by Damon Williams
(GSL) – In the July issue of GunNews, we ran a story about 3D printing firearms and how that has become readily available lay persons. A photo of a home-brew “FGC-9” served as an example of what people can make at home today.
It looks impressive and his an equally impressive story behind it.
In 2018, a young average citizen in a western European country decided that he’d had enough of being told that he was not responsible enough, or privileged enough, to own a semi-automatic firearm. Furthermore, should he have possession of such a device, it would be none of the government’s business. He was not going to ask permission to exercise what should be a natural right. (Sound familiar? Maybe he was just born on the wrong continent.)
He assumed the alias “J Stark 1809” as a tribute to the American General John Stark. In 1809, Stark was recognized by then President Madison for his patriotism and service to the cause of the American Revolution. John Stark personified, “Live free or die.” This young man created the FGC-9 handgun and engraved his alias into the lower receiver of his FGC-9.
What does FGC-9 stand for? Well, the GC stands for Gun Control. 9 represents its 9mm caliber. I will leave the meaning of the F to the imagination of our readers.
In 2018, the 3D printing hobby became mainstream with quality affordable commercial machines for the average lay person. With the goal of building a firearm in mind, J Stark 1809, taught himself computer aided design (CAD) and went to work designing and building a firearm from 3D printed parts, off-the-shelf hardware items, and a few air-soft accessories.
Not only is his design genius, but it is safe and reliable. J Stark 1809 published an illustrated how-to guide for anyone with minimal mechanical and computer skills to build his creation. The guide is highly detailed with listed tools, materials, part numbers, hardware specifications, 3D files, and websites to obtain parts. It is so detailed that the guide even includes the toothpicks to stir the epoxy used for the completing the firing pin.
The rifled barrel is made from seamless hydraulic tubing machined by a process called electrochemical machining. In short, it involves a battery charger, salt water, and an aquarium pump. Using wire conductors in 3D printed jigs, it causes accelerated corrosion removing steel in order to cut the chamber and rifling.
I do not want to mire you in the build’s details. The guide is available on-line at Deterrence Dispensed, and elsewhere, and can be downloaded for free in PDF format.
Even if you have no intention to build such a creation, the guide is a fascinating read. It’s about 80 pages and can be read cover to cover in about an hour. One may want a copy for “future reference.”
Because this creation had now opened a world-wide Pandora’s box to the masses across the globe, Stark’s actions caught the ire and attention of Interpol. J Stark was aware of the attention that he had brought onto himself, so when he was interviewed in some video news stories, he always covered his entire head, wore dark glassed and even wore gloves. Not an inch of flesh was shown on camera; even his voice was altered.
Over the next three years, with the popularity of the FGC-9, J Stark created a Patreon page. With his funds, he made several personal purchases. One such purchase was an article of clothing which was only available on eBay from a limited number of vendors. He made the mistake of wearing this article of clothing in a video. This is where Interpol latched onto him. Having the size, and color of the clothing from the video, Interpol backtracked the customers, and from the financial records forensically matched an identity to the Patreon funds.
In October 2021, Interpol raided the home of a 28 year old Kurdish German citizen named Jacob Duygu. The search turned up no evidence, and Mr. Duygu was never arrested.
Two days later, Jacob was found dead in his automobile of cardiac arrest parked in front of his parent’s home. Interpol released a statement speculating that the physical stress of the raid caused his cardiac arrest. Really? Two days later? A 28 year old man with a healthy appearing physique?
Regardless of the circumstances of his demise, the FGC-9 will live for earthly eternity in cyberspace for the entire world to download at their leisure. And with the FGC-9, the legacy of its creator, J Stark 1809, will live as well.
You can’t stop the signal!
And for one with a catchy tune, here’s another. The HK Slap.
TURN IT UP