Sons of Guns

Many years ago while in the Philippines, I discovered that there are genius smiths among the local populace who can take a pile of junk and turn it into nearly anything. There was an old guy on Green Beach (across Subic Bay from Olongapo City) who would use ammo crates, mortar shrapnel, artillery casings and other bits to craft beautiful and very functional melee weapons. I still have a polished steel, brass-fitted short sword that he made for me.

In Pakistan, there is a town called Darra Adam Khel. They do the same thing, but for guns. They turn out everything from pen guns to Kalashnikovs to anti-aircraft batteries, and all of it is handmade from scrap. The skills have been passed down from father to son for generations, and it is the only industry of the town. Their claim is that there is no weapon which they cannot copy.