Re: COLONIAL WEAPONS

Karl,

I didn't post this message.  You must have accidentally cut part of the 
header, because this quote isn't mine.

2B^2

>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Brian Bilderback" <bbilderback@hotmail.com>
> > >The real advantage of conventional firearms with cased ammo is that
the
> > >equipment needed to manufacture/maintain them are generally useful
for 
>a
> > >lot of other things and the chemical facilities required for
nitrate
>based
> > >fertilizers can easily produce nitrate based propellants (but not
both 
>at
>the same
> > >time).
>
>What would a Laser rifle need ?
>The body of the weapon - 'Lock stock and barrel' if you wish - would be

>made
>of some general-purpose plastic or metal. Easily produced in a
generalized
>hardware factory.
>The energy supply - some high-power rechargeable battery - pretty
useful 
>for
>a lot of purposes.
>Electronics - again, production can be easily converted from other
purposes
>Optics - slightly more critical, but again , optical lenses are a 
>reasonably
>ubiquitous product
>The Laser itself - depending on what type it is, it probably will
require
>some high-purity materials, probably the most critical part. But not,
IMO a
>single-purpose product. Normal Lasers, electronics, chemistry etc. may
>require similar products.
>
>I am not easily convinced that an industrial SF infrastructure able to
>produce modern/SF conventional firearms (as opposed to a blck-powder 
>weapon,
>which is rather easier) would not also be able to produce a Laser
rifle.
>
>Greetings
>Karl Heinz
>

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