3D printers can make virtually anything if you have enough patience and resources. Including weapons.

Earlier this week on June 20^th, Nova Scotia RCMP officers seized 39 guns and two 3D printers after searching two homes.

Officers in Pictou County searched a house on Walkerville Road in Priestville and 23 guns, a 3D printer that was in the middle of making a handgun, an extendable baton, two suppressors, a pistol tactical long gun conversion kit, a 3D printed extended magazine and brass knuckles.

That same day, officers in Middle River searched a house on the Cabot Trail and found 16 guns, 16 boxes of ammunition, resin, electronic devices, and another 3D printer.

Both searches were part of Operation Reproduction, a multi-province effort to seize privately made firearms.

RCMP media relations officer Cpl. Chris Marshall says that while 3D printers have been around for a while now and more people are becoming familiar with them, it still takes a significant amount of know-how and resources to use them to print a weapon.

The technology, software, and equipment needed to do so is not cheap and the process of creating the weapon can be very sophisticated.

One man has ben charged in relation to the Victoria County search, and Cpl. Marshall says he expects more charges to follow in the Pictou County case.