Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Zip gun

en.wikipedia.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 41 posts

Re: Zip gun

#11

Post by village-idiot »

LyndsySimon wrote: post #9
village-idiot wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh yeah, it's possible. At certain levels of skill you basically are just gunsmithing a new firearm. That being said, I'd bet that most Zipguns are made by the desperate who lack proper materials and relevant experience.

There are “traditional” designs that have been handed down through the generations in both poorer areas of the US and in cities like NYC where legal guns have been hard to obtain for a long time. Someday I plan to collect some of them and publish a book :)

I'd be interested in seeing that. Maybe make a table top book full of beautiful photographs?

Re: Zip gun

#12

Post by xkcd-sucks »

It would be nice to rename this to "Improvised Firearms" (the article's actual title), as the current title contains an ethnic slur

Re: Zip gun

#14

Post by LyndsySimon »

xkcd-sucks wrote: post #12

It would be nice to rename this to "Improvised Firearms" (the article's actual title), as the current title contains an ethnic slur

The term “zip gun” predates the slur. “Zip” means “fast”. As in, “I need a gun now, and can’t wait until I can buy one”.

Re: Zip gun

#15

Post by LyndsySimon »

village-idiot wrote: post #7
LyndsySimon wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are ways to reinforce the chamber and barrel to make them much safer, and low powered .22 rounds that make testing a lot easier. I’ve built a few smoothbore .22 rifles for fun, and have had no issues with them. They’re accurate enough for small game out to 25 feet or so.

Oh yeah, it's possible. At certain levels of skill you basically are just gunsmithing a new firearm. That being said, I'd bet that most Zipguns are made by the desperate who lack proper materials and relevant experience.

I can’t reply to your other comment, but that’s the idea. I’m working on tracking down some of the ones local to me, and have the skill and equipment to take good photos.

Re: Zip gun

#16

Post by zipGun »

xkcd-sucks wrote: post #12

It would be nice to rename this to "Improvised Firearms" (the article's actual title), as the current title contains an ethnic slur

Are zip files racist too?

What about zippers, like on your clothes?

Re: Zip gun

#17

Post by simcop2387 »

LyndsySimon wrote: post #14
xkcd-sucks wrote: post #12

It would be nice to rename this to "Improvised Firearms" (the article's actual title), as the current title contains an ethnic slur

The term “zip gun” predates the slur. “Zip” means “fast”. As in, “I need a gun now, and can’t wait until I can buy one”.

I believe it may also be related to the sound the bullets make too. Usually you'd be using lower powered ammo and get less of a bang.

See noun form of zip, first definition https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/zip#English

Re: Zip gun

#18

Post by Rapzid »

LyndsySimon wrote: post #14
xkcd-sucks wrote: post #12

It would be nice to rename this to "Improvised Firearms" (the article's actual title), as the current title contains an ethnic slur

The term “zip gun” predates the slur. “Zip” means “fast”. As in, “I need a gun now, and can’t wait until I can buy one”.

I just had to look this up. I'm amazed I have never come across this meaning of the word before and it was even used in Platoon supposedly?!

Previously I had only understood zip in the context of a zipper, the compression, fast, and the zip gun..

Re: Zip gun

#19

Post by Klathmon »

simcop2387 wrote: post #17
LyndsySimon wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The term “zip gun” predates the slur. “Zip” means “fast”. As in, “I need a gun now, and can’t wait until I can buy one”.

I believe it may also be related to the sound the bullets make too. Usually you'd be using lower powered ammo and get less of a bang. See noun form of zip, first definition https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/zip#English

That's interesting! I assumed the name was because they tend to be held together with zip-ties.

Re: Zip gun

#20

Post by paulddraper »

xkcd-sucks wrote: post #12

It would be nice to rename this to "Improvised Firearms" (the article's actual title), as the current title contains an ethnic slur

Zipper https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zipper

ZIP Code https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZIP_Code

Zip file format https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zip_(file_format)

Convolution (zip) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convolution_(computer_science)

Post reply on HN