The Gundle: Why a Kentucky Designer Built a 3D-Printed Handgun Case for E-Readers
Kentucky creator Luke Blackford has unveiled a 3D-printed accessory that gives a minimalist e-reader the silhouette of a Glock 19. While the grip and trigger mimic a lethal firearm, the device serves only as a page-turning handle.
A New Kind of Digital Grip
Luke Blackford, a designer based in Louisville, Kentucky, recently introduced a 3D-printed accessory that merges personal tech with the ergonomics of a firearm. Known online as Luke The Maker, Blackford developed a shell specifically for the Xteink X4, a minimalist e-reader. He dubbed the creation the Gundle. In a demonstration of the hardware, Blackford utilized the frame to navigate through literary classics such as J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye and Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian.
Functional Design and Material Construction
The device is built around several specific design choices:
- The Xteink X4 sits vertically atop the plastic slide of the printed frame.
- A side cutout allows readers to reach the physical buttons of the e-reader.
- The frame geometry was digitally modeled to replicate a Glock 19.
Despite its visual similarity to a real pistol, the Gundle lacks any internal ballistic mechanics. Squeezing the trigger results in no action, and the plastic frame cannot fire projecticles. The project serves more as an exercise in provocative industrial design than functional weaponry, turning a standard reading session into a jarring visual statement.
Source: The Verge
