Replica Guns?

[Josh Aston]

I'm looking for a pair of replica Colt commercial 1911's from the 1920's era. Because of the price of the originals and the fact that I'm only going to be using them as props I don't really need originals. They don't have to be functional, just highly realistic, all the way down to the engraving preferably. Does anyone know where I might find something like this?

 

[statelineblues]

I just "googled" 'replica guns" and found a number of sites that may be what you are looking for. There was a company many years ago called Replica Arms that made full size, non firing guns. I believe they are still in business, but I think the name has changed. Check under "Armory" as well - may be something there. Hope this helps!

 

[Josh Aston]

I already tried Google, all I found was Airsoft and junk. I'll see if I can find anything on Replica Arms though. Thanks.

 

[nomadboi]

Collector's armoury might be worth checking. Also ebay or google replicas made by 'Model Gun Co' or MGC. For more info, go to modelguns.co.uk -but warning on ordering from them, they stiffed me about $700 when I ordered from them once, it came broken, and they never got the insurance to pay me.

The blank firing replicas by Bruni are pretty easy to find, but don't have the logos/trademarks. Some of the better quality Airsofts would, and gas blowback can be a nice option for movie props. There's a company in Germany making nice full-trademark blank guns, but I'm not sure how ordering them would be- keep me posted if you try.

You could also see if you could pick up an old slide from a vintage 1911 and put it on a cheaper replica's base.

Sportsmansguide.com had old original 1911 parts kits I think, including everything but the reciever/frame.

Hope that's been helpful.

-Kevin
www.fightdesigner.com

 

[JFrame]

Just some more googling for ya -- the folks at this link sell a blank-firing Model 1911 that looks pretty authentic (though it's impossible to confirm from the photo). They're ad states, "They are ideal for gun collecting, theatrical use, and firearms training."

Just select the "Pistols & Revolvers" menu option, and scroll to the 1911. If you keep scrolling, they have two versions -- the blank-firing one cited above, and one made of resin with no moving parts.

http://www.aurorahistoryboutique.com/weaponsIndex.htm

Good luck in your search...

 

[nomadboi]

The Bruni blank fire says 'Bruni' and replica 8mm on the slide, as I recall- plus depending on who imported them, it may have either a fairly easy to remove plastic orange barrel plug or a much more annoying solid steel barrel plug (painted orange but easy to re-paint). Just a warning.

 

[Punkermonkey]

Oh, I just had to do it -

"And the fact that you've got "Replica" written down the side of your gun... And the fact that I've got "Desert Eagle point five O" written down the side of mine should precipitate your ba**s into shrinking, along with your presence. Now... @$#% off!

 

[JFrame]

Hmm... Here's another try:

http://replicagunsswords.com/weapons_gallery/catalog/Model-1911-45-Caliber-Pistol-p-1467.html

The ad states, "PISTOL M1911 .45 AUTO ZINC BLUED WOOD GRIPS: Deluxe blued AMERICAN G.I. M1911 .45 AUTO. This zinc die-cast all metal replica model is a realistic non-firing duplicate of the standard government issue sidearm of the U.S. soldier since 1911. A rugged, reliable, .45 caliber pistol steeped in history and tradition from the border campaigns against Poncho Villa, WW I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Length: 8.5", Weight: 2.5 lbs"

 

[nomadboi]

Yeah, but you can kinda tell on the larger image below that the slide markings aren't correct. Trust me- I own two of these.

Might as well add- the sear mechanism sucks on these- On one of mine and some others I know of, the trigger/hammer are all kindza messed up, even new out of the box. Probably just bad quality control.

 

[asiparks]

I had an early Bruni and not only did it have crappy markings, but the lower portion at the front of the slide, the bit that would retract inside the dustcover was actually molded as part of the dustcover. Reck and Umarex out of Germany used to make a lot of excellent very high quality licensed copies of Colts, Brownings, Walthers and HK's that fired either 8 or 9mm blanks. I've seen them pop up for sale over here occassionally.
http://www.umarex.com/index.php?id=products&L=en&haupt_id=2&unter_id=1&variante_id=317.02.30&cHash=7a32f99b98
and

http://www.umarex.com/index.php?id=products&L=en&displaymode=0&no_cache=1&haupt_id=2&unter_id=1

 

[nomadboi]

Umarex, that's who I was thinking of... yeah, I have their P99. Good quality, although stovepipes same as all the other blank replicas I've got (Bruni, Voltran, etc). Also, be aware that they (or at least the P99s) have a triangle divider near the end of the barrel that's pretty clearly visible if you're looking at the gun straight-on; not something I'd generally reccomend, but sometimes that's the view the camera needs to see.

 

[nomadboi]

Also- within the US, Westernstageprops.com has the Umarex P99s, as well as the (no trademarks) Voltran 9mm blank guns. They also have solid rubber guns in many different models.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

None of those replica or blank guns, though, will come with an engraved slide. There is also a very high quality metal BB gun, manufactured in Germany (I think by Umarex, in fact) and under license from Colt that has some nice Colt markings on the slide. I've seen them selling for anywhere from $99 to about $250. Sportsmans Guide used to sell them, dunno if they still have 'em.

 

[nomadboi]

The Umarex has full trademarks- follow asiparks' link.

Wish those things were easier to get in the US.

The MGC models also often have logos/trademarks. They're often more ABS plastic than metal, but they look decent, and the nice thing about those is they can chamber/eject full size dummy rounds... they're made to work with reusable brass dummy rounds that hold either a 5mm or 7mm cap, so they can do everything they're supposed to... when they don't break or jam.

Hey, that reminds me...

I've got one of them that I built from a kit that I could never get to work quite right- the spring that controls the hammer keeps slipping out of place. I paid about $100 for it, but I'd be happy to sell it for $75 shipped if ya want it. Looks fine, all the parts, unfired, etc... maybe you can fix the spring thing.

I'd completely forgotten about that until now. Duh.

 

[asiparks]

When I was back in England I had a huge collection of Reck and Umarex blank firers, including very nice Umarex HK P7....it was one of the first imported into the UK and it came with the flare launching attachment that screwed onto the barrel and it also vented down through the barrel rather than through the top of the chamber so no cutout in the top of the slide ! Somehow slipped through their export/import QC. Wow, that would have gotten me serious jail time now....
I had quite a few Kokusai and MGC metal replicas too, but they weren't blank or cap firing....wish I'd hung onto them, they were all pristine and boxed...ah well I'll console myself with the knowledge that I can have the real ones now...well at least the semi autos

 

[nomadboi]

Yeah, depending on how anal folks are being, the non-plugged-barrel replicas can potentially be considered firearms, since they can potentially be used to fire flares or rubber 'bullets' with the screw-on adapter.

-grumble grumble-

 

[JFrame]

Nomadboi,

I'm liking your idea of a cheap-slide-on-replica-base more and more...

When I was growing up in Japan in the 60's (we lived off-base), it seemed that every Mom & Pop store had replica guns for sale. These were all metal, non-firing, but mechanically accurate otherwise (moving slide/bolt, working trigger, functional magazine, etc.). Even the markings were legit. I built up quite an "arsenal" back then -- P38 and PPK Walthers, S&W 36 Chief's Special, a Buntline .45, and even an MP-40 machine pistol (I wanted a grease gun--this was the time of THE DIRTY DOZEN, after all --but all this particular store had was the Schmeisser...).

I'm surprised that replicas are so hard to come by nowadays. But I guess in a country where the real thing is so easy to come by, it sort of makes sense...

-- JFrame