Knex M4 Carbine (True Trigger)

A working Knex M4. Fires using a new sear system that allows for better firing. NOT A BLOCK TRIGGER, TRUE TRIGGER SYSTEM!!! Fires approximately 50 feet, much more if you add more rubber bands, can handle a lot. Single shot only, but can be adapted into a magazine type gun quite easily. I will follow up with SOPMOD extras if someone else doesn't first. Sorry for the blurry pics, I need a new camera...

PIECE COUNT:
(Most counts are an approximate, I just took a quick count)
Green rods: 100
White rods: 75
Blue rods: 21 + 1 bendable
Yellow rods: 4 + 2 bendable
Red rods: 2
Gray rods: 26 + 1 black one (firing pin)
Gray connectors: 70
White connectors: 4
White "Snowflake" connectors: 27
Red connectors: 33
Green connectors: 110
Yellow connectors: 61
Blue "Snowflake" connectors: 10
Purple connectors: 4
Gray gears: 2
Tan clips: 4
Blue clips: 1
Y-shaped things: 8
Hinges: 3
U part of joint: 1

Step 1 Front handgrip

This is the front handgrip, one distinctive feature of the M4. Assemble in order, follow the directions EXACTLY. READ THE NOTES. THEY WILL HELP YOU FIGURE THIS OUT. Something may seem like it changed, but it is probably the other end. This was an extremely difficult part to photograph, so sorry if it's a little confusing. Last revised 11/29/2008.

NOTES:
Picture 1: Expand this out until it is 12 long on each level, 24 long total
Picture 4: The rods don't actually fully snap into a place, however, they are wedged in there as show. Therefore, they will make a soft click if they're in place, and will slide smoothly back and forth.
Picture 5 & 8: These pictures are at opposite ends of the barrel. The orange pieces are snapped on the same way at both ends here
Picture 11: This is just a ramrod, do not add this if you plan on using a magazine system with this gun because it effectively plugs the barrel
Picture 14: The gray connectors between the white snowflake and orange connector can be cut; you can cut the tops off of them, because this is where the magwell will eventually go.
Pictures 15 &16: This is just a suggested barrel design, i was almost out of pieces so whatever i had i used for it, feel free to make a better barrel.

ORIENTATION NOTES:
Pictures 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 are the FIRING END of the gun
Pictures 6 - 8 are the BODY END of the gun.

Comments

[killersir751]

"not block trigger."
IMPOSSIBLE
All triggers block some kind of firing system, making it a block trigger.

[apples!!!!!]

The concept of a sears is different than that of the typical 'block trigger', because it catches the ram instead of blocking it from the front. Believe me, if you had been around in 2008 on this site you would refer only to KillerK style triggers as 'block' triggers and nothing else, because so many were posted that, though others technically block, anything else was considered far too advanced to be lumped with block triggers. It's a trigger type, not an overall classification.

[killersir751]

The trigger piece still BLOCKS a piece from moving though.

[apples!!!!!]

You're missing the point.

[killersir751]

Which is..?

[apples!!!!!]

There are specific names given to specific things sometimes. "Block trigger" is the name we have given to a connector(usually orange) that is centered onto the side of the main barrel and acts as a gate that lifts in an arced path to move out of the rams path. Best example- KillerK's original pistol. That is what we call a "block trigger". This is not a "block trigger", this is a "sears catch", which snags the rear and of the ram and holds onto it. You can look at everything and find similarities but it is the differences that define.

[killersir751]

You are also missing my point.
Every kind of trigger either catches or stops something. The trigger mechanism BLOCKS a piece from moving and hitting the bullet/firing rubber bands.
When you pull the trigger, it releases the firing mechansim and fires the ammunition that the gun uses.

[apples!!!!!]

Oh my goodness child, I'm not an imbecile. I understand this full well, but that does not change the fact that different trigger types have different names. "Block trigger" is a name.

[killersir751]

I know it's a name, but technically, all triggers are block triggers.

[apples!!!!!]

Yes, they are, but that does not mean that it is a "Block trigger". I'm repeating what I'm saying over and over and you're just throwing the same thing at me without grasping my point. It is a trigger that blocks, but it is not a bloody "block trigger". This uses a Sears, which, although blocks, is a very different system. I really can't keep saying this lol.

[DracoUltima]

Sorry, not to disappoint everyone, but I built put on the maximum number of bands that the firing pin can hold and the gun only got to 25 feet. If you want to prove me wrong go ahead and post a video. Sheesh, I hate it when people lie about range just to get views.....

[nightfox939]

I'm really sorry you can't get it to shoot any farther. To be honest, my shots with around 45-50 feet or so are a complete ideal case, firing about 40 degrees up angle. Also, those are with the red length rods; heavy enough to not be affected by air resistance slowing them down, but also not so long that they yaw in midair. Also, after I tried to add some more bands after that 50 foot shot, it did break. So my claim of more distance is probably an exaggeration. And I can try to post a video, but it might take some time; with the combination of finals week, having to repair the gun quite substantially, and the cold MN winter, I'm not sure if I'll have the willpower to make a video. Thanks for making it though!

[Cheezpaper]

Man, you're a genius. Making an M4 SOPMOD anytime soon? But did you have to buy multiple sets to make this? I'm buying new ones anyway, so any suggestions as to what sets to buy? ( btw when I finish this, I'mma mod it to shoot batteries or toothpicks and display it on my shelf.)

[nightfox939]

Thanks, glad you think it's cool. And I've been collecting sets since I was a little kid, so I guess I really can't recommend any sets in particular. Most of the roller coaster sets I had a lot of fun with, and you get a lot of pieces for the money you spend, assuming you're buying new. But the best place to find large quantities for cheap is garage sales and thrift stores, without a doubt. And I did have plans for the SOPMOD addition, but I've been really busy with the combination of college and working... But with summer, I'm thinking about delving back into Knex for a bit and with people showing interest, I might get around to it. I'll post it for sure if I make it... Again, thanks, and happy building!

[uberrobodude]

im making a m16a4 and its supposed to have a bendy clip. it works, but needs tape.

[chopstx]

Very realistic!

Well, except for the colors lol.

[juneapaluna]

This gun is huge. I have built it but cannot make the trigger work. It won't hold the ram back at all, please help and explain to me what could be wrong or how this trigger works. - Thanks.

[nightfox939]

Well, if you've ever seen an airsoft gun, it's essentially similar. The three yellow pieces clipped together should pop up and hold the ram back. (Make sure you have rubber bands to pull the trigger mechanism back) When you pull the trigger, it should rotate the yellow pieces so the ram slides off, and by the power of the rubber bands and snaps the ram forward to shoot.

[TedWard{}]

in pic 14 the grey rod with lots of grey peices on, how does that get attached to main front grip?

[nightfox939]

From step 2, take those pieces that are mirrors of each other, and the purple/blue connector combo - that snaps to the middle gray rod on the foregrip, and the white and yellow connectors on that gray rod with all the gray connectors; they snap to various rods on the piece from step 2. Make sense? (I guess look VERY closely at step 7 too, particularly pics 2-6)

[IcyHutch]

so wait if i add a working mag do i use ramrod shown in pic 11?

[nightfox939]

no, you shouldn't add the ramrod. However, you cant build the end of the barrel either with a working mag

[hippos are dangerous]

what is the blue rod connected to the gray rod supposed to do?

[apples!!!!!]

its the firing pin that strikes the ammo

[TOMNDAN]

in pic 7 how do you get the rods to stick out like that

[nightfox939]

They're not actually snapped in to anything, they're just sort of "seated" in the channels, so they slide really easily, but don't really provide ANY sort of strength

[ILIKEPIE333]

the trigger's in an akward place, maybe if you move the handle....(wink, wink, nudge, nudge).....

[j-chode!]

say n'more ;)

[KillerRazor]

I tried this gun a long time ago, but the gun kept breaking :( Would anyone have any ideas what went wrong?

[nightfox939]

Well, what kept breaking? Even a general location would be nice, because there are definitely some parts that are more prone to breaking than others

[KillerRazor]

The ram was a real downer. Half the time it broke off, even when I had reinforced it. Eventually it became too weak to stay on the gun. Every fire, it just came off inside the gun, meaning taking it apart. Other times it just came out of the end. Also, when it did work, the bullet went barely anywhere.. Which is why I HATE truetriggers. I have hell of a lot more knex than many people that comment on these videos, so I managed without taking it apart for some time, but it got in the way too much, and seemed impossible fixing it. It would've been a great gun, but due to so many problems with it, it didn't seem worth it.

[apples!!!!!]

LOL you did Something horridly wrong my friend.

[ajleece]

if Ithe firing pin is coming off inside the gun you should tape the firing pin to the orange connector, if it uses an orange connecter

[timhaz1]

hey this is a gr8 gun - looks good and performs well, 5 stars - I'm making a 203 grenade launcher for it; should I post??

[nightfox939]

Yeah, please do, hope it looks and works awesome, all I ask is if you could post a link back here for credit. Thanks.

[Ghostsniper]

this gun would so cool all in metalic peices (srry for mispelled words)

[bruce911]

Mine has a working mag and shoots blue rods at least 50 feet with my bands.

[timhaz1]

post- now!

[knex shooter]

oh no ive only got enough green cons to do 8 levels HELP ! Anyone ? :)

[barrax]

space them out? sry for late reply