Issue 19: Three-Round Super Safe LARK, FTN5.1 Update, Legal Future of 3D Guns
Tu ne cede malis, sed contra audentior ito
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In today’s issue:
New Releases:
In this section, we cover new file releases that we find notable. If something catches your interest, go download and start printing!
L.A.R.K. - Four (!) Position Selector w/ 3-Round Super Safe
No sooner did we announce the CARL three-round super safety in our last issue did someone DIY it. Developer Stealth The Unknown has released the L.A.R.K. - Limited Assisted Reset Kabuto - a modification of the Kabuto FRT.
In addition to the expected safe, semi and super safe positions, the L.A.R.K. also supports a three-round super safe mode! As demonstrated in the video below, the selector for this mode sits in an interesting 45 degree position between the semi and super safe modes.
The three-round super safe functionality uses an interesting ratcheting pawl design which requires some custom fabricated springs. Details on how to make these springs are in the Odysee description (move them into the included documentation please!) as well as a video.
This Odysee description also notes certain special requirements for the AR FCG, namely a trigger with two disconnector slots and apparently two disconnectors. This is a characteristic of milspec M16 triggers, but it’s unclear to me if this is exactly what is required, and if so what parts. If anyone knows, ping me so I can update this!
If you want to have the most accurate Vietnam larp, a three-position (safe / semi / three-round super safe) model also exists. I’d love to see some of these get printed!
FULL-NULL - Stripped Down NULL-22
The terse and mysterious ju5t3nc4s3 has released an iteration on his earlier NULL-22 design, which he calls the FULL-NULL.
As per the usual there’s no documentation, which is frustrating and I wish it would change. The description indicates that this is a simplified and beefed up version of the NULL, which sounds cool. Just please tell us how to build it!
Updates:
In this section we will mention updates to major releases - fixes, new variants, etc.
FTN5.1 Update - New Options, Improvements, Baffle Coating
PLA+boi returns with what will sadly be his final update to the FTN series - the FTN5.1 update. So what’s new?
Readers will remember that the original FTN released not entirely untested, but perhaps less tested than otherwise preferred. The 5.1 release consists primarily of adjustments from testing performed post-releases. These include adjustments to several models, correcting some small CAD errors and a few useful models.
A particularly interesting addition is instructions for a baffle coating process. In a writeup, PLA+Boi notes that while his baffles are designed to resist permanent deformation (heat resistance), no design can totally resist erosion forever. But, by coating the baffles with a heat-resistant enamel, erosion can be significantly reduced. Check the writeup to learn more!
PLA+boi notes that this will be his final writeup and that he is stepping away again, having completed what he set out to do. We wish him the best in his future endeavors!
M4gery Gets an Update
It’s always nice to call attention to a kaewon design. The M4gery, first released in 2024, received an update recently to add a Mk18-style barrel with special threads to allow direct mount of the FTN.5. Very good!
Want to build one of these? Print-A-22 has you covered!
3DP90 Shortened Stock End - P90s that Look Like P90s
I love the 3DP90 (and I sell kits for them!) but 300blkFDE makes a good point when he notes that the 3DP90 is way longer than a real P90. This mod fixes that by shortening the stock end.
Interesting theme we have here with mods that make guns look more like their real-life counterparts. May it continue!
Coming Soon:
This section lists announcements or previews for projects that have not yet hit open beta. Keep an eye out for further news about these projects!
Careless Whisper - Integrally Suppressed Trash Panda
Careless talk kills, and so does this remix from TheAvieAtrix - silently and precisely. It’s an integrally suppressed Trash Panda!
Avie is waiting on his Form 1 to come in to finish out the build, but she expects that an open beta should follow pretty quickly upon receiving it. The Trash Panda has been a pretty popular build, and this will only make it cooler!
3DP Kriss Vector In Progress!
We’re working towards another one! From developer EfficientRabbit7377 comes a DIY Kriss Vector that appears to be almost fully DIY!
Details are very scarce but the dev notes that it uses SCS parts for rails and slider, as well as a custom bolt which he intends to make DIY. Now you particularly have my attention!
This has apparently been in progress for 8 months now and is “almost ready.” I’m staying tuned!
News:
In this section we’ll review major news events either originating in the 3D2A space, or particularly pertinent to this space.
Today’s news is all bad and I’ve spent considerable time thinking about how to present it (this is why this issue is late.) My dilemma: is it better to speak optimistically to maintain community morale, or to speak realistically?
I’ve decided to be realistic. We should face the coming threats with open eyes and proceed in spite of them. Read on.
The Legal Future of 3D Guns: One Case Closes, Another Opens
Let’s discuss two legal events from the last two weeks. The first, from New Jersey, ends an old case. The other, from California, begins a new one. The two suits cover the same subject: the state’s ability to control the distribution of 3D gun files online.
The California case alleges that the major players of the Gatalog are civilly liable for violations of California’s anti-ghost-gun laws. Matt Larosiere (Fuddbusters), a defendant in the case and the main counsel, estimates the fines California is seeking against the defendants amount to $8 million.
Online reaction in the 2A community has been tremendously supportive of the Gatalog, and a victory is assumed. But the arguments for this victory are that California can’t sue out of state defendants, that the suit is “harassment”, that “code is free speech”, and that California’s laws obviously violate the First and Second Amendments.
I’ll be blunt here: the first two points are the legal equivalent of “plastic guns always blow up.” These are cliches adopted in order to avoid engaging with the reality of the situation. States regularly sue out of state defendants, and lawsuit are by definition “harassing”. Comforting ourselves with these cliches will not protect us from this reality.
The latter two points are closer to genuine legal arguments, and here we come to the New Jersey ruling. This Third Circuit ruling terminates a suit brought by Defense Distributed almost ten years ago. DD used the same legal arguments being cited here, and in the court’s final opinion they are definitively rejected.
The more painful and thorough rejection is of the 1A argument. The Third Circuit reviews the history of “code is free speech” cases and sidesteps them all. 3D gun files are suggested to be functional and not expressive, and purely functional “communication” is not 1A protected.
The Third Circuit ruling was timed to perfection to cut the legs out from a meaningful defense in the Gatalog suit, before it can even get off the ground. This is not a coincidence. It becomes more evident by the day that we are witnessing the resumption of the multi-state efforts to attack your ability to build your own firearms.
Fuddbusters has not yet answered the California complaint, electing instead to countersue in Florida. I don’t know how he ultimately will answer the California suit, but the Third Circuit opinion shows what won’t work. Will he come up with a better argument that will win the day? We can hope, but we cannot assume that he will win.
Once again being blunt: it is very likely that no lawyer, no argument, no matter how good, can win this one. California will do what California will do, which will result in some form of limitation on distribution of files via the clearnet. Websites dedicated to listing file links will be similarly restricted. These are the minimum consequences for the community, and they may be worse.
And so we must prepare. Resources must be created to help inform and direct those behind enemy lines. Accessible file collections must be uploaded and shared to places which cannot be touched by California tyranny. Culture must be built to support these efforts.
It may be that, despite my cynicism (for that is what we call realism that turns out to be incorrect), we will win this case. If we do, I’ll celebrate with everyone else. But in the event that my realism (for that is what we call cynicism that turns out to be correct) proves prophetic - let us be prepared.
Hoffman Loses PI, Court Heavily Sides with Rare Breed
The bad news continues with an update on Hoffman’s Super Safety case. We had hoped that the long three-day PI hearing meant that the court was deeply considering Hoffman’s argument - instead, they seem to have fully accepted Rare Breed’s position, and they have granted the preliminary injunction.
The court claims that Hoffman “failed to raise a substantial question of either infringement or validity of the asserted patents”, and insofar as he did raise questions of infringement, he “mischaracterized the…784 Patent and how the claimed inventions operate.” Hoffman is no dummy, so I don’t believe this, but the judge does and that’s what matters.
The judge also happily repeats the ATF’s arguments about Hoffman “t[aking] no precautions to prevent the export of the files to China”, and fully accepting the ATF argument that granting the PI will limit the use of FRTs “in service of the public interest.”
We can only shake our heads in bitter disbelief when Rare Breed admits that they profit $350 to $425 per FRT sold, for a product that retails at $450 to $525. With margins like these, the court notes that Hoffman’s gross will not cover Rare Breed’s lost profit.
Overall, this is about as bad as it can be. Hoffman has created a GiveSendGo fundraising page which has, as of writing, raised nearly $100,000 - a tremendous outpouring of community support, and a good proxy for the ubiquity of the Super Safety. This support will allow Hoffman to fight - but once again, we would be naive to assume that he will win.
The Super Safety has been mirrored a million times, but as noted before, nobody is making these in their garage. Super Safety cams are universally purchased from vendors that will soon begin shutting down. What will we do in their absence?
I suggest that the community begin investigating and iterating on underserved projects like the SCSSS or the Super Swanky, which do provide effective ways to make your own Super Safety cam at home. Develop them, perfect them, get them out there.
Ten years of legal battles have demonstrated that the courts are simply not a good venue to advance our cause. On the other hand, in that time we have made extraordinary progress by simply making things. I suggest the lesson of today’s news is to continue, and to redouble, this approach.
Other Links:
This section will collect any other links I find interesting. These may be older designs I want to share, releases I find notable but don’t have much commentary on, or anything else that catches my eye.
Phoenix Designworks has created a laser-cut breech for the cool old VP22 by GunCadIdeas. I always like seeing iterations on older projects!
Developer Vazer1079 has created a printable mandrel to help you bend your own Glock magazine springs. The more DIY, the better!
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This issue was compiled and authored by Alyosha from 3D Print Freedom / 3D2A. We sell high quality parts kits for some of the best DIY guns available - if you’re looking for your next gun build, come check us out!
It would be nice to see rare breed fuck right off.