Replica vs imitation firearms

Questions about Victorian gun and ammunition laws. Victorian Firearms Act 1996.

Replica vs imitation firearms

Post by bawoog » 05 Nov 2013, 7:25 am

Can someone clear up the difference for the terms 'replica' and 'imitation' for me for firearms?

In my lingo I'd say they're the same thing - they get interchanged enough - but there's obviously some specific meaning in legal jargon that I'm missing between the two...

Cheers for educating a dunce.
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Re: Replica vs imitation firearms

Post by Hercl » 05 Nov 2013, 10:13 am

Replica is a working copy of an original firearm.

Imitation = a toy basically...
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Re: Replica vs imitation firearms

Post by Hatter » 05 Nov 2013, 10:19 am

Hercl wrote:Imitation = a toy basically...


They're still treated almost like a real FA though right?
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Re: Replica vs imitation firearms

Post by Norton » 05 Nov 2013, 12:42 pm

Hatter wrote:They're still treated almost like a real FA though right?


In many circumstances, yes.

e.g. if you hold up a petrol station I believe it's treated as a 'real' firearm as the threat perceived by the station attendant is the same as if you had a firearm capable of firing.
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Re: Replica vs imitation firearms

Post by Aster » 05 Nov 2013, 12:47 pm

Norton wrote:e.g. if you hold up a petrol station I believe it's treated as a 'real' firearm as the threat perceived by the station attendant is the same as if you had a firearm capable of firing.


Correct. The restriction is in place because a criminal could still potentially stage a robbery, threaten someone, and have the same level of intimidation/threat as that of a genuine firearm.

If you were found with an imitation one off the books, they would not take kindly too you, regardless of the fact it's incapable of firing.
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Re: Replica vs imitation firearms

Post by bawoog » 05 Nov 2013, 2:50 pm

Right... But then there are replica's which are not capable of firing, right?
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Re: Replica vs imitation firearms

Post by Bourt » 05 Nov 2013, 3:04 pm

bawoog wrote:Right... But then there are replica's which are not capable of firing, right?


Yep.

There are replicas which are working copies of firearms, designed to be working copies. Like making a copy of an old rifle which isn't made any more. Just a regular rifle really...

Or...

Sometimes to make 'imitation firearms' they break down an actual working firearm and mould and cast every piece and from the pieces reassemble what is then a technically functioning firearm, except... If they've cast it out of weak metals because its only intended to be an imitation, even though it could physically fire a cartridge, it would probably just blow up in the process.

Still a "replica" though because it could actually fire a round.
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Re: Replica vs imitation firearms

Post by Boatman » 05 Nov 2013, 4:12 pm

Bourt wrote:If they've cast it out of weak metals because its only intended to be an imitation, even though it could physically fire a cartridge, it would probably just blow up in the process.

Still a "replica" though because it could actually fire a round.


And you just know there are still idiots out there who have bought a low quality replica or imitation thinking they could get away with it as a cheap gun, and tried to fire it :roll:

Wonder how many fingers were lost this way...
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