3D-printed and illegal weapons: a curse or a blessing?

3D printed weapons: bane or blessing? Printer farms, illegal firearms, Flemish companies, investments in the defense industry with 3D printers, blueprints and innovation.

Illegally manufactured, converted, and 3D printed weapons are rapidly gaining ground worldwide. Illegally 3D printed unregistered weapons (ghost guns) are a bane in America, but illegal printer farms are also emerging in Belgium and the Netherlands. 3D printers producing drone parts are a blessing and are saving Ukraine from destruction. The 3D printing of firearms is still in its infancy, but as soon as special ammunition for 3D printed weapons becomes available, this will become the technical evolution of the future, just like with drones.

3D Printed Weapons: A Bane

Illegal 3D Printed Firearms

Previously, illegally 3D printed weapons were found in circles where ideology was the driving force behind the desire for weapon ownership. These were usually politically motivated, in a struggle against oppression, or driven by extreme right, left, or religious extremism. Now, in America, illegally 3D printed hybrid unregistered weapons (ghost guns) play a significant role among weapons used in criminal circles.

Toy version in color of the FGC-9 3D printed weapon. No 3D printed weapons or plastic parts are available, and no 3D printer files or blueprints for 3D printers are released on this webshop. Illegally printing 3D weapons is a violation of the arms law and is punishable by law!

There are three types of 3D printed firearms:

1) 3D printed firearms with plastic barrels are the first type of 3D printed firearms where almost all parts are made of plastic, including the barrel. Only the firing pin and springs are made of metal. The wear of the bullet in the barrel and the heat from the combustion of the gunpowder are the main technical limitations, which restrict the lifespan of these traditional plastic barrels to about ten shots per barrel. This limitation on the lifespan of 3D printed weapons can be extended by using a revolver cylinder with multiple chambers (each with its own barrel). The lifespan of one barrel is 10 shots, and a cylinder with 6 barrels can fire 60 shots before the cylinder is worn out.

2) Hybrid 3D printed firearms that contain both 3D printed plastic parts and metal parts that are commercially available, such as the barrel, a metal trigger mechanism, and special metal springs. For this, existing weapon parts that are separately available in stores are used. In most European countries, these separate weapon parts require a permit, but with considerable skill, one can also manufacture a rifled barrel oneself.

3) The third type of 3D printed firearms is an extension of the first type, where the plastic barrel is also 3D printed but using the principle of 3D printed revolver cylinders where each chamber has its own barrel. This type of 3D printed weapon is still under active development.

America offers the possibilities

In most American states, every citizen has the right to make their own weapon for personal defense, but they are not allowed to sell that weapon. Hence, American law differs from that in Europe, where there are strict regulations and registration for weapon parts and manufacturing.

Hybrid 3D printed firearms are harder to find in Europe due to strict gun laws where most firearm parts require a license. However, it is possible to make metal weapon parts, such as the barrel, for hybrid 3D printed firearms, either mechanically or through an electrochemical process.

Popular models in Europe include the German FGC-9 mk2 which was developed by the German-Kurdish weapon designer Jacob Duygu and the Brazilian Urutau which was developed by a weapon designer with the pseudonym "Joseph The Parrot", both hybrid 3D printed semi-automatic or fully automatic weapons are in 9x19mm caliber. However, various models of 3D printed firearms are available on a number of open-source networks such as Deterrence Dispesed, DEFCAD, and many others, where 3D printer files (called blueprints) can be downloaded online for free. In some countries, including Belgium, downloading weapon blueprints is prohibited, but in most countries worldwide, it is not. There are also many blueprints available that are not actual weapon parts but toys or replicas of real weapons! However, do not delude yourself that everything is easy and works without problems. A 3D printed part is not a finished product! It requires a lot of technical knowledge and post-processing to make a 3D printed firearm reliable.

Disclaimer: We cannot be held responsible for legal provisions because the evolution of 3D weapons is rapid, and changes in law can quickly become imperative, be introduced, or be linked to existing laws!

Downloading and possessing blueprints for the illegal 3D printing of weapons, actively preparing for illegal 3D printed weapon production, and the illegal manufacturing of 3D printed weapons are prohibited by law and are punishable in Belgium!

Only authorized persons/gunsmiths can, in principle, legally 3D print a weapon/part!

Crime and 3D Printed Firearms

Currently, 3D printed firearms have not yet been used in crimes in Belgium or the Netherlands. The performance of 3D printed firearms is still inferior, and the proportion of 3D printed firearms in crimes is marginal. Nevertheless, vigilance is maintained to prevent a sudden technical evolution that could make 3D printed firearms a major threat to society. Although a technical evolution of 3D printed weapons is inevitable. Firearms, whether 3D printed or not, do not belong in criminal acts, but the question is, will 3D printed firearms become as revolutionary as the advent of 3D printed drones?

3D Printed Parts for Attack Drones as Weapons

Volunteers at home use 3D printers to make drone parts as weapons for Ukraine.

In various European countries, parts are now being printed for drones used on the battlefield in Ukraine. This has caused a stir in some countries because it conflicts with the weapons law in most European countries. The concept of a weapon part is thus much broader than just firearm parts. The Dutch cabinet confirms that the export and manufacture of parts for drones as weapons fall under weapons law and are prohibited for individuals who do not have a license for them.

Parts for drones are also made in Belgium as local support for Ukraine; however, it is important to be careful when exporting anything, as there is a "Catch All" clause stating that any product that can be used to arm military forces can be considered a weapon export!

Illegal Weapons

The illegal manufacturing of weapons has existed throughout time and is not a new phenomenon caused by 3D printers!

Illegal bladed weapons

Bladed weapons are still the main cause of most fatal incidents among civilians. The carrying and possession of bladed weapons is regulated by Belgian arms law and differs somewhat from Dutch arms law. Pocket knives, kitchen knives and sharp-edged screwdrivers are common and illegally carried by young people. Link to protective clothing and stab-resistant vests.

Pen guns and Zip guns

In the past, illegal pen guns and zip guns were made in metalworking shops. In short, these are a couple of steel pipes that can fire a cartridge. Pen gun info and Zip Gun info. In Flanders, too, large numbers of illegal pen guns were seized in the past.

Alarm guns

The alarm guns that are freely available in Belgium from gun dealers cannot simply be converted. The barrel of an alarm gun in Belgium must legally be fitted with a hardened obstruction that cannot be drilled through.

Converted alarm guns are quite common among small criminal gangs.

Specialised technicians who have a (mini) lathe and milling machine can replace the entire barrel by fitting a self-made barrel into the alarm gun. In other countries, less strict requirements are imposed on alarm guns, and some of them can be easily converted.

Conversion of deactivated weapons

Deactivated weapons are real weapons that have been rendered inoperable according to the law so that they can no longer fire bullets. In Belgium, this procedure is very thorough, but in a number of other European countries, it is superficial, meaning that a deactivated weapon can be reactivated.

BB guns

BB guns are toy weapons that can fire plastic pellets. They look like real weapons and consist of a plastic frame and a trigger mechanism. Although it is much more difficult to convert such a BB gun into a firing weapon, the plastic parts and the trigger mechanism can be used without having to print them on a 3D printer first.

Illegal Kalashnikov rifles

Criminals and organised crime do not waste time on making 3D printed firearms. The illegal arms trade is international and linked to drug trafficking, which is also widespread in Belgium. Illegal war weapons enter Belgium through smuggling from former Eastern Bloc countries. Illegal real firearms are the main type of weapon found among criminals. It is much easier for criminals to buy functional illegal weapons than to make weapons of questionable quality on a 3D printer themselves.

After the war in Ukraine, there are fears that large quantities of illegal modern and functional war weapons will flood Europe.

3D printed weapons a blessing.

3D printers are a blessing for Ukraine because they are massively present among the civilian population and are used to print drone parts. In this way, they support the needs of the army in the war against the Russians. 3D printers are also used worldwide in various companies for general applications.

Investments in defence

The number of companies providing 3D printing services in Flanders is rapidly increasing, and more and more private individuals are starting to print plastic parts themselves using 3D printers.

For a long time, the technology for economically producing 3D-printed weapons was in its infancy, but it cannot be denied that 3D printers are constantly improving, and the raw materials offer increasingly more technical possibilities. 3D printers are already used in defence to print weapon system components, are used to print cheap drones and bombs, and are also used internationally to print weapons for rebels.

The pressure from the Flemish Government, which dictates that Flanders can only accommodate a weapons industry dealing with Dual-Use goods or production, encourages Flemish 3D printing companies to attempt to produce 3D printed weapons. Flanders possesses enormous economic potential that can be used for defence, however, due to strict arms laws, most Flemish 3D printing companies are limited in their innovation. Only a few large 3D printing companies supply products to defence. Most other 3D printing firms cannot deploy their capacities due to a lack of weapons expertise and infrastructure for legally producing and testing weapons or ammunition.

Moral objections or technological evolution?

3D printing of weapons still faces several moral objections, mainly due to the lack of weapon registration. Unregistered weapons are popular with criminals because their crimes cannot then be linked to a specific weapon. A counter-argument in favor of 3D printed weapons is the lack of defensive weapons among civilians in times of war, pointing to Russian FPV drones killing unarmed civilians in Ukraine. If NATO goes to war with Russia, there will also be a general shortage of weapons here in Europe, and civilians will not be able to defend themselves against hostile FPV drones, which could lead to a large number of casualties.

If you can think it ... you can make it! (visual model, not an actual 3D weapon - no blueprint)

A serious moral question must be asked here. Does one want to completely halt the further development of 3D-printed weapons in Flanders, leaving international technical evolution to hostile foreign powers, or are adjustments made to the arms law that legally open the way to broadly controlled 3D weapon printing? Ultimately, 3D printing of weapons is a production technique that has proven drones to be efficient weapons. 3D-printed anti-drone personal defense weapons could become a solution to the massive drone problem. A global technological evolution cannot be stopped!

What is lacking in Flanders?

Most 3D printers are used to print toys or general plastic parts

Years ago, research was conducted within the Belgian defense regarding the consequences if a weapons industry were to emerge in Flanders that would compete with the Walloon FN Herstal, the largest supplier of light weapons to the Belgian army? Clarity on this could form a basis for investment. If negative, whereby the supply of weapons for the Belgian army would be jeopardized, then all Flemish firearm projects and investments would be meaningless.
A more predictable legal framework for companies wishing to enter the arms industry. The problem of difficult-to-obtain permits.
A Flemish proof house for firearms. Currently, all weapons in Flanders (the northern part of Belgium) must first be approved by a Walloon proof house (in the southern part of Belgium). That is a typical Belgian solution but not economical.
Registration possibilities for 3D-printed weapons, similar to the case for drones weighing over 250g.
Weapon technical knowledge for firearms is limited in the industry in Flanders. Flemish companies in 3D printed solutions scan existing weapons or weapon components to then 3D print them. A 3D printed replica of a weapon may seem impressive, but it means absolutely nothing in terms of weapon technology. There is no weapon technical blueprint for 3D printed weapons in Flanders.
- Flemish companies have no proprietary firearm developments and cannot propose or offer any products.
- Test procedures and C.I.P. registration of 3D printed ammunition. (Permanent International Commission for the Proving of Portable Firearms)
- Which materials, which print density, which print direction, which inner and outer dimensions for a standard 3D printed barrel?
- Which 3D-printed ammunition? What is the burst pressure of the chamber? What is the maximum peak pressure / test pressure according to the C.I.P. test protocol (1.5x the working pressure)?
- What is the working pressure for a specific 3D-printed ammunition?
The only way for Flemish 3D printing companies to make 3D weapons or ammunition is to hire or collaborate with a Recognized Person armorer / arms dealer. Then development can start, and only the problem of infrastructure for mass production remains. Please note that developing a new weapon system is a full-time job!

Why do 3D-printed weapons explode?

Rightfully, there are warnings that 3D-printed weapons can explode and cause injuries to the shooter or bystanders.

When a cartridge is fired, the primer ignites the propellant charge, causing the combustion gases to generate high pressure (chamber pressure) and propel the projectile out of the barrel at high speed. Several factors play a role in this.

The main reasons for an exploded 3D printed weapon can be:

The use of weak raw material (PLA) resulting in 3D printed parts not being strong enough.
Malfunctions in the supply or quality of the 3D printer's filament.
Incorrect temperature setting of the 3D printer, causing the printed workpiece not to bond properly and to detach quickly.
Incorrect print direction, preventing maximum strength from being achieved.
Wall thickness and material strength not proportional to the high chamber pressure of the cartridge.
Failure to observe the correct dimensions, causing the bullet to jam and the pressure to rise abnormally high.
Design not resistant to the forces of recoil when firing the cartridge.

Advantages of 3D printed weapons and ammunition.

The mass production of 3D-printed weapons can be organized in companies, by the population, or by the military themselves, allowing the army to quickly equip soldiers, reservists, or volunteers with weapons and ammunition. (same as with drones in Ukraine)
Can be used for the manufacture of short-range defensive weapons, thereby relieving standard production lines at FN-Herstal or allowing them to produce more high-quality weapons.
Limiting dependence on rare raw materials such as high-grade steel, copper, aluminum, and lead.
Weapon technology and strategic knowledge can make the population more resilient.
3D-printed weapons can be made on a cheap standard 3D printer. High-quality 3D printers can be used to print small components such as ammunition.
The plastic can be recycled to make new weapons or other parts.
A form of technical inspection and registration can be developed, just as with drones over 250g.

Disadvantages of these 3D printed weapons and ammunition

These 3D printed weapons can be illegally made anywhere without registration of the weapons. The number of ghost guns is increasing rapidly.
Some 3D printed weapons cannot be detected by metal detectors during security checks.
3D printed weapon components are made from special raw materials that release toxic gases during printing. This cannot be done in every living room, only in specially equipped workshops.

It is no secret that the US Army is researching the possibilities of 3D printing plastic weapon components. However, in Europe, designers were legally limited compared to the American "Daddy" weapon paradise. Due to the threat of war, we live in a different time where limiting weapon technical research is equivalent to a technical and strategic setback compared to the rest of the world. Flanders has a number of possibilities, and there is a large 3D printer industry present in Belgium. The future with 3D printed solutions is indispensable.

Given that Europe has completely sidelined itself in terms of weapon technology, lost large parts of its strategic industry, become militarily irrelevant, and is now facing a new technology that can no longer be stopped, many are already making reservations about European gun law to legally prosecute not gun ownership but crime with a weapon. A European gun law more akin to the Swiss or American model to avoid a flood of crime, lawsuits, and incidents involving 3D printers and weapons.

Resilience and Protection

Due to the geopolitical situation, there is an understandable increase in the sale of weapons to citizens across Europe. In Belgium, weapon ownership is regulated by the Belgian Weapons Act. In principle, anyone with a certificate of good conduct and morals for weapon ownership and a medical examination can register with a recognized shooting club and, after training and a period of time, legally acquire a weapon.

In addition to civilian weapon ownership, it is also possible to protect oneself against the threat of war. All types of bulletproof vests are permitted in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Most Class 3 bulletproof vests or plate carriers can withstand projectiles from 3D-printed ammunition. For even heavier weapons, there is also Class 4.

Leopard Tactical Bulletproof Vest Class 4 Bulletproof Molle Engarde ICW

Class 3 stops, among others, bullets with soft steel core 7.62x36 MSC AK47

Deluxe bulletproof body armor 3a MT-PRO-GEN7 black Engarde + 7.62x25mm Tokarev

Discrete bulletproof vests against shootings and knife attacks to be worn invisibly under clothing. For men and women.

Dual Use discrete vest class 3 or 4

Protection against knife attacks or stabbing

DCS Multicam AK 7.62 plate carrier + side plates NIJ4+(04)

Various bulletproof plate carriers class 4 are available for protection against Kalashnikov assault rifles. Multicam is the new camouflage color currently used by the Belgian army.

Modern emergency kit escape backpack 2026 - 17kg with sleeping bag 72 hours survival + tactical first aid

In several European countries, it is recommended to have an emergency kit. Various types of emergency kits are available.

Conclusion?

Almost all existing machines can be used to make illegal weapons.

Weapons can be made on 3D printers
Weapons can be made on mini hobby lathes and milling machines
Plastic or aluminum weapon parts can be made on CNC controlled mini woodworking machines
Many legal freely available weapons or parts thereof can be converted or used into real weapons.
Illegal arms trade is the main supplier of illegal weapons

The Belgian firearms law is sufficiently clear and comprehensive, prohibiting all production of weapons and parts for persons who do not have a license for them, regardless of how they are made!