Can I Make My Own .22 Caliber Flashlight Gun?

[JohnnyAppleseed]

I'm pretty good with tinkering around. Recently I've seen videos on Youtube showing people creating "Pen guns" also known as "Zip Guns."

I was thinking that I could probably convert a Mini Maglight into a pretty awesome single shot .22. The problem is the law. Seems like it could be against the law to make a zip gun. I don't want to do anything illegal so I'm debating.

I've read a few sites with different interpretations. I've read the 3 requirements (regarding taxation, etc.) and it would seem Zip Guns would be a no-no for "commercial use" but maybe private use would be okay. Is there a bonafide expert on here who could help me out with figuring out if the mission I'm embarking on is legal?

I want to do it for "fun" more than anything, but it would be no fun having to do a couple years for having a concealed/modified/home made weapon. I read somewhere that even potato guns could be illegal? Oy vey. Help.

Thank you.

[easy]

Not legal here in CA.

[ojisan]

Not legal.
Do not do this.

[Echidin]

For the love of Charleston Heston, don't do it!!!

[MrSlippyFist]

Strong front-runner for today's boneheaded question award.

[461]

I'm thinking it was a pretty darned good idea to ask first. Boneheaded would have been uploading a picture and saying "Hey guys check this out".

[gose]

I'm thinking it was a pretty darned good idea to ask first. Boneheaded would have been uploading a picture and saying "Hey guys check this out".

Lately that would probably just be considered fairly normal behavior

[LkPillsburyDude]

Not a boneheaded question.

[JTROKS]

You can make a single shot pistol, but you can't make a zip gun.

[smogcity]

where's the zip gun/home manufactured pistol legal dividing line? Or is it subjective?

[Flying Bones]

+1 Appleseed. I thought it was a good question, albeit boneheaded, you're thinking and I like that.

[Quiet]

where's the zip gun/home manufactured pistol legal dividing line? Or is it subjective?

Read the law.

Penal Code 12020
(a) Any person in this state who does any of the following is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year or in the state prison:
(1) Manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives, lends, or possesses any cane gun or wallet gun, any undetectable firearm, any firearm which is not immediately recognizable as a firearm, any camouflaging firearm container, any ammunition which contains or consists of any flechette dart, any bullet containing or carrying an explosive agent, any ballistic knife, any multiburst trigger activator, any nunchaku, any short-barreled shotgun, any short-barreled rifle, any metal knuckles, any belt buckle knife, any leaded cane, any zip gun, any shuriken, any unconventional pistol, any lipstick case knife, any cane sword, any shobi-zue, any air gauge knife, any writing pen knife, any metal military practice handgrenade or metal replica handgrenade, or any instrument or weapon of the kind commonly known as a blackjack, slungshot, billy, sandclub, sap, or sandbag.
(c)(10) As used in this section, a "zip gun" means any weapon or device which meets all of the following criteria:
(A) It was not imported as a firearm by an importer licensed pursuant to Chapter 44 (commencing with Section 921) of Title 18 of the United States Code and the regulations issued pursuant thereto.
(B) It was not originally designed to be a firearm by a manufacturer licensed pursuant to Chapter 44 (commencing with Section 921) of Title 18 of the United States Code and the regulations issued pursuant thereto.
(C) No tax was paid on the weapon or device nor was an exemption from paying tax on that weapon or device granted under Section 4181 and Subchapters F (commencing with Section 4216) and G (commencing with Section 4221) of Chapter 32 of Title 26 of the United States Code, as amended, and the regulations issued pursuant thereto.
(D) It is made or altered to expel a projectile by the force of an explosion or other form of combustion.

[walter]

its only illegal if you get caught

[recshooter]

You could always turn it into a fleshlight instead

[rayra]

Not a boneheaded question.

Just a boneheaded idea. Who doesn't know 'zip' guns are verboten?