Have a firearm, part or accessory but no CAD data? DeWys Engineering 3D scans firearm components and rebuilds them as accurate, manufacturing-ready CAD for firearm manufacturers, accessory and suppressor companies, gunsmiths and defense contractors. We hold an FFL 07 / SOT 02 and are ITAR registered, so firearms and controlled parts can ship directly to our Coopersville, Michigan facility.
Why Firearm Companies Choose DeWys Engineering
Plenty of shops can scan a part. Far fewer understand how firearms are designed and built. Our reverse engineering is done by mechanical design engineers who also design firearms, suppressors and accessories (see firearm & suppressor design), so the CAD we deliver reflects how the part works and how it will be made, not just its shape.
- Licensed: FFL 07 manufacturer / SOT 02, including NFA-regulated and select-fire items
- ITAR registered: CAGE code 9D4M6, for defense and export-controlled work
- ISO 9001:2015 certified: reverse engineering is within our certified scope
- Reverse engineering since 2014: for foundries, machine builders, OEMs and the firearms industry
- Design, prototyping and finishing under one roof: engineering, 3D printed prototypes through Forerunner 3D Printing, and in-house Cerakote
What We Reverse Engineer
- Firearms: Glock and Glock-pattern pistols, 1911 and 2011, SIG P320 and P365, AR-15 and AR-10, bolt-action and break-action rifles, shotguns, revolvers, and legacy or discontinued firearms
- Suppressors: bodies, baffle stacks, end caps, mounts and alignment features
- Accessories: optic mounts and red-dot plates, grip modules, stocks, forends, handguards, night-vision and bipod mounts, and sling hardware
- Magazines and feeding systems: bodies, followers, base plates, feed geometry and caliber conversions
Firearm Reverse Engineering Projects
Combining the Best of Two Pistols Into a New 2011
A customer in the 2011 handgun space wanted to develop his own pistol. He bought a couple of 2011s he especially liked and brought them to us. We laser scanned both, pulled the features he wanted from each into SolidWorks, and did the mechanical design and early concept work to combine them into the pistol he had in mind. Scanning gave him a real starting point grounded in guns he already trusted, instead of a blank screen.
Recovering Lost CAD for a Slide Manufacturer
A company that bought a Glock-pattern slide manufacturer found the CAD for its product line had been lost to time. The CNC machines still had the programs to cut the slides, but there were no models and no CAM files, just a pile of G-code. We reverse engineered their own slides into clean, parametric CAD, so they now have engineering data they can modify for new versions and new products instead of being locked into whatever the old programs cut.
Scan Data as the Foundation for a New Accessory
Accessory companies often need the gun more than the part. For one customer developing a vertical foregrip for the Ruger Mini-14, we disassembled the rifle and scanned the stock to give their engineers an accurate starting model. The scan data doesn’t end up in the product. The product is engineered around it, so the accessory fits the real rifle the first time. We’ve done the same for many platforms for accessory makers.
Our Process
1. Free Project Review and Quote
Tell us about the part, what you’ll use the data for and when you need it. We’ll quote the cost and lead time.
2. 3D Scanning
We scan in-house with our FARO ScanArm, and on-site when a part can’t travel. For internal geometry, such as suppressor internals, we use industrial CT scanning.
3. CAD Reconstruction
Our engineers rebuild the scan data in Geomagic Design X and SolidWorks as usable CAD: parametric where it matters, surface geometry where it doesn’t.
4. Accuracy Check
Every model is compared back to the original scan to verify it before delivery. The color deviation map can be included with your files.
5. Engineering Support (Optional)
Many customers keep working with us afterward: design changes, new accessories, tolerance studies, 2D prints with GD&T, prototypes and production-ready refinement.
What You Receive
Every project includes a 3D STEP file, which opens in SolidWorks, Creo, NX, CATIA, Solid Edge and Fusion. Available on request:
- Native SolidWorks files
- Parametric, hybrid or surface models
- Raw scan data (STL)
- 2D drawings
- Deviation maps
Accuracy and Turnaround
We quote firearm reverse engineering at ±0.002″ (±0.05 mm). Scanner spec sheets list tighter numbers, but the accuracy of finished CAD also depends on the part’s condition and features. Most projects are delivered in 1–2 weeks, and expedited service, usually about a week, is available for an added fee.
From Reverse Engineering to Finished Product
Reverse engineering is often step one. From the same building we can:
- Design the new part or accessory (firearm & suppressor design)
- 3D print prototypes for fit checks through Forerunner 3D Printing
- Apply Cerakote in-house
- Help you find qualified production partners
- Design production parts for 3D printing (design for additive manufacturing)
Not firearm-related? See our 3D scanning and reverse engineering services for industrial parts and tooling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you reverse engineer a firearm part without prints or CAD?
Yes. That’s the most common situation we see. The part is the starting point.
Can I ship a complete firearm or NFA item to you?
Yes. We hold an FFL 07 / SOT 02, so many firearm-related projects can be shipped directly to us. Contact us before shipping and we’ll confirm the requirements for your item.
Do you handle ITAR or export-controlled projects?
Yes. We’re ITAR registered (CAGE code 9D4M6) and can receive export-controlled technical data and hardware.
Can you help design an accessory after scanning?
Yes. Scan data is often the foundation for a new optic mount, grip, handguard or other accessory, and our engineers can design it.
Can you scan suppressor internals?
Yes. External features are scanned in-house. Internal baffle geometry is captured with industrial CT scanning, then modeled by our engineers.
Do you work with individuals on personal firearm projects?
Generally, no. Our customers are firearm manufacturers, firearm parts and accessory manufacturers, and defense companies, including startups bringing a new product to market. We’re not set up for one-off personal projects, like replacing a cracked stock on a family shotgun or making a single custom part for your own gun. Reverse engineering is a professional engineering service priced for companies, not hobby projects. If your part is genuinely rare and the project justifies the investment, give us a call. Otherwise, a local gunsmith is usually the better fit.
Will you sign an NDA?
Yes. We sign NDAs before discussing project details.
Start Your Firearm Reverse Engineering Project
Send photos, what you need the data for and your timeline. Call 616-604-1977, email [email protected], or use our contact form.