The definitive guide to K'nex weaponry on Instructables.

This is the most definitive, all inclusive and ultimately useful guide to K'nex weaponry on Instructables. It will be the 'Dicta Boelcke' , the 'No Guts, No Glory' of Kn'ex tutorials. Yes , I haven't made any instructables yet , but I have made my own guns , but do not have a digital camera. I have been creating these things on Instructables for over a year now , and the best thing is that it will accomodate for people who have few peices , beginners and it will be unbiased in it's advice , although i will also give my opinion.

Any guns that you see are not mine , and are shown for good reasons. They and their sub-types are all good for different reasons.

Step 1 Terminology

This page will help you to understand the VERBAL instructions of Instructables.

Now when someone says a 'rod' that meaning is clear - a coloured peice of knex that is long (mostly) and thin , and clips 'into' other knex peices. Some people will say a 'connector' and mean one of two things . Mostly they mean a peice with 1 or more holes for k'nex peices to click into , but they can mean a rod as well , so they may say 'connector rod' .

Take a break now .... chill .

COLOUR is very important here . Now different knex sets will come in different colours from the standard kits , but a list includes :

Yellow connector : always 5 holes , a semi-circle
Green " " : always 4 holes , an obtuse angle
Grey " " : either 1 hole , a kind of click-on-loop
or 2 holes , an acute angle
or a different kind of yellow connector
or a different kind of red 'right-angle' connector

In short that is only a part of the iceberg. It would take for ever to list terms , but luckily for you there is normally a context where any other types of the same peice just could'nt work. Also several good authors will use pictures , like those below . This set is for one of KillerK's guns , and you can make it here : www.instructables.com/id/K_NEX-GUN/

Comments

[KnEx FrEaK 1]

if i gave you instructions for my g36c could you help me make a sear trigger design for it

[XenixHero]

Super Late! ^ I agree also

[defrand113]

 nice walkthrough!

[GAG3]

WHOOOOOOOO block triggers!

[presidentbrian]

nice guide

[zapple]

im geusseing that this "giude" was made befor the first knex mag.

[DJ Radio]

someone should update this, "bolt action" has a new meaning now, there are more than 2 revolvers on ibles now, and the "deconstruction" gun is still a revolver.

[Koolman2009]

Hey guys what do you think of my pistol? It has a true trigger and awesome firepower. Check it out at, http://www.instructables.com/id/My-TAP-Tactical-Assault-Pistol-knex-gun/.

[DJ Radio]

:-(

[SNIPERDUDE]

The heart of my work, creating 100% original guns. I hate it when people base the guns on gun shapes first, it just kills me. Do you think those real guns were based on shape first? don't think so...

[realcelestialphoenix]

(removed by author or community request)

[SNIPERDUDE]

yea, I hate when people create something like a "sniper rifle". If you can make it good, well then do that. But most aren't. Don't put on broccoli elastics and say it's a powerful gun. Really. Those contraptions overall suck and usually take like 2 min to load and fire. Sorry bout that rant there, it just really annoys me. I'm thinking on making a real sniper gun, just to show then how to make it properly.

[realcelestialphoenix]

(removed by author or community request)

[ajleece]

simplicity first, true trigger second, looks last ( but still important)

[The Creatornator]

Function before form

[SNIPERDUDE]

Simplicity is most certainly first, and looks last. As for the trigger it is all dependant on the gun - some guns (usually most) are better off with a block or sear trigger.

[mythbusterma]

but never forget to add something orginal to your gun.....dont snub the barrel and mag and call it your own you wouldnt belive it but mine is based off of the ast rifle of faust

[SNIPERDUDE]

You can take parts from others, but remember to give proper credit. But seeing as we are talking about original guns I would try to keep away from doing that.

[mythbusterma]

did you at least look at mine?

[SNIPERDUDE]

Descent, the handle could do with some work though.

[realcelestialphoenix]

(removed by author or community request)

[SNIPERDUDE]

In the case of a large weapon like that I would look into a sear trigger.

[ajleece]

sometimes you should base the entire gun off of the way you set up the trigger i think. there is nothing worst than leaving the trigger till last and realise that you have to pull the entire gun apart just to pu it in.

[SNIPERDUDE]

Oh for sure, the trigger should be nowhere's near last, but there are other important elements that should be taken in consideration as well - including ammunition feeding (hopper, mag, etc.) or even reloading mechanism (semi-auto, full-auto, pull-release, etc). Either way the trigger is to be built much sooner than some other elements.

[Sypran]

agreed, 1) mechanisms (mag, cocking mechanism, triggering system) 2) then fitting it ( adding handle, real barrel,) 3) looks, sights, stock (unless they are apart of the mech, like the stock is apart of slide mech)

[ajleece]

i tend to use the same hopper for all of my guns, but i agree

[SNIPERDUDE]

Completely. SHAPE COMES LAST! And only as structural support.

[realcelestialphoenix]

(removed by author or community request)

[frodo7]

I agree that guns should be simple but some true triggers are very very simple (sipriani rifle, my new secret project, just to name a few)

[SNIPERDUDE]

Not saying that ALL true triggers are bad. It is only effective IF created properly, that means simplicity is key.

I have a secret project too for a gun, but as it is still in the early development stage I will be releasing no information other than the fact that it's going to be a full auto turret. =P

[TigerNod]

I don't get it too, but your gun won't get a good rating without one. Unless you make it REALLY good.

[SNIPERDUDE]

I don't submit anything sub par.

[realcelestialphoenix]

(removed by author or community request)

[SNIPERDUDE]

I really don't think it will. All we can do to counter it is start submitting better alternatives.

[realcelestialphoenix]

(removed by author or community request)

[SNIPERDUDE]

I've been trying. Good luck to you.

[SNIPERDUDE]

Agreed. True triggers are typically way too complicated and unreliable. Just make a trigger that is simple, and is not in an overly complicated area.

[ajleece]

i think make trigger first then base the whole gun around it

[SNIPERDUDE]

Not exactly, create each section of the gun one at a time (built off the other), the trigger included. Just see http://www.instructables.com/community/What-makes-a-gun-An-elements-of-a-gun-lesson/

[ajleece]

i agree with you there