I've read through previous threads here on the topic including these:

https://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=6&f=21&t=236445

https://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=6&f=21&t=338141

Anyone ever actually go through with it?

Since 41F is upon us, I'm strongly considering efiling a Form 1 for a Molotov Cocktail.  My plan is as follows:

1) The bottle would be a standard 750ml glass water bottle like this:



2) I would engrave a metal band that would be attached to the top of the neck of the bottle.  It would be attached in such a way that it would not be removable without breaking the bottle.  Engraving the cap would mean that it could be re-used which I'm sure would be a no-go with BATFE.  

3) The igniter would be two sparklers taped to the bottle.

4) The filling would be gasoline gelled with Napalm powder as per the following patent:

http://www.google.com/patents/US2684339

The gelling powder could be added to the bottle but the gasoline would only be added just before use.  In this way, there would be no storage issues as the bottle would be inert.

Thoughts?

I don't see any issues with your plan, it would be like the binary form one grenades out there. I'd suggest storm matches in place of the sparklers, that's what the Finns used... really long storm matches.

Dude in Texas is all about DD's, including Molotovs. He's done a few. Texas Machine Gun and Ordnance I think.

I knew TXMGO did "claymores" and pipe bombs, I didn't know he did some molotovs too. It doesn't surprise me though!

They're sure putting the 10/02 FFL/SOT and 20 FEL to good use.

If you're going to spend the money on a stamp, might as well make it flameless. Sugar and potassium chlorate on the outside with sulfuric acid catalyst in the bottle.

I've read the same TM, it should have had a long term storage warning. Don't do that if you plan to store it for any real length of time, or might drop it, or...

It's safer to go the original, tried-and-true route of the storm matches or the more modern sparkler idea.

Why do you need a form 1 for this?
Is gasoline considered an explosive?
Its gas, a old rag and an empty wine bottle. You can have all 3 components right next to each other in your garage and there is literally nothing the ATF or anyone can do about it.
There is a reason why these are very popular in third world and oppressed nations. There is no way to regulate or restrict the components its made of.

Youre basically paying $200 to brag to your friends and people on here that you have a tax stamp for a Molotov cochtail

You need a F1 because the ATF specifically defines molotovs as DDs. The moment you combine them for use, bingo, it's covered under the NFA. Stupid, but it's the reality.

Don't call it a Molotov cocktail then

Or don't fill before use, and store the "label" in a separate location.

Exactly.  I can remember lighting Bon fires this way back in the day as a teenager. Little gas in a glass bottle, light a rag and toss at a pile of wood. Then grab marshmallows and hot dogs. The fact that this is considered a DD is ridiculous

Funny story about molotov cocktails.

During the riots in the 60s it wasn't uncommon to attack the firefighters.


A fire truck was returning from a false alarm and one of the hoot rats ran out to throw a molotov at them.

The rag stuffed in the bottle was kind of long and he stepped on it when he tried to throw it.

Which, of course, pulled it out and and allowed the gasoline to spill out on to him and ignite when it hit the flaming rag.


The firemen gave him a hearty 'Fuck You' and returned to the firehouse.


No citation, my uncle was a Fire Chief and sadly, he's long gone.

Good, I'll make that change.  Maybe I'll list both so they can both be theoretically used?

Cool.  Though I was wondering more about individuals.  If he's a manufacturer then he's only out some paperwork and not $200.

Yeah, though I do understand the chemistry behind the sulfuric acid + Potassium Chlorate + sugar mix.  Also, sulfuric acid + gas mix isn't stable indefinitely.  I like the idea of the matches or sparklers instead.

Not brag, but teach.  If I try posting a full tutorial here without an approved Form 1, the thread will be quickly locked and trashed.  A Form 1 makes it completely legitimate to discuss in detail.

Exactly why I said the TM should have had a storage warning. Oh, well.

In any case, the storm matches are available from REI, Amazon, and if you shop in Maine, Kittery Trading Post had them years ago. I like the UCO "Titan" brand. They're about 4" long, they burn for at least 15 seconds, and you're not putting them out prematurely.

Just write an "ignition source" label for a line on either side of the bottle in your photo/drawing design when you submit the F1.

Or submit this photo and note you'd be leaving it unfilled while stored, for safety reasons:



Quoting that website:

I'll do that.  "Ignition source" leaves it vague enough so I can later modify that as necessary.

Won't matter.  The thread will still likely get shitcanned just like my Form 1 hand grenade thread.  The sight doesn't want to be associated with such, whether or not it is legal.

Sad but true. More than welcome over at Grog's, I bet. Be legal, be safe, and you're likely to be welcomed with open arms.

That's fine.  If I have to move it there then so be it.  I'm not for creating waves here.


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Here's another thread for reference:

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_5/1596234__ARCHIVED_THREAD____Molotov_cocktails.html&page=1

I have this drafted so far:

Molotov Cocktail Design

1)  A Molotov cocktail is a generic name used for a variety of glass bottle-based improvised incendiary weapon.

2) A Molotov cocktail falls under destructive devices as it is an incendiary device.

3) For this application, the design is as follows:

      a) A 750 ml or 20 ounce bottle will be used as the glass container including the original cap.
                      An example is a San Pelligrino water bottle which, by design, has a diameter larger at the
                      cap end than in the uppermost portion of the neck.  This is a critical feature for reasons  
                      discussed below.

      b) The manufacturer marking and serial number will be affixed using a metal band located  
                       on the neck of the bottle onto which is engraved the information.  The metal band will  
                       consist of a self-locking cable/zip tie.  It will be affixed to the neck of the bottle
                       immediately below the widened cap portion.  The self-locking portion will also have
                       permanent epoxy applied to it to further hamper re-use.  The combination of self-locking
                       and permanent epoxy should satisfy the requirement that the band cannot be re-used for
                       another Molotov cocktail.  While the metal band would survive the heat, it could not be
                       re-affixed to a different bottle as the diameter of the band would be smaller than the  
                       threaded portion of the bottle, thereby not allowing it to be slid down onto it.
   
                  C) The filling would consist of  between 8 and 13% Napalm powder with the balance being
                      gasoline.  The Napalm powder would follow US patent US 2606107 whereby, as one
                      example, 50% would be made of the aluminum salts of coconut oil fatty acids and the
                      other 50% of the aluminum salts of olive oil.  For ease of manufacturing, the Napalm
                      powder would also contain diatomaceous earth as per US patent 2684339.

View Quote

I still have to add the igniter information and I will have a second page with a drawing.

Any other suggestions?

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Always add "or similar" to your description of ingredients, construction, or filler.  That way, if you find out that X works better than Y, you're covered.

Thank you!


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I'll keep this in mind as well as an alternative ignition source.  I like the idea of not boxing myself into a very specific ignition method.


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I keep thinking a road flare would make a good ignition scource

Absolutely.  It is on the bright side, but you would get sure-fire ignition!  I will try to leave the ignition source more open.

Update:  07/09/2016

Molotov Cocktail Design

1)  A Molotov cocktail is a generic name used for a variety of glass bottle-based improvised incendiary weapon.

2) A Molotov cocktail falls under destructive devices as it is an incendiary device.

3) For this application, the design is as follows:

      a) A 750 ml or 20 ounce bottle will be used as the glass container including the original cap.
                      An example is a San Pelligrino water bottle which, by design, has a diameter larger at the
                      cap end than in the uppermost portion of the neck.  This is a critical feature for reasons  
                      discussed below.

      b) The manufacturer marking and serial number will be affixed using a metal band located  
                       on the neck of the bottle onto which is engraved the information.  The metal band will  
                       consist of a self-locking cable/zip tie.  It will be affixed to the neck of the bottle
                       immediately below the widened cap portion.  The self-locking portion will also have
                       permanent epoxy applied to it to further hamper re-use.  The combination of self-locking
                       and permanent epoxy should satisfy the requirement that the band cannot be re-used for
                       another Molotov cocktail.  While the metal band would survive the heat, it could not be
                       re-affixed to a different bottle as the diameter of the band would be smaller than the  
                       threaded portion of the bottle, thereby not allowing it to be slid down onto it.
   
                  c) The filling will consist of  between 8 and 13% Napalm powder with the balance being
                      gasoline.  The Napalm powder would follow US patent US 2606107 whereby, as one
                      example, 50% would be made of the aluminum salts of coconut oil fatty acids and the
                      other 50% of the aluminum salts of olive oil.  For ease of manufacturing into powder  
                      form, the Napalm powder would also contain diatomaceous earth as per US patent
                      2684339.
     
       d) The ignition mechanism will consist of one of the following:

                       I) a train of pyrotechnic material, attached to the outside of the bottle, that will be ignited and remain burning long enough for the device to be thrown, travel through the air, and hit the target, an  
                          example being a stormproof match, sparkler or flare.

                      II) a combination of two or more compounds that when brought together will spontaneously ignite, and where the compounds are physically separated by the glass bottle, and make contact when
                          the glass is broken, an example being sulfuric acid within the bottle and a mixture of potassium chlorate and sugar outside the bottle.

View Quote

This covers the bottle, marking, filling and ignition.  I will have a second page with a rough sketch.

I think you have way too much information in there.

I would leave all the marking info out, unless they asked.  I would leave all of the filler out (the filler is 'an incendiary mix'..that's all).  I would leave ignition out.

Well, serves me right for not checking back to this thread before sending it in.

I thought that by not being specific enough, it would be kicked back or they would require me to re-file with the new rules.  I do appreciate your
advice, eodinert.  I figured they'd want to make sure the marking couldn't be re-used which is why I was trying to be specific about that.

I ended up paper filing today since I waited too long and wasn't able to get through the last couple of days long enough to finish.  

Now, the wait.

In this case, you're alright. Usually, however, the minimum design information is all you need to provide. One of my F1 DDs involved a rough sketch, poorly labeled, in pencil. Accepted without an issue.

Cool.  I was going to put a sketch and now I'm glad I ran out of time to make one.

Rather than messing with the metal ring for the Serial Number,  why not have the bottle engraved itself?

I was thinking along the lines of people getting the spoon engraved on a grenade, although I don't see a problem doing it on the glass itself.

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I dunno why anyone would want to register an IID in the first place. You can keep all the parts to it in your lawnmower shed, and put it together in about 30 seconds, including the time it takes to stuff the rag into the bottle... GROG

I do intend to post a detailed "how to".  I have a degree in chemistry and like to teach, so I will go into detail about the chemistry.  

I will also post it on another site someone told me about.

OP is making the original napalm, but the military switched to napalm B before the Korean War. The ingredients are all over the Internet & polystyrene addition adds "stickiness" & increases the temp of burn, at least according to Wikipedia.

I wonder if BATFE will sign off on an incendiary in this day & age....keep us posted.

Will do.

The original formula is, for all intents and purposes, non-toxic.  I mean the thickener itself and not the gasoline obviously.

The original formula was only abandoned due to cost.  For my purposes, the cost is trivial, but not when you're making it by the tens of tons.

The original formula uses the aluminum salts of the fatty acids of coconut and olive oil as one example.  As long as you start with food grade ingredients, you could theoretically eat the stuff (no, don't do this!!).  There are some example formulas using Napthenic Acids and those are not non-toxic.  I will go over the history in detail as it was published in this book available to read at this .pdf.  I have an original copy of the book.

The Scientific Method

ETA:  Napalm B uses styrene and benzene, both carcinogens.

ETA2:  Styrene is NOT styrofoam.

Im not really sure for what the purpose of this is, but if I was going to waste $200 on this, I'd be making it so that it had some chance of defeating armor and serve some realistic purpose.

It looks like those handles would make for a good grip, but the bottles look large. What's their capacity?  It seems to me a quart would be close to optimal for throwing for distance.
 

FAS | Military | DOD 101 | Systems | Dumb Bombs ||||
Index | Search |

 
MK77 750lb Napalm
MK78 500lb Napalm
MK79 1000lb Napalm

A fire bomb is a thin skinned container of fuel gel designed for use against dug-in troops, supply installations, wooden structures, and land convoys. The MK 77 500-pound fire bomb is the only fire bomb now in service. Fire bombs rupture on impact and spread burning fuel gel on surrounding objects. MK 13 Mod 0 igniters are used to ignite the fuel gel mixture upon impact.
The MK-77 is a napalm canister munition. The MK77 familiy is an evolution of the incendiary bombs M-47 and M-74, used during the conflict in Korea and the war in Vietnam. Napalm is an incendiary mixture of benzene, gasoline and polystyrene. The Marine Corps dropped all of the approximately 500 MK-77s used in the Gulf War. They were delivered primarily by the AV-8 Harriers from relatively low altitudes. MK-77s were used to ignite the Iraqis oil-filled fire trenches, which were part of barriers constructed in southern Kuwait.
The containers of napalm bomber are very light and fabricated of aluminum, with a capacity for about 75 gallons of combustible gel. They lack stabilizing fins, and consequently acquire a tumbling motion on being dropped that contributes to the scattering of the combustible gel over a wide area.

While the MK-77 is the only incendiary munition currently in active inventory, a variety of other incendiary devices were produced, including the M-47 Napalm bomb, the M-74 incendiary bomb, and white phosphorous and munitions manufacturing. Production of these devices continued during the Korean conflict, though various demilitarization and decontamination programs were initiated in the late 1950s. Munitions destroyed included M-47 Napalm-filled bombs and incendiary cluster bombs.

Napalm is a mixture of benzene (21%), gasoline (33%), and polystyrene (46%). Benzene is a normal component of gasoline (about 2%). The gasoline used in napalm is the same leaded or unleaded gas that is used in automobiles.
Gasoline is a mixture of hydrocarbons, which burn in an engine. It is a clear liquid, made from crude oil that burns and explodes easily. It naturally contains some benzene (which makes gas smell the way it does). Gasoline is lighter than, and floats on, water, but it will not mix with water. It dissolves grease and oil but will not dissolve polystyrene by itself, more benzene must be added to it. If gasoline is inhaled or swallowed, it can be dangerous or fatal. Breathing it results in an intense burning sensation in the throat and lungs, resulting in bronchitis and, eventually, pneumonia and possibly death. Swallowing gasoline results in inebriation (drunkenness), vomiting, dizziness, fever, drowsiness, confusion, and cyanosis (blue color).
Benzene is a light, colorless, aromatic liquid made from a variety of raw materials, mostly crude oil and coal. In many ways it is similar to gasoline, of which it is a part. The major uses of benzene are in making plastics and other chemicals, not fuel, although it could be used as one. If benzene is breathed or swallowed, it causes throat irritation, rest lessens, excitement, depression, and, finally, convulsions, which can lead to death. A long exposure to benzene vapors (months or years) leads to bone marrow depression and in rare cases, leukemia.
Polystyrene is the white, tough plastic that is used to make cups, plates, and other tableware and food containers. In the pure state it is slightly heavier than water. It dissolves easily in acetone and benzene, but not in gasoline. It is not poisonous; if swallowed it passes unchanged through the digestive tract. But it is possible to choke on it. Heated polystyrene softens at about 185 F. At higher temperatures it turns back into styrene, the chemical from which it was made. Styrene has been tested as toxic to rats. In air, polystyrene melts and burns with a yellow, sooty flame. Styrene itself has a sharp, unpleasant smell that is easy to recognize.


I know styrene isn't polystyrene, but napalm B doesn't use styrene, it uses polystyrene. You won't make styrene until polystyrene burns when you use it. You don't necessarily need benzene for your project, but it helps increase flammability. Just throwing this info out as it wasn't mentioned.

Best of luck with your project.

I was wrong about the styrene, but the benzene is critical to recreate the stickiness/tackiness of the original Napalm formula.  Without it, it flows more easily.  This would be contrary to its use which is to reduce its volatility/vapor pressure and have it adhere to a target better.

ETA:  As far as luck, hopefully I get a good examiner.


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Double

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My bottle is 20 oz which feels like a good weight.  I'll have to check how much it would weigh full.  Gasoline is considerably less dense than water.

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Carboys can be purchased in 3 to 6.5 gallon sizes.  There are also some 15 gallon ones..  I would want the largest possible to go against modern armor.  Obviously, they could not be thrown and would need to be deployed from over passes , rooftops, or with the aid of energetics.  A 20 oz bottle is a joke.

Yes, it's a completely different animal.  It's difficult to describe how "sticky" the original Napalm mix is.  It's adhesive and stringy.  I'll find the passage in the book as he describes it well and I'll post it.  The original experiments used Aluminum Palmitate which creates more of a grease when mixed with gasoline or other hydrocarbon fuels.

ETA:  Also, it's not a mixture but rather a solution as the Napalm dissolves into the gasoline.  Also, it will thicken most any hydrocarbon fuel.  There is a pocket incendiary device which has as its fuel a Napalm-thickened kerosene base described in the book.

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Several of those bottles are no picnic.  They also don't have to be used against only tanks.  People burn easily.