The Benefits of Non-Firing and Blank-Firing Guns

1.    Still legal in the US, and many other places.  No waiting  period for purchase.

2.    Safety.  Unless you misuse it or do something stupid like pack it in public, or point it at the police, it is a safe, non-weapon.  No more dangerous than any other wood and metal inanimate object.  In the hands of a responsible adult, they are great to have, and make impressive conversation pieces.

3.    Price.  While you can probably afford a more modern, mass-produced gun, most people can’t afford a super classic like a Luger Parabellum, Walther P38 or PPK, 1892 winchester or 1873 Henry.  Or a classic Lee-Enfield SMLE, M1 Garand, MP40 “Schmeisser”, a British Brown Bess or Charleville     flintlock musket.  With non-firng and blank-firing replicas, you can.  And they look and feel like the real deal.  They even have functioning movable parts and can be dry-fired. With a blank-firing replica, you get even more.

4.    Replica guns are valuable for use in authentic historical reenactment events, collections, training exercises, film and television productions, and are vastly less expensive than real guns, without the legal hassles.

5.    Realism.  With a Blank-firing replica, it’s just like having a real one.  They require more caution by responsible adults than the non-firng versions, but they look, feel and sound just like the real thing when fired, without the danger of deadly projectiles.  You get the full experience.  The boom, recoil     and smoke are all real.  These aren’t cheap cap guns.  They cycle cartridges and have the full action and ejection.

For some history on the Most famous Guns of all time, please visit  GunClassics.com.  We have authentic non-firing and blank-firing replicas of these guns at GunsOfOld.com, in addition to a large assortment of reenactor gear, accessories and other items.

A Pistol Like No Other; The Luger P08 Parabellum

One of the most successful and famous pistols of all time, the legendary P08 Parabellum, designed by Georg Luger was manufactured by the DWM (Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken) and saw service in World War I in the German and Swiss military, usually as an officers’ sidearm. They were in service in the Swiss military starting in 1900, and Germany in 1904. Both the Imperial German Army and Navy used the P08. It found it’s way to various parts of the world, and even saw use in the Chinese Civil War. The American military also bought 1,000 of the P08 pistols for field testing, although they ended up going with the now legendary M1911 .45 semiautomatic pistol.

In the early 1900’s there was a lot of devlopment and modification to the P08 which ranged from 7.65mm to 9mm, and even included a version which had a 32-round drum-type magazine affixed to the butt, along with a removable wooden stock, that fit cleverly into a holster.

While modern firearms load and eject by pulling the breech straight backward and letting it spring forward, the P08 has a hinged arm that is pulled upward, forming an “A”shape by using a textured knob, which then springs back into place, loading the firing chamber. An 8-round spring-loaded magazine inserted into butt of the grip supplies the ammunition. This design is instantly recognizable and makes the P08 one of the most famous pistols of all time. It is also  the first 9mm semiautomatic pistol, a format still manufactured today by many firearms producers.

In addition the the innovative locking mechanism, the P08 was also noted for it’s accuracy, ease of use, and is easy to take down and reassemble for maintenance.

In 1930 production was assumed by the Mauser company, who made the P08 until 1943, when the war started to go downhill for Germany.  The famous “Parabellum” was a favorite sidearm of German officers, and was still in wide use in World War II, even after the introduction of the more modern P38, made by Walther.  There was also a commercial version of the gun with an extended barrel, made in the 1920’s.

Many of the P08 pistols were captured by allied troops and taken home to end up in various private collections, and are still in circulation today, and often turn up in auctions. They are available in various states of repair, and most still are able to fire rounds, which are still available, mostly in the successful 9mm format. They are now very expensive to acquire. They can range anywhere from $1,000 to upwards of $8,500, or even more.

The popularity of the P08 has waned little owing to it’s sleek, compact design, the mystique of their connection to NAZI Germany, not the mention the incredibly unique locking mechanism that loads and ejects cartridges like no other gun ever made.

To check out some of the Most Famous Guns in History, visit GunClassics.Com, where you’ll find info, facts, photos, links and more.
For authentic replicas of these Famous Guns, made of steel and / or wood, with working mechanical parts, both blank-firing and non-firing replicas, framed replicas and box sets, re-enactor gear and more, Please Visit GunsOfOld.com.  There you can also find an authentic, non-firing replica of the Luger P08 Parabellum.

4 Reasons why Buying a Non-Firing Gun Makes Sense

Since I had two different people ask me recently why anybody would buy a gun that didn’t fire and couldn’t be made to fire, I figured it was a fair question that deserved an answer. Here are four reasons why:
(1)
Legal restrictions on sale of real guns. There are many places you simply can’t buy a “real” gun, or can’t buy the one you want, because there are restrictions on purchasing them in many countries, and even some states or municipalities in the United States. Non-firing replica guns are legal to buy and own without restriction in most of the United States and in many countries of the world, and don’t require any sort of license or permit. If you want a firearm to protect life and property or to use for hunting and target shooting, obviously the non-firing type doesn’t make sense. But what if you just wanted a classic .357 Magnum with an 8-inch barrel to add to your collection, or maybe the sleek 9mm pistol, like James Bond uses in the movies? Chances are, you could buy a non-firing gun.
(2)
They are safe to display in your home or office. Non-firing replicas do not fire, and cannot be adapted to do so. Barrels have metal plugs inside, and are not made of the kind of high-tensile steel required to withstand the pressure and hot gases of a gunpowder charge. Moreover, the chambers and clips are made a non-standard size so that real bullets won’t fit them, as an added safety measure.
So long as they are handled sensibly by responsible adults who use them as collectibles, in reenactments, living history performance or film productions, they are completely safe. “Handled sensibly” means because they look so authentic, you don’t take them out in public and wave them around where a cop or somebody might mistake it for the real thing and shoot you. Of course they should be kept out of the hands of children, too, for the same reason, and also because loading mechanisms and other metal moving parts in a quality replica can pinch or mash little fingers. But if you want to practice your western quick-draw in front of a mirror, you won’t accidentally shoot yourself in the foot, with a replica .45 caliber automatic! If you really want to unleash your inner Wyatt Earp, get yourself a frock coat, brocade vest and a replica of a Tombstone Marshall’s badge, and join one of the many quick-draw competition groups that abound.
(3)
Real antique firearms may be difficult or impossible to find, and cost a lot more. Despite the number of them that were captured and brought back to the United States, a real German P08 for sale is difficult to find. A thorough internet search yielded only one site that had two for sale, priced at $3107 and $6214 U.S. A search for the Broomhandle C96 submachine pistol yielded only one, and it was $3650 U.S.! If you go back even further in time, looking for an original 1861 Navy percussion revolver, or an 18th century flintlock pistol or musket rifle for your collection, you can find them, but be sure to bring your wallet! A recent auction of a mint 1861 Navy, still in the wood presentation case with powder flask and other accessories went for over a million dollars. You can find them for less, but they may be in poor condition, may not fire, and it probably wouldn’t be safe to try. Non-firing replicas of the same guns cost a fraction of that–even a classic Civil War Enfield P60 is easy to find and very affordable for almost any budget.
(4)
Affordable quality and authenticity. Except for the BANG, quality non-firing replica guns are just like the real thing. When we say “quality”, we’re not talking about those chunks of plastic resin molded and painted to look like a gun. Quality replicas are made of metal and wood (on models that have wood), like a real gun. “Ivory” or “pearl-handled” grips will probably be a polymer imitation, but in appearance, feel and action, they closely replicate the geniune article, right down to the action of real moving parts in the loading and firing mechanisms. Hammers cock and “fire” when the trigger is pulled. Clips insert and release (you can even get dummy “bullets” to load with some models.) Cylinders rotate, and/or swing out, depending on the model. A quality replica is heavy, and has the heft, look and feel of a real gun. How cool would it be to display a realistic replica of Wild Bill Hickock’s engraved Navy revolver 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 search on the internet. Non-firing replica guns are great conversation pieces, and a piece of history you can hold in your hands.

You can find historical information and details about famous firearms at www.gunclassics.com. Also, please visit us at gunsofold.com.