Gunsmiths of the Philippines

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earlthegoat2

earlthegoat2

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Here is a link to a site in Russian (or Polish....some Slavic language) with a few pictures of Filipino gunsmiths in action. Note the lack of sophisticated machinery and their high usage of the "chinese milling machine"

http://bigpicture.ru/?p=63558

Unfortunately a few of the pictures dont load but it is still pretty cool.

Recognize any of those firearms in there?

Here is an English language article related to this.

http://www.dausa.org/2007/04/24/boboy-and-danao’s-thunder-things/

It is not clear on the present day legality of these activities.

This was taken off another forum deditcated to machining. I thought all the aspiring gunsmiths out there would be inspired by these pictures.
 
Babelfish translation of the first couple lines.

Cottage industry of weapon in the Philippines
In the Philippines this place is called “the city of weapon”. Already more than century inhabitants [Danao] earn to the life by the production of weapon. These people know, as by hand it is possible to gather pistols, revolvers and automatic weapons. Authorities created cooperative in order thus to legalize the production of weapon. But instead of earning of money by legal methods, majority collaborates with the local Mafia. (Only 27 photos)
 
Great article, earlthegoat2. Thank you for posting it. As for the legal side of this home-made guns business the author states that "In 1996 the local authorities found a workers cooperative called "WORLD" in which are produced mainly .38 cal revolvers, .45 cal pistols, pump action shotguns and SMG's. Most of the production (about 100 pieces per month) is purchased by local police officers, military personal and bank guards because most of them were not supplied with service handguns... Most of the workshops prefer to work illegally and are lead by a guy called Rio Shark. In Shark's workshop the author saw a fully finished copy of AR 15 ordered by the mayor of a near big city. The AR 15 costs about 500 euro... Lieutenant Lakson Dehino from the local police force said, that authorities knew about these illegal workshops and every time they found one they try to convince the workers to join in "WORLD" and if they refuse that they are arrested..."

Interesting trivia from this article - A .38 cal pistol (I think, that the author actually meant revolver) costs about 30 euro and is made for about a weak. A .45 cal pistol (a 1911 copy, described as "Beretta look alike") takes about two weeks to produce and the price is accordingly higher. A KG-9 SMG costs about 100 euro and two weeks to produce. The SMG is made in one of the illegal workshops owned by a guy named Renato Gonsales.

Boris
 
Thanks for clearing that up Mizar.

In the articles, it was said there is a long history of it being illegal but I was unsure on whether or not it still is.

It is intresting to note that the Philippines is one the US's most strategic allies.
 
Cool artical, if you look at the 22nd pic down you will notice the 2007 poster. And its amazing how they build those guns, i my self wouldnt buy one not sure if there real safe looking.
 
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