Hi everyone!
Thanks for all the great posts here about the GK1. I was able to a lot of research while waiting, and waiting, and then receiving my .22 GK1 from Zack, aresairguns, his second batch. I have had it for about 2 weeks, and want to covert it into a micro-carbine for squirrel pesting.
I am a fairly basic recent airgunner, and I am a fairly basic 3d printer-er, but I am handy, having done PC modding since it existed (
This is my current personal system).
Like most people in this thread, I started by creating an add-on to the receiver back plate, using longer M5 hex bolts to sandwich on to the back plate. I created a PLA plastic (that's the most basic 3d printing plastic) plate, bolted it on. Then I tried firing it. Although it was just a thin walled prototype, it got crushed! After a little bit of thought, it was like Duh! Most of have seen the explosive de-gassing method. Just looking at the parts again, also Duh! That's why it's a hefty piece of metal secured by 2 large M5 bolts.
Basically, by creating a sandwich, the original receiver end plate becomes a pneumatic hammer head into whatever you have between it and the bolts.
So: if you do the bolt-thru, make sure your material is hefty. For sure, if 3d printed plastic, it must be solid! I have actually communicated with Moistone--solid PETG seems the way to go.
I decided to go a whole 'nother route.
I realized, it might be best to keep the pistol integrity as close to original as possible--all we need are mounting points.
So I created what I will dub the Navig Screw Mod:
I took an M5 hex standoff.
I shaved the hex off a little.
Then I added a slot.
This screw will replace the stock standard socket head M5 screws. The hex standoff acts as a permanent solid nut. The internal screws are an external mounting point. The slot allows me to tighten and loosen the screw. The original receiver end plate does it job. But now has a screw mount to add stuff to the surface.
Here is a video of me installing my mod screw, then adding a prototype adapter plate (I know its flat, just getting fitment right, then I will add picatinny or dovetail rails).
Really, the only downside I can see is that I could not find standoffs with bolt ends as long as the native bolts. But I find plenty of threads engaged, plus there are two of them--I don't envision them backing out at all.