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How to Make an Origami M16

Origami is an ancient art form, though some of the history is unknown. In the beginning of the 7th century, paper traveled from China to Japan, according to ThinkQuest. It was originally restricted to religious and official use, but as production increased, so did the hobby of paper folding. In 1797, the first origami book, titled "How to Fold One Thousand Cranes," was published; it increased the popularity of paper folding substantially. Today, origami is a hobby throughout the world. An origami M16 is a relatively simple model, requiring only one sheet of paper.

Things You'll Need

Origami paper

Instructions

- 1
  Orient your paper so it forms a diamond. Fold the top corner to the bottom, then fold the left corner to the right.
- 2
  Open the top layer of the model and collapse it to form a diamond shape. Flip the model over and collapse this side in the same way. Open the left pocket and collapse again. Flip the model again, then collapse the left corner on this side.
- 3
  Reverse the left and right folds, so the outer edges of these tabs run along the inner edges of the model to form a kite shape. Fold the outermost corners into the the center so the edges run along the center crease. Flip the model over and repeat this fold.
- 4
  Split the model's sides and fold the corners inward so the edges run parallel with the center crease again. Refold these sides.
- 5
  Pop the bottom third of the model open and collapse the sides so the top forms an even triangle. Flip the model over and repeat the fold on this side. Open the folded sides and repeat the fold, then refold the sides.
- 6
  Fold the outer corners inwards, so the points meet at the center crease. Open both sides and repeat this fold, then refold the sides.
- 7
  Unfold the top layer's collapsed portion, pop the outer corners in along the preexisting creases, then collapse the layer again. Unfold the side layers, repeat the fold with the outer corners, then refold the sides.
- 8
  Fold the tab in the middle downward on both sides of the model. Fold these sides to the inside, then open to the sides without the middle tab.
- 9
  Tug the outer sides so the model pops open on the left side until the bottom sits flat. Pinch the top and push the bottom inward so the layer folds up into the model. Repeat this fold with the right side.
- 10
  Pull the left layer up, then fold the outer corners in so they meet along the center crease. Fold the new outer corners in as well so the edges sit outside the center crease. Fold the model in half so the thinner end forms the nozzle of the M16.
- 11
  Fold the tab a third of the way in downward to a 90-degree angle. Fold the bottom layer at the rear of the model downward so the point meets the tab in the beginning of the step. Fold this section in half again so the tab also sticks out at a 90-degree angle.
- 12
  Unfold this second tab, then reverse the fold in the bottom half so the point sticks out between the two tabs, forming the trigger. Pull the top layer upward, then reverse the fold so the point sticks out toward the nozzle, forming the scope.

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