Club Obi Wan

We are planning to attend a few cons next year, maybe Phoenix CC and Sand Diego CC but this question pertains to weapons and weapon replicas.

Would a realistic looking and true to weight blank firing gun be considered con friendly. It does shoot blanks, but I would carry it unloaded.

Do folks ever take real unloaded firearms to a con or costume contest.?

Resin replicas, of course would be the safest bet.
Thanks for your tips of advise.

In my experience anything that can discharge anything is a no-no and you are likely to have it taken away and be removed from the premises. The reason behind this that you know it's harmless, but someone may confuse it for being real (especially if drawn) and you find yourself with a lot of explaining to do...

It may be different if you are in a "closed" environment --ie an event that has absolutely no outside public attending....

at any rate it is always better to be safe than sorry.

IMO

Nick

I think I seen people post pics of themselfs at shows with such. I would think about people you might make uncomfortable. Blank or not some won't be able to tell. I myself would avoid the posible mess.

Indiana MarkVII wrote: Resin replicas, of course would be the safest bet.

I think you just answered your own question.

MarkVII

Read the following thread. It may hold some insight to your question.

viewtopic.php?t=26908



IB

Private events on private property can still be governed by the local, state and federal laws not just the rules of the venue. So, local weapons laws may still apply even if not explicitly stated.
Not all venues are that friendly; for example, some rennaisance fairs have taken to prohibiting any "costume" weapons of any kind except for those used by employees/performers. Even if the event is "weapon friendly" you still may have to travel through unfriendly environs carrying the weapon(s). I would not want to spend even one night in jail for brandishing, menacing, etc (mopery with intent to creep...G. Gordon Liddy quote) just to make a costume complete. Things like civil war reenactments etc are generally large enough and well understood by the local law enforcement for them to leave you alone. But, an Indy forum is not likely to be on their radar; you could just end up being considered a nut with a gun, whip etc I personally would keep any and all things that could draw undue attention from the easy frightened in a piece of luggage like a briefcase or backpack and unpack it when I get there.

I don't know what weapon laws are like in Arizona. but I wouldn't risk it, even with a resin copy here in MA unless it was painted pink with purple polka dots and looked more like a Teletubby than a pistol. And I have a license to carry here.

Here's what I can tell you, after having been to SDCC so many times.

If they caught you with a gun like that, you'd be tackled before you knew what hit you. I BARELY get away with my Artsee1 replica every year, and that's because I keep it HOLSTERED 98% of the time, and only take it out for photos, first warning the person I will take the photo with that it is fake but looks real.

You take props like that into the convention at your own risk! Something like a bullwhip may get you a few questions from curious security guards, but not anything major. A realistic looking gun may get you into trouble, and a real one that fired blanks would be the end of you. Don't do that. Get a prop, and be very sparing about when and who you take it out in front of.

Thanks everyone. That's pretty much what I expected, although it is disappointing. Dressed as Indy last Halloween for the costume contest at work, I came in empty holstered. I knew that even a prop gun wouldn't be compatible with the no weapons policy. One pirate guy got away with a toy sword, but it was pretty easy to see that it was a toy. The year before, I did Capt. Jack Sparrow, and again, left the replica flintlock at home. It was accepted at the Renaissance Faires in Arizona and in California, but it was peace tied.

Oh, well, I guess when I do my Clint Eastwood Man with No Name, the sterling silver rattlesnake gripped 1850 Navy blank firing replica will just have to stay home. It looks and acts too much like a real gun to try fooling anyone with. I don't relish the feel of handcuffs on my wirsts and my face on the pavement, or the idea of looking down the business end of a 12 gauge. Does anyone know where I can get a toy looking Navy 1850? Or else I'll just walk around with an empty holster.

I have taken my Captain Jack MR flintlock with me everywhere I go and keep it "holstered" ( ) in my sash. Never had any problems except once I had a Long Beach police officer look at me cross as he checked out my piece!

I have brought it into the El Capitan Theater on numerous POTC showings and they wand it with a metal detector.

I think the the safest thing to do is contact the event / CON management and get the rules.

I smuggled my prop flintlock into Disneyland one Halloween but left it "holstered."

Problem with Indy's piece is that it is very modern looking compared to a flintlock and could be mistaken as real!!!

IndyWannaBee wrote:I smuggled my prop flintlock into Disneyland one Halloween but left it "holstered."

Heck, I bought my pirate flintlock at Disneyland, back when they used to sell them!

My Indy gun is a $1 gas station convenience store cap gun. But it was made in the correct colors. I draw it at the Con, but again, only for photos. I've never had a problem with it.

Kind of sad, due to the number of "nuts"in the world,that we need to be concerned about the display of our gear in public.
-raider 57

Yes, it is a sad commentary on our over regulated world. For the Man with No Man outfit, I got the sterling silver coiled snakes embeded into the grips, orf my Navy blank firing replica, and have a very Clint Eastwood screen accurate belt and holster. It' accutually a little bit too big for me and since it was custom made, I can't return it. There are exactly 36 ammo loops and I got the silver bullet dummies that I know now won't be con friendly, because they look too real. Any one know of any Man with No Name summits? Any one interested in a Good, Bad and Ugly gun belt only tried on three times for sizing to see if I could get it to fit.

Indiana MarkVII wrote:Yes, it is a sad commentary on our over regulated world. For the Man with No Man outfit, I got the sterling silver coiled snakes embeded into the grips, orf my Navy blank firing replica, and have a very Clint Eastwood screen accurate belt and holster. It' accutually a little bit too big for me and since it was custom made, I can't return it. There are exactly 36 ammo loops and I got the silver bullet dummies that I know now won't be con friendly, because they look too real. Any one know of any Man with No Name summits? Any one interested in a Good, Bad and Ugly gun belt only tried on three times for sizing to see if I could get it to fit.

How much too big?

Depending on the style a good leatherworker might be able to take it in one more notch and blend the repair.

Alternatively, if it's just a "smidge" you can line it with another layer of leather to decrease the interior diameter, like putting foam into a hat's sweatband.

The right side, (looking down on it), the part with the holes for the buckle, has a narrower portion with the holes, so it can go through the buckle. Right after the last hole, the belt widens out and has the screen accurate stiching pattern one the outside face. I have it in the last hole and it slips down past my hips. The only way I can keep it one is at a very steep angle, really exagurating the difference between the holster and opposite side.

Indiana MarkVII wrote:The right side, (looking down on it), the part with the holes for the buckle, has a narrower portion with the holes, so it can go through the buckle. Right after the last hole, the belt widens out and has the screen accurate stiching pattern one the outside face. I have it in the last hole and it slips down past my hips. The only way I can keep it one is at a very steep angle, really exagurating the difference between the holster and opposite side.

Never mind what I just wrote.

I went here and looked at one holster maker's version. I can see why you're stuck on finding a fix.

All I can think of is lining it with something (sheepskin?) to fill the gap between it and you invisibly.

Or you could go on an anti-diet.