Filipino gunsmithing can be traced back to
World War II when Filipino guerrillas fighting the Imperial Japanese built their own weapons and firearms, most notably the
paltik,
boga, and
guerilla shotguns. In some instances, the gunsmiths recruited were tasked to rechamber captured Arisaka rifles to use
.30-06 Springfield rounds. After the war, knowledge of firearms manufacturing were passed down to the present day, many of whom continued to build firearms in secret huts and factories inside jungles and mountains, with
Danao, Cebu being the area most well-known for making illegal firearms. Factories in
Samar and
Mindanao also exist. Mayor Ramonito “Nito” Durano III of Cebu have once tried to reach out to
President Rodrigo Duterte in the hopes of discussing the possibility of legalizing such gunsmithing factories. Most of these firearms end up being sold to private citizens, insurgents, and criminals. Syndicates in the Philippines have also taken advantage of the illegal firearm trade, with the
Waray-Waray Gang being the most notable firearm trafficking group in the Philippines. ==Firearm types==