The world's first 3D-printed gun (pictures)

Defense Distributed is offering downloadable plans for its Liberator gun online, for anyone worldwide -- for free.

James Martin

May 10, 2013 9:07 a.m. PT

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Screenshot/Defense Distributed

Cody Wilson fires his 3D-printed handgun, the Liberator

Cody Wilson, of Defense Distributed in Austin, Texas, fires a handgun manufactured entirely of 3D-printed parts, in a screenshot from a YouTube demonstration video.

Defense Distributed has already made plans for this open-source weapon -- dubbed a Wiki Weapon -- available online for free, and continues to refine and test the design to improve reliability.

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Defense Distributed

Liberator handgun components

These are the components of the Liberator handgun by Defense Distributed, 3D-printed from an open-source design.

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Defense Distributed

The Liberator disassembled

Defense Distributed's 3D-printed weapon, the Liberator, is seen here disassembled.

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Defense Distributed

Liberator testing

Defense Distributed's 3D-printed weapon, the Liberator, is seen here mounted on a metal holder during testing at a secret location outside of Austin, Texas.

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Defense Distributed

The Liberator

A printed part for the Liberator, the world's first 3D-printed gun.

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Defense Distributed

Testing the weapon

Cody Wilson loads the Liberator into its carrying case.

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Defense Distributed

Wiki Weapon

The parts for the Liberator are almost completely 3D printed. The only nonplastic components of the weapon are the firing pin -- a standard metal nail -- and a six-ounce piece of steel whose function is to make the gun spottable with a metal detector. (The U.S. Undetectable Firearms Act, which is set to expire at the end of 2013, prohibits weapons that don't set off a metal detector.)