Hi All,

Longtime fan, first time poster.

Some frustrating news affecting Australian Alien/Aliens collectors.

The long awaited, and to many, the Holy Grail of Aliens collectables, the M41A Pulse Rifle prop replica, is being seized and destroyed by Australian Customs as importers orders arrive into the country!

I have this on 'very good' authority working in the collectables business and also being a major collector of Alien/Aliens items for over 30 years now.

I have posted the reasons for the seizure on the Alien Hive forum and also contacted Hollywood Collectable Group about the decision to deny the prop replica entry into Australia.

It seems that the item allegedly contains authentic elements from several real weapons effectively voiding the 'replica' criteria for prop and fantasy weapons by Australian Customs.

Even though the pieces do not make the replica capable of firing a projectile, Australian Customs has apparently deemed this as contravening the replica entry criteria which states that any
'replica' must not be able to fire a projectile or in any way be modified to be able to fire a projectile.

So far thirty three ( 33 ) M41A prop replicas have been seized and destroyed with more to follow as further importers orders come into Australia and I also undersatnd that the soon to be released District 9 prop replica weapons will also be seized and destroyed too!

So from a worldwide run of 1000 M41A prop replicas you can now scrub off at least 33 with more to follow thanks to Australian Customs.

This is a genuine and distressing issue as the retail price for Australian collectors of the M41A prop replica is around $1500.00 Australian, many collectors have paid in full for their order with no chance of any credit or refund as a result of the action by Australian Customs.

Both Sideshow and HCG have contacted Australian Customs but they will be hard pressed to reverse this decision.

If you choose to publish this please refer me as Foles36.

.....or in any way be modified to be able to fire a projectile...

Here in Canada if a device fires a projectile (the exception being airsoft), it is NOT a replica.

If it is the same in Australia then one of their criteria (of what is a replica) is that the device must NOT be able to fire a projectile or be converted to fire a projectile.

Hi Tom

Got the rifle today.
Awesome!!! Score 11+ out of 10.
Extremely pleased with it.
No hassles with Aussie customs and police clearance.

Tony

That is wonderful news! Just to be sure, did you order from a local dealer or online direct? Wondering because of the rumor of 30+ pulseys being seized by Australian customs.
Glad you got it and glad you are happy with it. I know that I am very pleased with mine. - Tom

I ordered online direct dealt with Mark and Colin.
A store here has two, but they want too much $$ for them.
Online was heaps more economical especially with the high Aussie dollar at the moment,
I was under the $1,000 threshold to avoid customs duty tax as well...bonus.

I was told from reliable sources, a store (popcultcha.com.au) in Melbourne, interstate had 30 pulse rifles on order, but they decided to cancel their order earlier this year , since customs told them they would not be allowed..... but who knows the full story and facts on that is... maybe they wanted to avoid the required police permit procedure, but they are in a different State... (Melbourne, VICTORIA), so police administration/laws on these replicas may vary as well. Customs laws however, are the same from State to State as they are uniform Federal laws.

The 30 or so pulse rifles being seized, I don't know about, never heard about this apart from seeing the "rumour" on the RPF forum. But depends what seized means anyway. Customs seize items here all the time, for holding, inspection, testing etc. etc. Some that are totally prohibited, dangerous, illegal are sent back or destroyed, but pulse rifles are replicas and usually are seized for inspection, held sometimes pending permit submission as they are controlled import items, not fully prohibited.

If someone tried to import 30 or so of these, they usually have to go through a customs broker or agent first to prepare the importation forms...a slightly different procedure than just importing one or two at a time.
If someone deliberately imports many of these guns and in a concealed format, hidden in a container with coffee beans (hee hee), then that will upset customs officials, hence a likely permanent siezure etc.... fines, prosecution. Well... it will always remain a rumour, until we hear firm evidence otherwise.
Anyway...these pulse rifles are quite easy to pass through customs.... not so easy if they used real gun parts.
I've already stuch a metal serial plate on mine.
Very happy chappy...... now to hunt down some Xenomorphs.

Tony

Hey Tony,
That's awesome news. I would like to pass along some of your info here to help clarify the "Australia Incident". But that is only, if it is okay with you. The most important thing is that you received as an individual collector and ordered online as opposed to relying on a local broker. The news of the order cancelation, as you mentioned, may have been misinterpreted incorrectly thus causing a small panic.

In any event, I am glad that you received it and are happy with your purchase. Saving a little extra cash doing so is a nice bonus too.

BTW, did you ever get in touch with Matt about ordering a sling?

Thanks,
Tom

Hi Tom
Pass on my email info is fine.
I sent Matt an email last night, again expressing my interest in a PR sling.
Have not heard from him, but can wait long time...not urgent.
Tony

Here in Canada if a device fires a projectile (the exception being airsoft), it is NOT a replica