[Kevmo]

So the article is proceeding from the definition of shank as “a piece of shoe”? Doubtful. More likely is the loaded definition so they can continue to feed biased perceptions on this issue.

[null and void]

The dictionary lists 23 other definitions. Pick one that pleases you.

[RansomOttawa]

So the article is proceeding from the definition of shank as “a piece of shoe”? Doubtful. More likely is the loaded definition so they can continue to feed biased perceptions on this issue.

Relax. "Shank" is the everyday word for the narrow part of a tool between the handle and the head.

I would imagine that the builder of the gun might have named the part himself. Someone capable of building a gun from scratch likely knows a little something about tools.