then start looking for replicas

 

And here is another point - even with BLANK PISTOLS - severe injury and even death can occur if used improperly. Yes I said BLANK PISTOLS - those that shoot the blank cartridges.  There is still a certain amount of gun powder in the crimped blank rounds to create a flame that can burn someone severely, you can get powder burns alone, if the cartridges are stuffed with paper as they often are, there is then a projectile that can do damage to someone, and you should NEVER EVER point any gun at anyone EVER EVER!!! More people have been killed with EMPTY GUNS than you can count. And enough people have been killed with BLANK PISTOLS to render their use ONLY by highly qualified arms experts.

 

I know it's perhaps beating the issue to a pulp, but it is highly important how guns are handled. I'm sad to say that no matter how much care is given to how to handle these tools, it never seems to amaze me at how someone, be it ONE person or a few, who are haphazard with the use of these dangerous items.  There was a recent actor while in the filming of a movie who placed a BLANK PISTOL at his temple and killed himself thinking it wouldn't do any harm. GREAT CARE and handling of these dangerous items is paramount. I don't blame the audience who has a gun pointed at them - real or not. Just not a comfortable feeling staring down the barrel of a gun.

 

Be safe, find someone who can handle these properly - even an off-duty police officer who might volunteer his or her time to be there to assist...wouldn't hurt. And again, the only real consideration might be Booth whose gun should look more period than the rest. Airsoft pistols can be purchased if you have the funds, in many, many styles and types that look period and are reasonable for cost. But again if budgets are tight then that's out too. I would NOT use ANY gun that is real - only those incapable of accepting a real bullet. But those can be nearly as dangerous. I have a 9mm police pistol (revolver) that both looks real and uses 9mm type crimped blank cartridges. It's loud, it throws a pretty intense looking flame and is hard on the ears without hearing protection and can throw black powder out that burns enough to be highly dangerous.

 

Play carefully and find a highly qualified police, military or gun collector who knows how to handle these weapons - whatever you get unless you wind up using just plastic or toy guns that shoot nothing. That too is possible though can't imagine the same impact with a sound effect alone compared to actually firing a weapon that appears to function realistically.

 

Good luck, play safe.

 

TonyDi