A year ago, I bought a 3D printer. I was largely interested in printing silly things for my Heritage Rough Riders, Rancher, Rossi Brawlers, and similar guns. I knew 3D-printed guns existed, but that wasn’t my primary interest. After a year of printing a mix of silly and effective firearms accessories, I finally decided to try to print an actual firearm. My gun of choice is the Harlet, aka the Harlot V3.
The 3D Printed 2A World
Twelve years ago, the Liberator, the first 3D-printed firearm, premiered. It made quite the splash and became one of the most controversial firearms ever created, making Cody Wilson and Defense Distributed famous almost overnight. Wilson has gone through quite the arc since then. It’s almost movie-worthy.
3D-printed guns have evolved rapidly since those early days. When I bought a 3D printer in 2024, I had no idea how far they’d come. Somehow they remained mostly off my radar until Luigi Mangione printed a GLOCK clone, but even then, they rise to the level as all the ‘think of the children’ news stories about them.
The 3D-printed gun world has evolved as fast as it has thanks to a variety of amazing people and groups leading the charge to kill off gun control. Guys like Booligan Shooting Sports and organizations like the Black Lotus Coalition are designing and producing firearms in various configurations and sizes. Websites and subreddits share and tweak designs, expanding a maker-friendly culture.
This loosely formed ecosystem is generally referred to as the 3D2A community. They’ve designed GLOCK frames, SIG frames, printable AR lowers, printable VZ61 lowers that use AR parts, and various single-shot and repeating firearms. There are scores of designs available for downloading these days. Guns like the FGC-9 have even shown up in the Myanmar civil war (RIP JStark). There’s even a Gun Maker’s Match where 3D-printed firearms are fielded.
To Vice’s credit, they attempted to smear the 3D2A community back in 2021, but likely only helped it grow. The community has changed a lot and Defense Distrubuted has now become persona non grata amongst the 3D2A forums and websites. Small companies have popped up to sell parts kits to make it even easier to build legal, 3D-printed firearms.
The Harlet
One of those small companies, Print-A-22, convinced me to finally try my hand at 3D printing a gun. I’m not blessed in the handiness department and I didn’t want to deal with trying to rifle a barrel or chamber it. I’m also not dedicated enough to 3D printing to take the time to be really good at it and my printer’s cheap.
However, Print-A-22 sold parts kits with the proper rifled and chambered barrel. I researched various builds and the Harlet seemed a simple, easy first step. It’s a single-shot .22LR derringer that looked easy to print and simple to produce. Plus, .22LR has a lot less chance of blowing my hand off.
The Harlet was designed by a member of the Black Lotus Coalition. It’s evolved quite a bit over the years and the Harlot became the Harlet with its third incarnation. The 3D printing world is all about remixing and redesigning printes and the Harlet has tons and tons of options. I went with the simplest and easiest version possible.
The printing is the longest part of the process. The file is free to download, and the included read-me provides a guide to printer settings, materials needed, and more. It proved to be very plug-and-play, and I followed the instructions to the best of my ability. Printing everything took about six hours or so. I didn’t print it all at once or even consecutively. I’d print a part, go to work, and come home and print another one.
Staying Legal
I was printing a gun that I’m going to write about online, so I wanted to be sure I was staying well within the law. That means a rifled barrel, but also staying on the legal side of UFA. The UFA, or Undetectable Firearms Act, AKA the Boomers Don’t Understand GLOCKs Act, which states that a firearm has to have 3.7 ounces of metal content.
We don’t often discuss the UFA because it’s generally not a real issue. However, with a 3D-printed firearm of this size, the barrel and M3 screws don’t make up 3.7 ounces of metal. With that in mind, I had to order a weight that fits in the grip to keep the Harlet legal. I’m pretty sure the metal in the barrel, cartridge, and screws are enough to set off a metal detector on their own, but the law is the law.
Print-A-22 sold me the complete kit with the barrel liner, the necessary M3 screws, springs, and weight for less than $30. It arrived quickly and I was pleased with the product.
Building the Harlet
With everything printed, it was a simple build. I had to use a file to smooth some rough edges and turn an M3 screw into a firing pin. I had to use epoxy for the barrel liner installation and some pieces of wood with a rubber mallet to drive it into place. After that, it was as simple as getting everything aligned and bolted together.
It took about two hours to assemble everything and get it in good working order. I had to adjust things here and there to make sure they aligned correctly, and I was also babysitting a new puppy, so it was probably an hour’s worth of actual work…and 15 minutes for someone who is actually handy. With the Harlet built and passing a basic function test, I was ready to shoot it.
Admittedly, some of the parts were stiff. The latch in particular took some force to move, but it is what it is. It all came together and it looked good. It’s a simple gun. The barrel tilts forward so you can load the chamber. A latch keeps it closed. The hammer is your rear sight and works using a compressed spring.
There is a half-cocked position, but I wouldn’t carry this thing.
Shooting the Harlet
I was nervous…nervous about shooting a gun that’s primarily made of plastic that I built myself. I followed the directions and while I always wear ears and eyes, I made sure to have wrap-around glasses and gloves on. I grabbed CB Cap ammo for my first test shot.
I won’t lie…I nearly jumped for joy when the Harlet went bang and didn’t explode in my hand. I tried a few more CB Cap rounds which mostly worked 100%. Occasionally I’d need to re-cock the hammer and try again, but it never took more than two attempts to fire. I moved from CB Cap to standard velocity Golden Bullet, and it fired without any explosions.
The dime that reinforces the breech block seems to be doing its job. I wouldn’t ever use hot ammo in the Harlet…no Rattlers or Super Extra for me. The Harlet’s accuracy won’t impress anyone. It’s capable of hitting an FBI Q Target in the chest at seven yards, but don’t expect to try to group the gun and walk away pleased.
A New Beginning
The Harlet doesn’t have the hottest reputation amongst the 3D2A community, but it seemed like a simple, easy way to dip my toe in the space for the first time. I’m a total additive amateur, but even I now have a working 3D-printed gun. I’m also now hooked. I’m looking to make something a little more complicated next time, and if you folks are interested, I’ll keep sharing my experience with the 3D2A world.
Boomer Glock owner here.
Why try to split the brotherhood? Ain’t that what the anti’s want?
Boomer Glock owner here too.
I took it as a snide reference to boomer politicians who can’t tell an AK from a Glock and spout off about 30 magazine clips per second.
Yes. That’s the correct reading.
Why the worry about a 3D printed 22LR? Anyone with a working knowledge of gunsmithing, and metal machining, can create a firearm that is so much more than a single shot 22LR. As example, during WWII, the Polish underground produced machineguns, and so did the Russians at Stalingrad, during NAZI occupation. (Copies of the Russian PPs43 are still being produced today in 7.62×25 and 9mm.) Only because law abiding folks do follow the law is why there are not a flood of “Underground” factories cranking out firearms.
P.S. – Silencers are even easier to make, and everything can be purchased “off-the-self” at your local big box hardware store. Likewise, nobody talks about all those metal lipstick tubes that were sent to Israel in 1948. The Brits must have wondered why those “empty” lipstick tubes had spent primers when they checked out battle sites after the fighting was over. (What shade of 9mm lipstick goes with my UZI?)
Why does anyone innovate?
“Why the worry about a 3D printed 22LR?”
Because not everyone is as handy working with tools as you are, and would like a little legal, off-the-books gun-making skills.
Because it might come in handy one day…
“….and Defense Distrubuted has now become persona non grata amongst the 3D2A forums and websites.”
What did I miss?
“What did I miss?”
Cody likes underage females, that’s what…
The underage girl thing is big.
Apparently the website charges for access to files that the creators made free and can be found free elsewhere.
Plus the website collects unnecessary data on members that has earned them the FedCad title.
Travis, I be interested in further ‘additive manufacturing’ of firearms articles…
“…and while I always wear ears and eyes, I made sure to have wrap-around glasses and gloves on.”
(Author then posts pics showing all bare hands…)
I noticed that too. I just figured it was some sort of after thought staged pic thing for the article where he wasn’t actually going to fire.
I didn’t film or try to photograph my first shots. I wanted to make it sure it worked to make sure the article was worth writing.
Document all of it. Post the pics in future articles showing failures. Thomas Edison is famously known to have invented the filament incandescent light bulb, but said to have experimented on literally thousands of combinations that failed before finding the right one. If a 3D item blows up, show it. You still have nine fingers left, my good man.
“You still have nine fingers left, my good man.
”
Nine (or less, even better!) fingers are a great conversation-starter at the bar later…