Ghost Gunner
{{Short description|American manufacturer of desktop CNC mills}}
{{infobox company
| name = Ghost Gunner
| logo =
| industry = CNC Milling
| foundation = {{Start date|2014|10|01}}
| founders = Cody Wilson
Defense Distributed
| defunct =
| location =
| location_city = Austin, Texas
| locations =
| area_served =
| key_people = Cody R. Wilson (CEO)
| products = Ghost Gunner
Ghost Gunner 2
Ghost Gunner 3
| services =
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| aum =
| assets =
| equity =
| owner =
| parent = Defense Distributed
| divisions =
| subsid =
| footnotes =
| intl =
| homepage = {{URL|www.ghostgunner.net}}
}}
Ghost Gunner is an American desktop CNC mill manufactured in Austin, Texas. It specializes in the making of firearms as well as finishing 0%–80% receivers. It was launched in October 2014 by Cody Wilson and the founders of Defense Distributed.
History
Ghost Gunner began as a limited series of CNC mills produced by Defense Distributed in a crowdfunding sale to its mailing list in October 2014. Spring 2015 shipments sold out almost immediately, and its first media reviewer noted the machine "...worked so well that it may signal a new era in the gun control debate, one where the barrier to legally building an untraceable, durable, and deadly semiautomatic rifle has reached an unprecedented low point in cost and skill."{{cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/06/i-made-an-untraceable-ar-15-ghost-gun/6 |title=I Made an Untraceable AR-15 'Ghost Gun' in My Office—and It Was Easy |first= Andy |last = Greenberg |website = Wired.com | date = June 3, 2015 |accessdate = August 15, 2020 }}
Products
Since 2014, Ghost Gunner has issued 3 generations of its CNC mill, with the latest being the Ghost Gunner 3.{{cn|date=March 2024}} The second version, named Ghost Gunner 2, is open-source hardware, allowing third-party manufacturers to sell their own versions.{{Cite web |title=Ghost Gunner 2 CNC Review {{!}} Machining for the masses |url=https://sofrep.com/gear/ghost-gunner-2-cnc-review-machining-for-the-masses/ |access-date=2022-04-02 |website=SOFREP |language=en}}
{{as of|2018|July|}}, Ghost Gunner had sold over 6,000 units worldwide.{{cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/story/a-landmark-legal-shift-opens-pandoras-box-for-diy-guns/ |title=A Landmark Legal Shift Opens Pandora's Box for DIY Guns |first= Andy |last = Greenberg |website = Wired.com | date = July 10, 2018 |accessdate = August 15, 2020 }} The most recent version of the Ghost Gunner accepts "Zero Percent Receivers," solid blocks of aluminum that are milled into a partial lower receiver of an AR-15 style rifle. These are in contrast to the 80 percent receivers first released with the Ghost Gunner.{{Cite web |last=Weissmueller |first=Zach |date=12 January 2022 |title=Cody Wilson Thwarts Another Attempt To Stop Ghost Guns |website=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZRugDpYBuc |access-date=2 April 2022}}
Political controversy
Ghost Gunner is cited by politicians and the media as the most popular machine tool used to produce ghost guns.{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/officials-across-country-fear-new-era-untraceable-firearms-n889536 |title=Officials across the country fear a new era of untraceable firearms |first= Dennis |last = Romero |website = NBCNews.com | date = August 1, 2018 |accessdate = August 15, 2020 }}{{failed verification|date=July 2024}}
In May 2024, San Diego County, joined by The Giffords Law Center, brought suit against Ghost Gunner in California state court arguing that it violated a state law "blocking gun-making milling machines" in developing and selling the Coast Runner CNC. {{cite web| last= Rector |first= Kevin |work= The Los Angeles Times |date= May 3, 2024| url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-05-03/ghost-gunner-or-coast-runner-lawsuit-says-gun-maker-rebranded-to-skirt-california-law |title=Ghost Gunner company accused of rebranding ploy to dodge California ban| access-date= 2024-12-19}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.ghostgunner.net}}
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpfuECMs2os Ghost Gunner and "zero percent" Receivers]