LAST EDITED ON Apr-01-14 AT 02:55 PM (EDT)
 
>>Machine guns are an awkward case, even for firearms hobbyists like me.
>> They're technically interesting artifacts (the inner workings of a
>>Gatling gun, for instance, are quite fascinating) and, well, fully
>>automatic fire is fun... but any realistic assessment has to
>>concede that they have no practical use apart from killing a lot of
>>people really quickly. Which is... er... a hard sell on the basis of
>>non-inherently-evilness.
>
>Interestingly, the Gatling gun isn't technically an automatic weapon
>according to the rules laid down by the BATFE.

Yes, I knew someone was going to point that out. It's true, a Gatling gun isn't a machine gun by the official definition of the term. It is, however, a machine gun. If you follow.

I actually have a complete set of diagrams for a .22-caliber rimfire six-barrel Gatling. I doubt I'll ever get around to building one - the only machine shop I have access to Isn't Really For That, and there's the question of acquiring the materials and whatnot - but there's always the possibility. I know my boss is intrigued by the notion.

Similarly, I'd rather like to own an AK-47, even though if one could ever make a case for a machine being evil it would have to be that one - partly because I'm a student of the era that produced it, partly because of its fascinating and extemely checkered history (it's the only firearm I can think of that appears on a national flag), and partly because it's such a perfect piece of design for the imperfect manufacturing environment where it was produced. Its crudity is its sophistication. That's a hell of a good engineering trick.

--G.
"This is not a democracy! I have a gun, so I'm in charge! Many governments around the world function on this principle! And some of them last for months!" - Gordon Freeman
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Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Mod
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
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