Why buy a gun that doesn’t shoot? – 4 reasons why it makes sense
Legal LawSince two different people recently asked me why someone would buy a gun that didn’t shoot and couldn’t be made to shoot, 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 simply 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 of the United States and 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 to use for hunting and target shooting, obviously the type that doesn’t shoot is pointless. But what if you just want a classic .357 Magnum with an 8-inch barrel to display as part of a collection, or maybe the fancy Walther PPK, like the one James Bond wears in the movies? Except in relatively few places where “modern” firearm replicas are banned due to their realistic appearance, you could purchase a fully realistic non-firing replica of any of those classic pistols.
(2) Non-firing replicas can be safely displayed in your home or office.
Replicas that do not fire do not fire and cannot be adapted to do so. Their barrels have metal plugs inside, and although they are made of a metal that approximates the weight and height of a real gun, they are not made of the kind of high-strength steel needed to withstand the pressure and hot gases of a powder charge. Also, the chambers and clips are non-standard in size so that real bullets won’t fit in them, as an added security measure.
As long as they are handled sensibly by responsible adults who display them as collectibles or use them in reenactments, living history presentations, or film productions, they are completely safe. “Safe” means that if you want to practice your Western rapid fire 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 a replica Tombstone Marshal badge, and join one of the many quick draw groups in the US and other countries and try your hand at draw against other would-be “gunslingers”.
“Handling them sensibly” means that because they look so authentic, you don’t take them out in public and wave them where a cop or someone else might mistake them for the real thing 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 to the United States during the two world wars, it is difficult to find a real Luger P08 Parabellum for sale. A thorough internet search turned up only two for sale, priced at $3,107 and $6,214 US. A search for an actual Broomhandle Mauser C96 turned up only one, priced at $3,650 US.
If you go even further back in time to look for an original 1861 Navy Colt, you can certainly find them, but be sure to bring your checkbook! In a recent online auction, a new 1861 Colt Navy, still in the wooden presentation case with the powder bottle and other accessories, sold for over a million dollars! Of course the Colt had belonged to the commanding officer at Fort Sumter at the outbreak of the Civil War, which surely increased its value, and you can certainly find 1861 Navy Colts selling for much less than that. But unless the gun has never been fired (which probably puts it in the high-cost category), it probably wouldn’t be wise or safe to try to fire it, since it would be impossible to determine the condition of the internal parts, how it works. 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 in perfect shooting condition is going to be expensive.
Vintage rifles, such as the 1860 Henry with an octagonal barrel (like the one Quigley used in the movie “Quigley Down Under”) are almost impossible to find. Even a modern, fired-up reproduction of the 1860 Henry sells for around $3,000 USD.
Realistic, non-firing replicas of these same historic weapons cost a small fraction of what you might expect to pay for the real thing. Best of all, ‘rare’ and ‘scarce’ are not a problem. Everything from the elusive P-08 Luger to an American Revolutionary War Brown Bess Musket is easy to find, at a price affordable for almost any budget.
(4) Quality non-firing replicas are historically authentic and have working mechanical parts.
A quality replica that does not fire is the closest thing to a “real” gun. They have the weight, heft, and handling “feel” of a real gun, everything but the punch and bullet. When we say “quality,” we don’t mean those bits of plastic resin molded and painted to look like a gun. Quality replicas are made of metal and, in the case of models with wooden handles or trim, will be made of real, oiled and polished wood (usually walnut) like a real gun. The “ivory” or “pearl handle” grips will likely be a polymer imitation, but in look, feel, and action, the replicas will closely resemble the original item, right down to the action of the actual moving parts in the loading and unloading mechanisms. Shooting.
It hammers the hammer and strikes the chamber with an audible “click” when the trigger is pulled. Clips snap in and out (you can even get dummy “bullets” to load on some models). The cylinders rotate and/or rotate out, depending on the model. Replica AK-47 assault rifles can be disassembled and cleaned in the field just like a real thing, 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 etched 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 just about any famous pistol or rifle with a quick internet search. Non-shooting replica guns are great conversation pieces and a piece of history you can get your hands on.