14 DAY TRIAL // The first time we learned about a 3D printed gun, we only saw what a spectacular failure it was. Now, though, we are looking at hard evidence that the concept is viable enough for the government to approve it.
Ever since 3D printing took off, scientists, researchers and inventors have been doing their best to make it possible to create anything with that method.
This, naturally, means that guns eventually got their turn. As we said, the first attempts ended in failure. While the firearms were made well enough, they broke after just a few test shots.
Now, America’s best-known group of 3D gunsmiths, Defense Distributed, has announced that its founder, Cody Wilson, now has a federal license to be a gun manufacturer and dealer.
“The big thing it allows me to do is that it makes me manufacture under the law—everything that manufacturers are allowed to do,” he told Ars Technica. “I can sell some of the pieces that we've been making. I can do firearms transactions and transport.”
The application was submitted to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (a division of the Department of Justice) back in October 2012.
The time between then and now was spent making prototypes. Even an AR-15 semi-automatic was tested recently (it is allowed without a license in America).
Curiously, while it is against the law to distribute/sell guns without a license, it isn't actually illegal to make them. Not for all of them anyway.
Wilson won't begin taking orders right away. He needs to get Class 2 Special Occupational Taxpayer (SOT) too, an “add-on” to the FFL. It is all that he needs to ensure a broad range of firearms. Fully automatic rifles, for examples, are outside his permission.
Wilson applied for the SOT a couple of days ago (Saturday, March 16), and expects approval a few weeks from now. Once sales start, the group will finally be able to offset the costs of printers and materials.