5-29-08 How To Build A Prop Gun

Have you ever found yourself thinking, “Gee, I really want a Cyber/Steampunk Futuresque Sci-Fi Hand Gun prop, but I don’t know how to build one?” If you have, then you may want to up the dosage on your medication.

If, after doing so, you still want to get your sticky little hands on a fairly bitchen gun, like this…

… then gmjhowe is can hook you up.

He/she/it/they have step-by-step instructions at http://www.instructables.com/id/Steampunk-Futuresque-Sci-Fi-Hand-Gun/ to build your own break-open prop gun, which is reminiscent of Decker’s gun from Blade Runner and comes complete with light effects. I also like the grip – less a modern pistol grip and more the curved handle of a flintlock pistol. Probably makes it harder to aim, but it’s a nice combo of old and new.

As he/she/it/they write on Instructables.com, which may just become my new favoritest site of all time:

This is a project I’ve been working on for a few weeks now. I basically wanted a cool hand gun. I didn’t fancy any replica movie props, and the law makes it hard to buy normal replica guns. so i made my own.

“So I made my own.” Gotta love it. English majors with zero mechanical sense and aptitude (like me) are always fascinated by people who can hack reality in their own image like this – people who can take a seemingly-random pile of parts and a plan and just build something. I’m sorry to say this, Shanoah but… you can buy a ray gun, sure. But going all mad scientist and actually making your own is just so much more impressive. (And it probably won’t cost you $690 like those Dr. Grordbort’s ray guns, either, grumble grumble).

This post is YET ANOTHER fine product of Cory Doctorow at Boing Boing.