- Nov 13, 2020
- 30
- 16
Please note this information is only relevant for replicas and blank firers sold to people in the UK & aimed at the Country and Western scene:
This is key for “Living History” & Re-enactment including Fast Draw – Not only does this information give you a clearer understanding of the Violent Crime Reduction Act – (VCR) – it helps directly with our Country and Western Scene that we love and enjoy. The simple facts are you need to be a member of a re-enactment group to own, use and carry replicas and /or blank firing guns, to and from registered events.
FAST DRAW UK IS PROUD TO BE SUCH A GROUP, HAVING A GOOD REPUTATION FOR THE EVENTS WE COMPLETE BUT ALSO OUR RE-ENACTMENT SOCIETY STATUS.
From 01st October 2007 a new law was introduced in the U.K (VCR-Act) restricting sales of all types of replica guns (but not banning them or making them illegal).
You can purchase replicas and/or blank firers if for the use of film, theatre, T.V, but for most people in the western scene *Living History*. However, this is only justifiable if you are a registered member of a re-enactment group.
Fast Draw UK is registered and insured as a re-enactment organisation. Providing you are a FULLY PAID MEMBER of FAST DRAW UK with a YEARLY MEMBERSHIP card (in date), and do own a replica or blank firer then you are covered within the boundaries of the VCR Act. This does mean that all replicas and blank firers must still adhere to the other current regulations introduced by the Home Office under the VCR Act. (other exemptions exist from the new law, please read on)
Purchases of replica guns for re-enactors and for film, theatrical performances, or rehearsals and for skirmishing are permitted and confirmed so by the Home Office, including approvals for the Stafford Hill and Trinity amongst others, – (Marked Correctly).
Replicas that are at least 51% in a bright colour specified as either red, purple, blue, orange, pink and yellow are exempt from the new UK laws. Therefore, if you do not fall within the above categories then you can still purchase a replica but 51% of it will have to be painted in a bright colour as indicated above. The reason behind bright colour is because the replica goes from being a Realistic Imitation Firearm (RIF) to a imitation firearm (in bright colour) which is exempt from the VCRA laws. You have to be over 18yrs old to purchase/own. No replica would be sold to anyone under 18 years old.
In order to purchase you should be confirming you are registered with a re-enactment group or living history society or the purchase is for film / theatre or re-enacting purposes. This could be done via your re-enactment/living history Fast Draw UK membership card, your registered status, letter from film/TV company. If you cannot provide proof of your defence then 51% of the replica would have to be painted in a bright colour (as specified in the UK-VCRA) to make it an imitation firearm.
To clarify:
Ownership and use of replica guns will remain unaffected after 01st October 2007.
Anyone who purchased before or after 01st October 2007 will be able to continue to own, use their replica guns as per normal within the law if registered with a re-enactment group i.e. FAST DRAW UK. (This can be found on the FDUK Membership page on the website)
There is no mention in the VCR Bill that re-enactors are limited to era specific replica gun(s)
Replicas that are 51% in a bright colours specified as either in red, pink, purple orange and yellow are exempt from the new UK laws. This is because the Realistic Imitation Firearm (RIF) goes to being a Imitation Firearm.
Replicas with a design and mechanism of a sort first dating before 1870 are also exempt from the new UK laws (S.A.A. .45's are exempt) Please see our Wild-West page.
Additional (extracts taken from the Home Office site and various other government sites):
Realistic Imitation Firearms Exemptions from the VCR Act 2006:
Defences applicable for living history:
The organisation and holding of permitted activities for which public liability insurance is held in relation to liabilities to third parties arising from or in connection with the organisation and holding of those activities;
FDUK ARE INSURED AS A RE-ENACTMENT SOCIETY AND HOLD MANUFACTURER APPROVED STATUS (TRINITY GUNS) WHICH IN TURN AUTHORISES OUR PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE POLICY. FULL FDUK PAID YEARLY MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE THIS BENIFIT WHILST IN ATTENDANCE AT THE RELEVANT FDUK EVENT.
The purposes of display at a "permitted event", which means a commercial event at which realistic imitation firearms are offered for sale or displayed, this relates to certain exhibition events and arms.
# - FDUK ARE INSURED IN SUCH A CAPACITY THAT WE ARE COVERED WHEN COMPETING OR TAKING PART IN FDUK EVENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND ALL FORMS OF EVENTS ARE AGAIN COVERED BY THE STATUS OF INSURANCE POLICY. THIS ONCE AGAIN IS A BENIFIT FOR FULLY PAID YEARLY FDUK MEMBERS.
This is key for “Living History” & Re-enactment including Fast Draw – Not only does this information give you a clearer understanding of the Violent Crime Reduction Act – (VCR) – it helps directly with our Country and Western Scene that we love and enjoy. The simple facts are you need to be a member of a re-enactment group to own, use and carry replicas and /or blank firing guns, to and from registered events.
FAST DRAW UK IS PROUD TO BE SUCH A GROUP, HAVING A GOOD REPUTATION FOR THE EVENTS WE COMPLETE BUT ALSO OUR RE-ENACTMENT SOCIETY STATUS.
From 01st October 2007 a new law was introduced in the U.K (VCR-Act) restricting sales of all types of replica guns (but not banning them or making them illegal).
You can purchase replicas and/or blank firers if for the use of film, theatre, T.V, but for most people in the western scene *Living History*. However, this is only justifiable if you are a registered member of a re-enactment group.
Fast Draw UK is registered and insured as a re-enactment organisation. Providing you are a FULLY PAID MEMBER of FAST DRAW UK with a YEARLY MEMBERSHIP card (in date), and do own a replica or blank firer then you are covered within the boundaries of the VCR Act. This does mean that all replicas and blank firers must still adhere to the other current regulations introduced by the Home Office under the VCR Act. (other exemptions exist from the new law, please read on)
Purchases of replica guns for re-enactors and for film, theatrical performances, or rehearsals and for skirmishing are permitted and confirmed so by the Home Office, including approvals for the Stafford Hill and Trinity amongst others, – (Marked Correctly).
Replicas that are at least 51% in a bright colour specified as either red, purple, blue, orange, pink and yellow are exempt from the new UK laws. Therefore, if you do not fall within the above categories then you can still purchase a replica but 51% of it will have to be painted in a bright colour as indicated above. The reason behind bright colour is because the replica goes from being a Realistic Imitation Firearm (RIF) to a imitation firearm (in bright colour) which is exempt from the VCRA laws. You have to be over 18yrs old to purchase/own. No replica would be sold to anyone under 18 years old.
In order to purchase you should be confirming you are registered with a re-enactment group or living history society or the purchase is for film / theatre or re-enacting purposes. This could be done via your re-enactment/living history Fast Draw UK membership card, your registered status, letter from film/TV company. If you cannot provide proof of your defence then 51% of the replica would have to be painted in a bright colour (as specified in the UK-VCRA) to make it an imitation firearm.
To clarify:
Ownership and use of replica guns will remain unaffected after 01st October 2007.
Anyone who purchased before or after 01st October 2007 will be able to continue to own, use their replica guns as per normal within the law if registered with a re-enactment group i.e. FAST DRAW UK. (This can be found on the FDUK Membership page on the website)
There is no mention in the VCR Bill that re-enactors are limited to era specific replica gun(s)
Replicas that are 51% in a bright colours specified as either in red, pink, purple orange and yellow are exempt from the new UK laws. This is because the Realistic Imitation Firearm (RIF) goes to being a Imitation Firearm.
Replicas with a design and mechanism of a sort first dating before 1870 are also exempt from the new UK laws (S.A.A. .45's are exempt) Please see our Wild-West page.
Additional (extracts taken from the Home Office site and various other government sites):
Realistic Imitation Firearms Exemptions from the VCR Act 2006:
Defences applicable for living history:
The organisation and holding of permitted activities for which public liability insurance is held in relation to liabilities to third parties arising from or in connection with the organisation and holding of those activities;
FDUK ARE INSURED AS A RE-ENACTMENT SOCIETY AND HOLD MANUFACTURER APPROVED STATUS (TRINITY GUNS) WHICH IN TURN AUTHORISES OUR PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE POLICY. FULL FDUK PAID YEARLY MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE THIS BENIFIT WHILST IN ATTENDANCE AT THE RELEVANT FDUK EVENT.
The purposes of display at a "permitted event", which means a commercial event at which realistic imitation firearms are offered for sale or displayed, this relates to certain exhibition events and arms.
# - FDUK ARE INSURED IN SUCH A CAPACITY THAT WE ARE COVERED WHEN COMPETING OR TAKING PART IN FDUK EVENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND ALL FORMS OF EVENTS ARE AGAIN COVERED BY THE STATUS OF INSURANCE POLICY. THIS ONCE AGAIN IS A BENIFIT FOR FULLY PAID YEARLY FDUK MEMBERS.