Guns When steampunk hits the range David Reeder September 10, 2014 Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Learn More “Steampunk” is an interesting genre. Although the girls in corsets, goggles and tophats are appealing, the weaponry and gear is what is usually the most amazing. There are some seriously talented (and creative) people out there building some awesome stuff, from working “props” to incredibly complicated clothing – and apparently, functional rifles. So it is that while I personally appreciate all the effort put forth by these ladies… …I also admire the astonishing amount of effort that went into this gear – especially the “firearms.” Now, what happens when someone puts that sort of effort into a functional firearm? Recently “Doc Fortin” (USMCdoc14) posted a an album on Photobuck with his Steampunk (ish) “Copper plated AR-15”. How gorgeous is this? According to TFB (The Firearm Blog) the weapon began life as a Billet80.com lower with a DPMS L0-Pro upper. The wood is a piece of English Walnut and the handguard an English Walnut veneer laminated over carbon fiber. The buttplate is milled from solid copper. Interestingly the bipod is an M-60 bipod with A.R.M.S. attachments welded to the barrel ring. The barrl is 20 in. heavy profile, chrome lined 5.56mm with a modified Vortex style flash hider on the end. Says USMCdoc14 in his message to TFB, “There is most likely tons of details I am forgetting, but who cares, it is a wonderful soft shooting rifle that makes people smile when I bring it to the range. Most people say they would never take it out and use it, but I own no ‘safe queens'.” Check out the entire photo album here on Photobucket. Read the article in its entirety over on The Firearm Blog, it's pretty damn cool. Check out USMCdoc14's YouTube channel here. Why you can trust RECOIL Since our founding in 2012, RECOIL remains the premier firearms lifestyle publication for the modern shooting enthusiast. We deliver cutting-edge coverage of guns, gear, accessories and technology. We go beyond basic reviews, providing no B.S. buyer’s guides, hands-on testing and expert analysis on everything from firearms and survival equipment to watches and vehicles. Our reviewers are the backbone of our operation and come from diverse shooting backgrounds: Former law enforcement, military veterans, competitive shooters, seasoned hunters and plain old firearms enthusiasts. Furthermore, we’re not just gun experts, but dedicated journalists who adhere to the strictest standards of our profession. At RECOIL, editorial independence is the foundation of everything we publish and the cornerstone of reader trust. Our editors, writers and content creators make all editorial decisions independently, free from outside influence. That boils down to: advertisers don’t dictate our coverage, the outcomes of our reviews or what we recommend in our buyer’s guides. First and always, our commitment is to our audience—ensuring every review and article is accurate, unbiased, and driven by real-world experience. Whether you’re selecting your next firearm, upgrading your gear, or exploring the latest innovations in the shooting world, RECOIL provides the trusted insights you need to make informed decisions. Learn more about our Editorial Standards and how we review products. NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOILFor years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included). Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We'll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers - your guide to the firearms lifestyle.You want this. Trust Us.