As two different people recently asked me why someone would buy a non-firing, non-firing gun, I thought it was a fair question that deserved an answer. Here are four reasons why:
(1) There are many legal restrictions on the sale of real weapons.
You just can’t buy a “real” gun, or you can’t buy the one you want in many cases, because there are restrictions on buying them in many countries, and even some states or municipalities in the United States. Non-firing replica weapons are legal to purchase and possess without restriction in most parts of the United States and in many countries around the world, and do not require any type of license or permit. If you want a firearm to protect life and property or for hunting and target shooting, obviously the non-shooting type is pointless. But what if you just wanted a classic .357 Magnum with an 8-inch barrel to display as part of a collection, or maybe the classy Walther PPK, like the one James Bond uses in the movies? Except in relatively few places where “modern” replica firearms are banned due to their realistic appearance, you could purchase a fully realistic, unexplored replica of any of those classic pistols.
(2) Non-shooting replicas can be safely displayed in your home or office.
Non-firing aftershocks do not fire and cannot be adapted to do so. Their barrels have metal caps on the inside and while they are made of metal that approximates the weight and weight of a real gun, they are not made of the type of high-strength steel needed to withstand the pressure and hot gases of a gun. powder charge. Also, the cameras and clips are sized non-standard so that the live bullets will not fit, as an added security measure.
As long as they are handled sensibly by responsible adults displaying them as collectibles or using them in re-enactments, living historical performances or film productions, they are completely safe. “Safe” means that if you want to practice your western quick drawing in front of a mirror, you won’t accidentally shoot yourself in the foot with a Colt .45 replica! If you really want to unleash your inner Wyatt Earp, get yourself a frock coat, brocade vest, and replica of the Tombstone Marshal insignia, and join one of the many quick draw groups in the US and other countries. and test your draw against other aspiring “gunmen”.
“Handled sensibly” means that because they look so authentic, you don’t take them out in public and move them where a cop or someone might mistake them for something real and shoot you. Of course, they should also be kept out of the reach of children, for the same reason, and also because the loading mechanisms and other moving metal parts in a quality replica can pinch or crush little fingers.
(3) Real antique firearms are often difficult or impossible to find and cost much more.
Despite the number of them that were captured and brought back to the United States during the two world wars, it is difficult to find an actual Luger P08 Parabellum for sale. An exhaustive search on the internet turned up only two for sale, priced at $ 3107 and $ 6214 USD. A search for a true Mauser C96 Broomhandle yielded just one, and it was $ 3,650 USD
If you go even further back in time to search for an original 1861 Navy Colt, you can certainly find them, but be sure to bring your checkbook! At a recent online auction, a perfectly good 1861 Colt Navy, still in the wooden presentation case with the powder bottle and other accessories, sold for over a million dollars! Of course Colt had belonged to the commanding officer of Fort Sumter when the Civil War broke out, which surely increased in value, and you can certainly find 1861 Navy Colts that sell for much less than that. But unless the gun has never been fired (which probably puts it in the high-price category), it would probably be unwise or safe to try to fire it, as it would be impossible to know the condition of the internals, how it has been maintained, etc. So when it comes to vintage guns, just because you bought a “real” one doesn’t mean you can shoot it, and anything perfectly good, shootable, will be expensive.
Antique rifles, such as the Henry 1860 octagonal barrel (like the one Quigley used in the movie “Quigley Down Under”) are almost impossible to find. Even a modern fire-fired reproduction of the 1860 Henry sells for around $ 3,000.
Realistic, non-firing replicas of these same historic guns cost a small fraction of what you can expect to pay for a real one. Best of all, “rare” and “rare” are not a problem. Everything from the elusive Luger P-08 to a Brown Bess Musket from the American Revolutionary War is easy to find, at an affordable price for just about any budget.
(4) Quality non-shooting replicas are historically authentic and have mechanical parts that work.
A quality, non-shooting replica is the closest thing to a “real” gun. They have the weight, weight, and handling “feel” of a real gun, everything except the pop and bullet. When we say “quality”, we are not talking about those pieces of plastic resin molded and painted to look like a weapon. Quality replicas are made of metal and in the case of models with wooden grips or trim, it will be real wood, oiled and polished (usually walnut) like a real pistol. The “ivory” or “pearl handle” grips will likely be a polymer imitation, but in appearance, feel, and action, replicas will closely resemble the genuine item, right down to the action of the actual moving parts on the loading mechanisms and Shooting.
Hammer and it will hit the breech with an audible “click” when the trigger is pulled. Clips are inserted and released (you can even get fake “bullets” to load on some models). The cylinders rotate and / or open, depending on the model. AK-47 assault rifle replicas can be disassembled and cleaned as if they were real, and for that reason they are often used for training. . A quality replica is heavy and has the weight, look and feel of a real gun. How cool would it be to display a realistic replica of Wild Bill Hickock’s engraved 1851 Navy Colt on your desk, or hang a realistic copy of Dan’l Boone’s famous Kentucky rifle on your wall? You can find a replica of almost any famous pistol or rifle with a quick internet search. Non-firing replica weapons are great conversation pieces and a piece of history that you can get your hands on.