to 3-D print a frame for other guns, such as the current and past incarnations of all Glocks, S&W M&P, 1911, and all other handguns that have the grip frame/receiver as the serial numbered part.
There may be other guns that have the fire control components as the serial numbered part that can have grip frames/receivers replaced at will, but I'm far from an expert on what others may be out there, but if there are others, it would also be perfectly legal to do the same with them as with the P320.