Robert Craig Huxtable admits manufacturing guns using 3D-printer at his Kangaroo Island home

A 25-year-old man has admitted to multiple charges of manufacturing firearms and gun parts using a 3D-printer, a court has heard.

A man has admitted to multiple counts of manufacturing homemade firearms – using a 3D-printer.

Kangaroo Island man Robert Craig Huxtable, 25, was arrested at his Wisanger home, on the island’s northern coast, and charged with multiple firearms offences last September.

He appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday, where he pleaded guilty to six offences of manufacturing a prescribed firearm or firearm part.

Robert Craig Huxtable has pleaded guilty to using a 3D-printer to manufacture multiple firearms and firearms parts.

A number of other charges, including multiple counts of possessing a firearm, possessing a sound moderator and a charge related to the alleged possession of a book containing instructions to manufacture explosives were withdrawn.

The court heard the charges Huxtable admitted related to the production of two “3D-printed homemade single-shot handguns”, 3D-printed AR-15-style self-loading rifle upper and lower receivers, a “3D-printed, homemade Ruger 10/22-style self-loading rifle receiver” and a “3D-printed upper receiver with a metal barrel”.

Each of the offences occurred on September 20, 2022.

The charges were laid after a joint investigation between Serious Firearm Crime Investigation Section and Australian Border Force officials.

3D-printed homemade firearms found at the Kangaroo Island home in September. Picture: SA Police

At the time of his arrest, Australian Border Force superintendent Tom Williams said that his officers were continuing to remain vigilant of illegal firearm activity.

“The ABF works tirelessly in protecting the community by targeting those seeking to create or import illicit firearms through advanced analytical techniques and technology,” he said.

“We work closely with our partner agencies to disrupt criminals seeking to obtain illegal firearms and firearm parts which can potentially harm the Australian community.”

Huxtable, who is on bail, will next appear before the District Court for arraignment in April, ahead of sentencing hearings later this year.