Cardboard .357 Magnum Prop

For your next showdown, short film, play or other production wow your friends and colleagues with a fancy-pants prop on the cheap!

Use unorthodox methods and found materials to create a surprisingly realistic replica of a powerful weapon: The Colt Python!

Step 1: Materials and Tools

For the prop we will need:

Materials
Cardboard
McDonalds Straw (type important)
Pen Light
Cardstock
Spray Paint
Baking/ Grilling Skewers
Balsa 1/16"

Tools
Pliers
PVC Pipe Cutters
X-acto Knife
Scissors
Sandpaper
Cutting mat
White or wood glue

Comments

[carlsands]

gentlemen... this reminds me of the revover for the spy in tf2

[2PacLegendsNevaDie]

I already made the frame and the cylinder but I don't know how to make the cylinder to roll over. Can you explain it ?


Oh yeah and if you want to make a working hammer and trigger check this out
http://science.howstuffworks.com/revolver2.htm

[thatdumbinventor]

good job on the scematics and the build it was clear and understand able 100 out of 10

[builder67]

This is just awesome....

[Spycrab]

wow! This would go great with a spy costume from tf2, just reverse the paint job :-D

[shadow123456]

dear santa

[junkfactory886]

Oslo; I suggest that you add an extra inch to the barrel and take the finger notches out of the grip. Your project excites me.

[Spycrab]

thanks, i'm getting to work right now ^{probably going to make a few modifications like you say, but essentially the same thing.}
gentlemen

[Spycrab]

also, i hope you win one of the prizes :D

[junkfactory886]

Thanks for subscribing, thanks for the support, your project still excites me. Mentlegen.

[junkfactory886]

You got blood on my suit. Excellent thinking.

[Akask]

so should the "whole grip" that's in the middle only have the hammer, or do all three have it?

[vjifcu]

Nice!
I followed your instructions, and it turned out AWESOME!
I used cardboard for almost everything because I didn't have any balsa wood, I just used a regular pen and a dollar store pack of straws for the tube thingy the bullet comes out of =D. I used silver duct tape for the silver parts of the gun and I stretched a black balloon over the grip to make it be black, because I had no spray paint. I also used tape instead of glue just about everywhere. I just love how interchangeable the required parts were! Good job to you sir, and I look forward to using this gun as a prop in my next spy movie! =D

[dommy]

Epic gun, but if your gonna carry it paint the end bit orange

[Biggsy]

This is Brilliant welldone! Going to add this to my props group if you don't mind :D

[Kirby1]

Do you have to use a light pen or can you use a normal pen?:)

[Kirby1]

Why do you need to use a light pen? Does a normal pen work?

[TruorFalse]

someone should download the pdf and email it too me. :)

[NJL4JC]

Cool.

[Data643]

I love the Mythbusters where they see if the muzzle blast from this gun can cut off your finger. Confirmed : )

[darthpotato1]

First thing i thought when i saw this was "ZOmg! that reminds me of the 357. for Half-Life 2!"

[mcxznbv]

There are too many flaws in your design. the grip is much too small. the plan for the cylander is too flawe. the holke for the cylander must be cut before the layers are glued together, or it will rip, like mine. the parrern is too complex. and cardstock is not a good building material. please consider re-writing the instructions, they are confusing, and do not cover everything.

[rorpen]

yeah but he made a good looking model and it doesn't have to look 100% like a .357

[cowscankill]

I think the instructions were fine! In fact, I made my own version of this based mostly off of the Instructable... http://www.instructables.com/id/Colt-Python-357-Magnum-Model/

[aj01-01]

cardstock is an excellent building material

[cowscankill]

Yes, yes it is. I used some on my newest model and it is AMAZING when you use it with wood glue.

[junkfactory886]

Well. If you would please compile a list of your complaints, personal message them to me and I will try to address them in a future edit.

[chamster]

Can u shoot it?

[Sithen]

It's made of cardboard.... :D

[KottonKandy]

AWSOME! *excuse me* BEYOND AWSOME! This is like DA BOMB. 5*s and a subscription for you!

[mcxznbv]

how t oyou make hte indentations in the cylander? i cant make one if this isnt explained.

[junkfactory886]

The hexagonal tube structure is covered with the 3 1/2" sheet of cardstock, which had been nicked an inch in from where the space between the cylinder was marked on the aforementioned sheet of cardstock. Then, the slits are covered with six of the "Cylinder pieces" I put in the schematics.

[xXJedmanXx]

ahh thanks heaps, I didnt notice the cylinder pieces

[korvix]

thx alot for the guide

[rashad013]

dude like can you like restate how to make the handle and stuff cause i cant get it

[junkfactory886]

OK, so the three big cardboard pieces go in the middle, and the two small pieces go on the outside, like this:
Small-Big-Big-Big-Small
Then squish them together. Remember to cut your cylinder hole before you glue. Happy Building!

[junkfactory886]

No problem! Thanks for commenting and remember to vote!

[cowscankill]

I promise this is my last post... because I finished my gun! (finally!) Here is a link to the video demonstration:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Colt-Python-357-Magnum-Model/

[aj01-01]

cool gun, I have made some guns basically the same way
mine are mostly made out of paper though with some cardboard reinforcements.

[TechNerd1012]

What I was thinking was, if cardboard is to flimsy for you, you can make it the exact same way, just out of some kind of thinner wood. That way, it wont be as "flimsy", it would be a little easier to shape, and it would give it some added weight. Great intructable btw

[junkfactory886]

I got hit by an SUV yesterday. I managed to escape with no broken bones and no other injuries, besides the fact that my face is swollen pretty hard.

[eulaliaaaa!]

OOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWCCCCHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry, Just had to get that off my chest.

[eulaliaaaa!]

Awesome instructable by the way.

[junkfactory886]

Thanks for the positive support and the sympathy.

[Spycrab]

um, ow
. . . . . . .really have no words but sorry

[junkfactory886]

S'not that bad now. Felt people needed to know. Thanks for the support!

[Madrias357]

Now this is kinda cool! I'm preferant to the .44 myself, but the .357 is perhaps my favorite excepting the other. Scary looking if you see it from a distance, too.

[nekothecabbit]

i love the look of it, kind of reminds me of my coplay days, lol good job!

[BillyTheGoat]

how thick of cardboard should u use?

[junkfactory886]

Regular corrugated. Thanks for the comment and the support!

[junkfactory886]

WE WON RUNNER UP! YES! YES!
An appropriate video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3ALwKeSEYs&feature=related

[junkfactory886]

OVER 9000 VIEWS!

[Zootch]

I thought of "Sam and Max: Freelance Police" the minute i saw this!

[Mark Rehorst]

This 'ible should be very popular with DIYers who live in state or federal "housing" ...

[Ausm]

Now... how would you go about adding a double action trigger.

[junkfactory886]

Double action and regular action look the same, trigger wise, but in order to have the trigger cock the hammer would require a mechanism beyond what I can do in the space provided. Even the hammer on this one doesn't cock. Thanks for commenting, though!

[Ausm]

You could always do a model of some of the Ruger .357's out there. Those look like they have more room to work with. I already have a good idea for the trigger. It pulls back the hammer and releases it when you pull the trigger so far. It just doesn't "reset" so you can do it again.

[El Chucko Norris]

Finnaly one that i can do without having to spend el money. BEAST oh yeah and nice job dude looks super duper real

[fireman115]

Very Nice

[keikothemeowmeow]

LOL! That looked pretty realistic in the thumb.

[illdoyourdrugs]

Nice work. Cheap, fun to make and effective.

[cowscankill]

Nice job getting deatured :D I myself have not been featured... Maybe something to do with my pictures?

[robotguy4]

"Deatured"?

DID YOU MEAN?
"Denatured"?
"Detered"?

[cowscankill]

"Featured" :P

[robotguy4]

Oh... CONGRATS TO JUNKFACTORY!

[junkfactory886]

HUZZAH! WE DID IT! (DANCE TIME!)

[cowscankill]

HUZZAH! You got runner up! :D Congratz!

[cowscankill]

*Dances* But really, you did it :P Great job! I reread the 'ible and I wanted to sak: Do the barrels rotate? They are made from straws, right?

[junkfactory886]

The cylinder does rotate; however, the individual cylinders in the cylinder are rolled from cardstock.

[junkfactory886]

Also sak?

[cowscankill]

Ask* Do the barrels come out of the gun, to the side like on a real magnum?

[junkfactory886]

No. That was a tad out of my range. Maybe in a future version.

[cowscankill]

Guess what? You're my 2009th comment :D Oh, and I plan on building a magnum for sure now, it might be a while, but I'm going to see how much detail I can put on it :o

[=SMART=]

Thats really cool !

[Kidz_Creator]

umm...wheres the trigger in the first pic???

[ILIKEPIE333]

no trigger

[Kidz_Creator]

i know, but dont guns have triggers??

[ILIKEPIE333]

not all model guns

[junkfactory886]

In response to both comments, REAL guns have triggers; Prop guns A: do not NEED triggers and B: you won't see the trigger when the gun is in hand. Though, i enjoy the constructive criticism. Maybe in a future version I'll add a trigger.

[Kidz_Creator]

ok, i was just like uhh...

[Magicmoper]

I don't know if you can prove that real guns have triggers, I've never heard of this before.

[Kasm279]

facepalm o.\)

[madhops0620]

You're kidding right? Of course real guns don't have triggers :)

[eyebot117]

Reminds me of playing Half-Life 2 and getting this gun. I found it, and I capped the three dudes in the doorway in front of me, sending them flying backwards. Epic fun.

[junkfactory886]

Yeah, I remember that too. That WAS epic fun.

[ILIKEPIE333]

might look better with wood

[aelfric5578]

Quick question: when you say laminate in a couple of the steps, does that mean anything more specific than just gluing the layers together?

[junkfactory886]

No. Glue the layers together. Thank you for being so deductive! Vote and have a nice day!

[pyroxp7]

Really cool but not smart to carry in public. :p

[junkfactory886]

Indeed! Hope you voted!

[Reffner]

Nice. Very well done.

[junkfactory886]

Thank you! I love the feedback!

[cowscankill]

Very nice. I actually might make this, considering it's life size like my gun models :D If you need tips, just visit my 'ibles, because I am going to use tips from this :D

[junkfactory886]

wow. Means alot coming from you. Really excellent work. really. remember to voat. :)

[cowscankill]

Thanks! And I voted :D (not voated :P)

[lemonie]

That's very good. _{don't forget to stick something orange in the barrel before you take it outside...}

L

[junkfactory886]

Remember: Vote for me! Thanks!

[junkfactory886]

kk. Thx for commenting!