The Underground Gun Making Industry in the Philippines

Deadly Business

Normally the sound of gunfire evokes a feeling of dread. However, in the town of Danao, in the island of Cebu (the Philippines), it signals money. Hidden from plain view, backyard workshops churn out gun replicas that range from crude revolvers to sophisticated automatic sub-machine guns.

From its patriotic beginnings during World War 2 supplying guerillas with weapons against the Japanese, Danao is now the center of the country's' underground gun making industry. Of the more than 100,000 residents of the island, 1 in 10 is directly involved in the industry. Most are from
 rural areas where employment opportunities are limited. Demand for the replicas had become so high that many have abandoned farming, fishing and working in sugar fields to become gunsmiths. Earning several hundred pesos a day legally pales in comparison to the income generated by a single gun sale. A revolver maybe sold for $ 80 which is already equivalent to a few weeks' wages.

These "backyard gunsmiths" use only basic tools to fashion metal, usually bought from ship breaking yards, into deadly weapons. Construction methods might be crude but the end products are nonetheless effective. Starting with imitating revolvers, locally known as "paltiks", these self taught craftsmen have since duplicated high-powered firearms such as the M-16 and AK-47 to Uzi and Ingram sub-machine guns. Some have even modified the original designs coming up with their own unique versions increasing firing rates and bullet capacities. Modified attachments such as "silencers" are also available.

Purchased through "cash only basis", local customers are politicians, military personnel and ordinary civilians. Used for personal protection or given as "gifts" these unregistered firearms are also favored by "private armies" and criminals because they are virtually untraceable. These replicas even find their way into the hands of the Japanese Yakuza and other criminal elements from Taiwan to China.

 
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Mga kababayan-alam ninyo dapat very poud tayo na merong pinoy na may skills & talent na gumawa ng armas sa atin,ma-imrove itong skills & craftsman natin kong merong sapat ng support,funding, machineries,katulad mo sa USA BIG BUSINESS ITO-USA CREATED WARS-THEY SELL & SUPPLIES THEIR GUNS,WEAPONS,BULLETS TO THEIR ENEMIES,MA UTAK SILA,DAPAT GAYAHIN NATIN SILA,KAYA MAYAMAN ANG USA DAHIL SA WAR AT ARMAS NA GINAWA NILA & SELL IT TO THEIR ENEMIES AROUND THE WORLD. DI BA? ANDAR UTAK TAYO MGA PINOY

Posted on 05/16/2009 at 4:05:06 AM

gun industry if you have one you would be selling the guns

Posted on 01/10/2009 at 9:01:54 AM

i have many guns at my house...and i am selling some of them you can contact me at my email. no phone numbers okay... chanin.tan@yahoo.com i love guns, i purchased and selected them myself at danao.. and tested it. they were great.. really good ones.

Posted on 01/06/2009 at 7:01:45 PM

I want to own even a .22 magnum caliber just for self defense and home protection. how much do i need to spent for it? thanks. pls. contact me at this no. 09189174492. i am interested and willing to buy.

Posted on 11/02/2008 at 4:11:15 AM

I want to purchase some. Gun running is a Good one.. anyone ???

Posted on 08/05/2008 at 5:08:07 AM

Services are: development cutting, channels, ducts, casing, covers, base plates Manufacturing washers, spacers, flanges, storage tanks, links and panels. We also offer bending and milling.

Posted on 06/24/2008 at 11:06:49 PM

Danao-made cloned handguns and submachinegun are machined from 4140 steel from crude shafting from shipyard and sugarmill nearby (scrap material) . Danao gunsmiths were employed in some of the famous Gun manufacturing company in the Philippines notably the ARMSCOR, CAMCOR, SHOOTERS ARMS and also employed overseas such as MIRUKO arms in Japan (Browning Subsidiary). Now tell me, are those gunsmith bullshit? They were the people who make our gun making industry known worldwide. Only the government did not support them thats why this industry is still a cottage industry.

Posted on 06/24/2008 at 4:06:34 AM

what i don't understand is with all these talented gunsmith in Danao, Aurora, etc in the Philippines, why not some private businessman or the government hire them and put up a legal gun manufacturing company, the more the better for competition the more better qualities and varieties to choose from and they can make more money, pay taxes, have company benefits like health insurance and everybody is happy. this can be one of the export products of the Philippines. Wake up Philippines.

Posted on 06/08/2008 at 9:06:18 PM

Dear Sir, Am looking for a gunsmithing Worker from pilippian if you can help us to find a right one . Thanks

Posted on 05/11/2008 at 12:05:22 AM

I have been to Danao recently and tried one the guns made there.It was a P14 copy in .45 cal.It functioned perfectly had an excellent trigger and shot tight groups.So yes there are some highly skilled gunmakers there.On the other hand I have seen a .22 magnum revolver from there that was virtually useless but it was extremely cheap I think 2000 pesos where as the P14 copy was relatively expensive around 20000 pesos.So yes there are good guns made in Danao just avoid the very cheap ones.

Posted on 03/08/2008 at 7:03:41 PM

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