I have a love-hate relationship with 1911s. On one hand, what’s not to love? Even the least well-made 1911s offer superb ergonomics, a crisp trigger and low-recoil, enabling deadly accuracy. The best of the breed have the same “if it looks right it is right” aesthetic you find in an Alden yacht or a McDonnel Douglas DC-3. Holding a 1911 puts you in direct, physical contact with John Moses Browning’s genius; connecting you to more than a hundred years of combat and personal defense. On the other hand . . .
1911s are heavy. The trigger’s too light for self-defense (where you’re highly likely to subconsciously “register” the trigger). They’ve got an external safety (which adds complexity to presentation). They offer limited capacity. And they’re not as reliable as a modern polymer pistol. All of which makes 1911s sub-optimal carry guns best reserved for experts and target shooters. That said, I’d carry the Solid Concept 1911 DMLS (Direct Metal Laser Sintering) in a New York minute, if only because of the way it was made.
Austin’s Solid Concepts fashioned the firearm from a digital model using a three-dimensional additive process. Instead of removing bits of metal from metal to create gun parts (the standard production process) SC’s printer adds material in successive layers to build up the parts. The computer-controlled manufacturing technique allows for relatively easy, rapid and inexpensive gun making. In the real world, plastic proves the point (e.g. Cody Wilson’s single shot Liberator). An all-metal 3D printed firearm? Not so much . . .
The German EOSINT M270 Direct Metal 3D Printer that created the all-metal 1911 cost Solid Concepts $600k. Argon and nitrogen gas, cutting and hand tools added another $400k to the bill. The printer disgorged the 1911’s parts in 34 hours using stainless steel, Inconel (extractor, firing pin, hammer, hammer strut, grip safety, main spring guide rod, sear and disconnector) and SLS Nylon 12 Powder (grips). (The main spring, grip screws and bushings, and trigger stirrup are the only pieces that weren’t 3D printed.) The completed gun required about a week-and-a-half (part time) to hand finish and assemble.
The Solid Concepts 1911 DMLS may cost a bomb—the prototype is priceless—but it signals a sea-change in the way guns are made. The 3D printing process will make metal firearms prototyping and manufacture simpler, faster, cheaper and better. High-quality gun making will become more available to more people more easily. The trend could democratize gun manufacturing, spelling the end of gun control as we know it. Or signal the beginning of ever more draconian anti-gun persecution.
Which brings us back to New York, whose newly enacted seven-round limit on pistols symbolizes government’s desire to rob Americans of their natural, civil and Constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms. As much as Solid Concepts’ Eric Mutchler seeks to distance his handiwork from political ramifications, the 1911 DMLS is a slap in the face of Empire State statists; a technological warning shot across the bow of gun grabbers everywhere. [Click here for an interview with the gun’s creator.]
The best part of holding the SC 1911 DMLS: it feels completely normal. There’s no indication that it’s anything other than a bog-standard 1911. Like all full-length 1911s, the DMLS feels perfect in the hand. The grip safety moves forward with predictable ease. The magazine (not 3D printed) slips into the mag well without complaint. The slide slides satisfyingly, chambering the first round with chunky satisfaction. The safety snicks off as expected. A gentle trigger squeeze and the DMLS throws lead downrange. Wash, rinse, repeat, done.
Standing a good forty yards from the target on a bone-chilling day at Best of the West, Eric Mutchler was ringing steel like Rob Leatham—if Rob was freezing his ass off in a howling gale. The DMLS prototype’s only mechanical problem: occasional ejector issues. Your humble scribe had more luck (with reliability) and no such luck (hitting a target at rifle distance with a handgun). I blame incipient hypothermia and the DMLS’s tiny if historically faithful GI sights. Sensibly enough I moved [a lot] closer and did some point shooting, hammering a pie plate-sized group into Mr. Transparent Organ’s vitals.
Would I bet my life on Solid Concepts’ 3D printed ballistic brainchild? After a bit more finishing, tinkering and smithing, sure, why not? Various shooters have run over 1300 rounds through the 1911 DMLS without the gun exploding once. And Eric Mutchler’s no dope. As a former Navy machinist, he knows lives can depend on fully functional machinery. Eric wouldn’t be running the gun so hard, passing it to new shooters like a Rastaman sharing a joint at a reggae concert, if he didn’t have complete faith in its structural integrity.
Besides, the thing’s worth a fortune intact. Eric could stop shooting the gun now, declare victory and cash the check for the company. But he won’t for many more thousands of rounds. And then, when Eric’s satisfied that he’s established proof of concept, the first Solid Concepts 1911 DMLS will fall silent and head for the Smithsonian—should the museum have even a small understanding of firearms history. Or the NRA Museum, whose curator is all about the DMLS. After that, wealthy collectors will get their shot at buying the prototype’s progeny at, say, $20k per gun.
Not that new owners’ homies will “get it.” Shooting the SC 1911, it’s easy to forget you’re firing an enormously important firearm. The 3D printed DMLS looks and feels like a “real” gun. The fact that it’s a 1911 only adds to the sense of intellectual complacency. If the DMLS looked futuristic—like Wilson’s blocky Liberator or Chiappa’s steampunk Rhino—the world’s first 3D printed metal gun would have a more immediate, visceral impact. But make no mistake: the 1911 DMLS is a literal piece of history. And those strange new guns are coming, too.
Defrosting in the Merc, one of Solid Concepts’ customers showed me a curious piece of metal. The small disk has six cogged wheels inside a larger, cogged wheel, with interlocking teeth. The device emerged, fully formed, fully functional, from a 3D printer. It illustrates an important point: 3D printing opens up a whole new world of engineering possibilities; the chance to create firearms that will take the art and science of gun making to the next level. All it needs is the next John Moses Browning. Watch this space.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Caliber: .45
Barrel Length: 5.0″
Overall Length: 6.85”
Weight: 2.25 lbs
Finish: Shot peened
Capacity: 8+1
Price: Not for Sale
RATINGS (out of five stars):
Style * * * * *
John Moses Browning’s best is still more than good enough.
Ergonomics * * * * *
See: above.
Reliability * * *
Extractor issues caused many a MALF but these things can be fixed in post. And it didn’t blow up once.
Customizable
Yeah. No.
Carry * * * *
Slim and sexy and too damn heavy—unless you like that sort of thing.
Overall Rating * * * * *
An enormous historical achievement by a guy who knows and loves guns. We are not worthy. Or are we?
[Click here for more pics of the 1911 DMLS photos. Click here for videos of the gun in action.]
Every place on earth will give him a chilly welcome. I think Antarctica would be appropriate.
There is one way and that it’s forward. I dream of a day where we see the true next gen firearms without the NFA.
How rare do my loves of reggae and firearms get mentioned in a single article!
Like was said above, any reasonable trigger could be used for self defense, those damn 12 lb NYC “Lets Shoot Some Bystanders” triggers seem to be the standard for inaccuracy 😀
I’m a total computer ignoramus, so don’t laugh….
Just what is involved in creating the software for a printed gun? Can you just dismantle an original and “scan” the parts, or does the operator have to make a complete set of “digitalized” plans to work from? When the price comes down on these things enough for a small business to afford one, it would be great if the “scanning” option were available. I’ve always wanted an affordable Webley-Fosberry Automatic Revolver.
You can do both. Traditionally you would model the part in 3D CAD, export it and print it.
There are now (actually have been for a long while, I’m just drawing a grammatical blank onhow to say it without parentheses) laser scanners that produce a 3D point cloud. That gets interpreted into surfaces, which get thickened into parts, which get printed.
The scanners are used mostly for extremely complex shapes. The plans for the 1911 parts are widely available, and gun parts are relatively simple, and I would wager they went the CAD route.
every day that I go out, I think to myself: “have I ever been attacked yet? do I really need to bring my handgun with me this time?” and then I think: “well… if I don’t bring it this time something bad will happen… I better bring it and not need it.” I’m very fortunate to not ever of had anything happen to me. But I’m ready.
Barrel is printed as well?
The antis will rant and rave about how this is the the worst idea ever they will tell us its not safe and say we have no need for 3d printed guns they are just afraid in this tech they see the potential end of all gun control everywhere
I wonder if he thinks a “genuine transaction between predator and prey” exists at the slaughterhouse. Only the indolent who are well-fed by the efforts of others can afford to take seriously such overwrought poetry about their food sources.
ARGH! I was so close to heading up to BotW, but the cold kept me home. I want to put a round through that thing so badly!
Great writeup! Thanks.
Pass de 1911 ‘pon de lef’ han’ side!
Alaska has the best gun control law.
1. Alaska residents who legally own a firearm may carry it in any manner they choose.
2. Alaska recognizes all other states carry laws.
This is what happens when a small island nation sends its best and toughest men off to die in too many wars. The males who are left home to breed produce one generation of pantywaists after another.
I dunno. Shootin’ up a Christmas tree before Dec. 25 somehow just seems… wrong.
“The perpetual fusillade of guns from across the other side of the Yare sounded like the Somme.”
a) This is hyperbole of the highest order. The bulk of the killing in WWI was done by tube arty and belt-fed machine guns. The sound of shotgun hunting is nothing like the sound of industrial-grade battle.
b) This man is a pussy. Plain and simple. If we really believed in evolution, we’d be able to remove his lot from the gene pool.
Uhh, no I don’t. Thanks.
I am thinking of starting my own Church of some sort and having a gun buyback. Heck I bet I could get several folks of like mind and offer $200 for these evil, evil Assault Weapons, $50 for a pistol. Here in Texas, I probably could even get local Law Enforcement on board to assist me in getting these guns off the street. We would just have to figure out how to divey up the proceeds. Well, all except Austin that is, there I believe I could be all teary eyed, read Liberal, and get the Austin Chief, he is from San Francisco after all, to go along with the gun buy back, I would just have to figure out how to keep from mentioning that I aint going to destroy all of em.
I’m actually looking at a Masters in Manufacturing Systems Engineering. I LOVE 3d printing and want to be on the forefront of bringing it into every factory and home in the nation. Though I have yet to actually buy one, heh. It just captures my imagination.
As a fervent Odinist my “christmas” cards are usually long rants about the theft of Yule by the church. Never thought to add guns to the mix….
As far as tree shooting I’m usually too deep in the mead to be trusted around any potentially dangerous objects. There was an incident with an ax a few years ago….
While I like guns… A LOT!… they do not dominate my life, so… No.
Perhaps they should change it to the “Imaginary Firearms Act”. That way we can cover all the “finger guns” these 5 year olds keep smuggling into our Gun Free Zones all the time.
You know, you can go through life without shoehorning guns into every little thing you do…
I just read the article: pure campfire kumbaya crap.
The author faults us for denial, whike denying that successful imsurgencies have indeed bested modern militaries, including our own. He’s the one denying there’s any substantial civilian use if firearms outside of the extremes of indulging in plinking or launching tragedy, as though countlesd DGU’s every day do not exist.
His rant is replete with strawmen and stereotypes in roughly equal measure.
If she had shot the intruder Joe Nocera would have published it on his blog as “gun violence” that needs to be stopped.
Evie Hudak would have preferred this situation be a rape rather than “gun violence”
One issue that will pop up if you shoot actual CMP (Civilian Marksmanship Program) matches is that the SIG M400 has QD attachment points forged into both sides of the lower receiver at the rear. Most of the time at NRA sanctioned matches, the match officials will let you ‘slide’ on this unless you’re actually placing in your division. You will always be subject to a technical objection by another shooter since the receiver isn’t mil-spec. The rifle will fail the CMP technical inspection, though. At an NRA match, the only thing that happens is that you will be moved from SR (Service Rifle) to Match Rifle in the results. Since at first, you’ll be shooting for personal best instead of competing against the other shooters, that’s no major problem.
One illumination as well. The acronym DCM refers to the Director of Civilian Marksmanship, the old name for the ODCMP (Office of the Director of the Civilian Marksmanship Program) which is often abbreviated as CMP.
So to be clear, they denied Harris’ motion for dismissal, but the case still has to be litigated, correct?
Matt, check out Joe Grine’s comment below. Yes, there will be further litigation. We don’t know what form it may take.
Very nice. Probably wouldn’t be a good idea to talk about blowing away a cop with the guns they are carrying, though. I’m thinking that would end badly, even with a relatively honorable police officer.
Speaking of 1911s; does anyone know if the 10 round magazines are considered reliable, or not? Thanks in advance.
…and Cliff,too,I see! Thanks!!!
The 0350 comes in several configurations and blade steels. It also comes in a plain edge version, which is my preference between the two.
I am happy as can be to hear that the author was unharmed in the attack. I will certainly share this with my wife in the hopes that she further understands my motivations for showing her how to operate all of our firearms and for my desire for her to have a Concealed Handgun License.
OK, the subject of Christmas has always been a sore one for me. I get asthma, and am highly allergic to pine trees, so blowing the shit out of one is fine by me, any time of the year. Then there’s the whole “Christmas is really Saturnalia dressed up by the Catholic Church so the Pagans will join up” deal. I think Jesus would be OK with this, he liked to associate with sinners and roisterers, and shooting anything is fun. He didn’t come here to save the good and holy. But read the Bible!!! Most people don’t, and have accepted the mistaken wisdom of others. Revelation tells clearly what is required.
Congrats! And SHOT is around the corner so that’s going to blow up.
four more years!
It’s the furniture. If the Feds say it is a pistol, it doesn’t matter if you treat it like a rifle. In the same way, if you get a full sized 16″ barreled ar and fire it one handed from a fully extended arm without using the shoulder stock, it does not make it a pistol. The key to it all is that the Feds must say what it is.
getting in on this rifle late. But I own one and I love it I load all my own ammo and topped it with nf glass 8×32 optics run almost same as rifle but then so does the lapua brass not a rifle to waste rounds with. So I try to be accurate accurate at a mile is not cheap well for me not weathy
I refer you to history. Freedom is lost incrementally. It is taken back in large chunks by force.
That’s just how it is. Read a book.
You may fear it. I look forward to it. Not because it will be pretty. But because that’s how it works. I may not even live to see the outcome. That’s just how it works.
You don’t have to like it. You just have to step up when the day comes, or explain to your grandchildren why the Bill of Rights was erased and you didn’t think it deserved a defense.
Let the USA die because you’re too brainwashed to do the one and only thing that ever restored freedom, anywhere, ever?
Yeah, draw another line in the sand, talk big, and watch ‘them’ stroll over it knowing fu;ll well that all you’re going to do is draw another line… There have been plenty of chances for the Americans to rally, but they never do. Just write the victim off as crazy and let it go…
“The tank, being a tank, was unscathed”
I have found my quotable quote of the day 😀
From a 2A standpoint this is a great example of guns protecting individual liberties as our founding fathers understood.
From a racial perspective, this topic is very interesting. Being a scholar of history in an earlier life myself, I was exposed to the history of “whiteness” which elaborated on the trajectory of various groups of immigrants to the U.S. and their assimilation into the mainstream. Too often this is looked at in a white vs. black context but looking at the evidence of eastern europeans, irish, italians etc. immigrants shows similar discrimination of these groups upon first landing on U.S. soil in significant numbers.
I don’t, yet, own anything with a rail. But the introduction of a new rail system seems to me a lot like what we get in engineering standards….
http://xkcd.com/927/
With these requirements I say no firearm or ammo manufacturer should bid on it, and in fact refuse to sell to them flat out.