If you make something completely in Red then that is not covered by the new laws and so yes you could still sell it as far as I know.

If you cast a resin PR but painted it, oh i don't know OD let's say, then that would not be allowed for sale and infact you are not allowed to even make it AFAIK.
Of course the "powers that be" would have to prove that you made it after October 1st but either way you would still not be allowed to sell it.

Darren

As long as the buyer is eighteen, yup. The only person who'd potentially have a problem is the buyer. If he or she were to assemble it, no problem. However, the minute he or she paints that resin to make it look like, for example, a Pulse Rifle, they have 'manufactured' a RIF and will be in breach of the new Act.





Hate to disagree, but there is a huge amount to worry about... People new to the scene who don't skirmish, re-enact or make movies? They wont be able to legally get hold of Pulse Rifles, VP70s etc.

Anyone looking to build a new Pulse Rifle? Same problem, it's manufacture of a realistic imitation firearm. The important part there is the 'realistic' bit. Because our kit looks like real firearms, it is covered by the new Act.

The RIF only has to look vaguely like a gun to a member of the public to be classed as a RIF; even some piping or wood carved into a rough gun shape can from a distance look like a firearm, even if its shape does not resemble any firearm in existence.

So, should one assume after the ban they will go after exisiting replica's. The Law doesn't seem to make sense otherwise, people will still have replica firearms, how will they know the legal ones from the soon to sprout up toy gun black market ?

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Rob Slater
A08/TQ2.0.42136E1

If someone new to the scene wants to buy airsoft guns like a VP70 or the 2 required for a Pulse Rifle then they only need to join a Airsoft site and become a member. This might be a bit annoying but not the end of the world. Once they are a member they will legally be able to buy new guns.



Well this would apply I guess to making RIF's that are something other than airsoft guns. However, like I said above someone would have to prove that you made it after October 1st which I imagine would be hard for them to do. Also, RIF's are still allowed at "permitted events" as I mentioned. This would mean somewhere where you would expect to see realistic firearms. This can be taken to mean only historical re-enactments/film/theatre but can also be construed as for example a Film convention where there are costumed characters. This could be classed as re-enactment, although it's doubtful but at the very least I think it would be arguable that you have "a reasonable excuse" to be carrying the RIF at such an event.

So yes it may pose a problem for the construction of new RIF's which are not airsoft based but of course it also still legal to buy De-activated weapons AFAIK. The only real problem I see is for resin and similar kits based on guns from films that haven't been made yet. It would be hard to say you made a gun from a film released next year but you made it a year before (unless you have some freaky powers).

Of course I could be completely wrong on all of this but so far I am not seeing a huge problem.

Cheers

Darren

It will still be legal to own RIFs, just not to sell, import or manufacture any after 01-OCT-07, unless you are a film / theatre production company prop department, historical re-enactor, or a bona fide Airsoft skirmisher.

So they wont come after already existing props... Yet.

As for IFs, I'm of the understanding that they can be sold, imported or manufactured by anyone over eighteen.

AFAIK the new laws do not apply to any existing realistic firearms that people already own. I have several airsoft guns but am not yet a member of any airsoft site. This does not mean, however, that I will be keeping these guns illegally come next month. It will only be illegal for me to buy new ones until I am a member of an airsoft site.


Cheers

Darren

Yes, one should assume that. It's only a matter of time.

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"Everybody online... lookin' good".
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Hey, they try to take our prop away, we'll just dump more tea in the harbor.

They can take my resin when they pry it from my cold, dead... ack! Kidding! Don't shoot, jeeze just take it...

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Also, the VCRA does nothing to prevent ownership or even display in a public place of IFs or RIFs; this is covered by another set of laws entirely which allow for display or transportation as long as the individual under scrutiny has 'proper justification' for doing so, i.e. being at a drop, going to or from a drop...

The excuse of going to, being at or coming from a drop will not cover you for the sale, importation or manufacture of RIFs however. Our 'pre-enactment' will not cover us at all in the Act; we are not a registered and regulated re-enactment body.

Fortunately, we will be able to register as Airsofters and get RIFs through that channel... Bit of a pain in the neck (not to mention another potentially large cost) for those who don't already skirmish.

Building a Pulse Rifle out of de-ac parts is a bit of a grey area, to be honest... Although none of the parts required to build a de-ac based M41-A are restricted, you could potentially be seen to be producing a RIF where one did not exist before, in the eyes of the law, which would fall under the 'manufacture' section.

Unfortunately, airsofting won't allow us things like resin PRs which aren't airsoft weapons.

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"Everybody online... lookin' good".
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To be honest, I'm not sure on that... The 'exemption through regulation' that Airsofters have gained doesn't restrict them solely to the purchase of Airsoft replicas, it only mentions 'RIFs'. We could be in luck..!

Quote:
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38 Meaning of "realistic imitation firearm"

(1) In sections 36 and 37 "realistic imitation firearm" means an imitation firearm which-

(a) has an appearance that is so realistic as to make it indistinguishable, for all practical purposes, from a real firearm; and
(b) is neither a de-activated firearm nor itself an antique.

(2) For the purposes of this section, an imitation firearm is not (except by virtue of subsection (3)(b)) to be regarded as distinguishable from a real firearm for any practical purpose if it could be so distinguished only-

(a) by an expert;
(b) on a close examination; or
(c) as a result of an attempt to load or to fire it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To me, that's pretty clear-cut. If it could possibly be mistaken for a real weapon by a member of the public, or for that matter, an armed police officer, then it's manufacture or import is illegal.

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"Everybody online... lookin' good".
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Sure is, if you're a registered, regular skirmisher or any of the other exempt parties, you're laughing, be it resin, Airsoft or de-ac.

Don't fancy being the first one to test the new laws though...

I assumed that you would only be able to purchase airsofts within the UK. The registration clause suggests that you will have to prove you are registered to the retailer. Any retailer will also have to be part of the scheme, or they will be selling rifs illegally.

This suggests to me that ANY importations done from abroad will be illegal if not through a registered dealer.

No more cheap HK imports.

That's correct mate. Registered airsofter or not, you will still only be able to buy new guns from a UK retailer.

Cheers

Darren

...and the only way to purchase PRs etc will be through the likes of Prop $tore of London...

As I understand it...

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"Everybody online... lookin' good".
.

I don't think building a PR will be that much of a problem so long as you get your Thompson through the registration scheme.

Importing parts like shrouds, vents, stocks etc shouldn't be a problem.

Resin Remington recievers should be okay so long as customs follow the law as its set out.

Personally, I don't see more laws regarding ownership of replicas coming in anytime soon. It's taken them around five years to get this law in force, and it would be impossible to enforce.

I wonder what their stance is on exporting replicas to countries where they ARE legal...

IM CONVINCED you will still be able to buy them,i think there will a loophole,theres no way if you go to a shop they will turn u away

ALSO AS IF you will buy a red gun and not repaint it,the law will be a huge grey area and will be unpolicable

It'll be like cigarettes - they'll use people who aren't registered with a club to attempt to buy and gain convictions. Then you'll find they won't sell.

Meanwhile, deactivated real firearms still legal...
 

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"Everybody online... lookin' good".
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I'm waiting for some dumba$$ to paint a gun bright orange, hold up a store or bank with it and actually shoot someeone.

Then we're in trouble!

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Update:

I'm currently importing a replica BR blaster and... days before the ban, HM Customs have seized it.

Updates when available...
 

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"Everybody online... lookin' good".
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In a similar position myself, Eagle - my screen used hero Reaper rifle, a hero Morita, a rubber G36 and a few grenades have been seemingly seized by customs officials. One big problem - they were mine to begin with and I was having them returned from the USA after I couldn't get them back into the country myself (as my gun case was run over before being given back to me at Atlanta air port), and they were all in one box!!!

Fingers crossed.

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I guess all you chaps can do is phone them up and explain that the act isn't in force until 01-OCT-07, and request a written explanation as to why they were seized...

Fingers crossed for you both.

Update:

Well, it looks as though there was some 'crossed-wires'! I phoned them this morning and they said there wasn't a problem - just that charges needed paying...

I was all ready to give 'em both barrels!

Still, another few days and it might have been a different story.

Looking at the whole thing though, I have a strong belief now that replica props (which aren't props of real-world firearms) will get through eventually even if customs do ping them. Politely worded phone calls and/or letters giving details of the origin and nature of the prop should win the day.

Mark

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"Everybody online... lookin' good".
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