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Assassins guns

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup
Forum Discription: For how-to's and where-can-I-find
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4760
Printed Date: 5/13/25 at 2:10pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: Assassins guns
Posted By: slicksister
Subject: Assassins guns
Date Posted: 8/20/10 at 1:55am
So we are doing Assassins in January.  I'm very comfortable with all aspects of it except the guns.  I'm not sure what guns we need.  Do we try and get a replica of the actual guns used?  Do we use just generic ones.  I don't want to get too caught up in authenticity but I don't want it to look ridiculous, either.

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The Main Thing is to Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing



Replies:
Posted By: gelcat
Date Posted: 8/20/10 at 9:18am
do your research  - the internet is a wonderful thing - so you know at least what size and type you are looking for, then start looking for your show pieces. 
You might see if there is a gun collector organization in your area, or attend a gun show in your area, and see if collectors would loan the guns for the show. 
You will need a weapons master - who keeps all the guns under lock and key until they get handed to the actor directly before they go on stage, and gets the gun back immediately following their exit.
If you have someone in your organization that is licensed to carry already, I would suggest you get them to be your weapons master/armorer. 
 
I think some of the items you'll be able to find replicas easily, but others may be more difficult. 


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www.actorsguildonline.org
Actors Guild of Parkersburg
Parkersburg, WV


Posted By: gelcat
Date Posted: 8/20/10 at 9:35am

Wikipedia, under Assassins the musical, has information on each person, with info on each gun - that's the place to start -

then start looking for replicas


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www.actorsguildonline.org
Actors Guild of Parkersburg
Parkersburg, WV


Posted By: slicksister
Date Posted: 8/20/10 at 10:30pm
Well I guess I didn't make myself clear.  I have done all of that research already and know what each characters gun is supposed to be etc.  My question is do you think it's important that i have teh exact replicas of those guns for the show?  I don't have alot of time or manpower to search out and procure/rent etch all of the exact guns needed.  I will if I really think I need to but I'm wondering if I really need to?

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The Main Thing is to Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing


Posted By: pdavis69
Date Posted: 8/23/10 at 12:55pm
You know your audience better than we do.  Is authenicism important to them?  Will someone write a letter to the local paper complaining because Czolgosz had a cap gun instead of an .32 caliber Iver Johnson?  If realism is important, put in the time.  The complaint we got was the audience didn't like the guns pointed out towards them, not what type of guns they were.

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Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse


Posted By: datsme
Date Posted: 10/25/10 at 8:02pm
When we did Assassins about two years ago, I tried to get close to what the actual gun was supposed to be, but we didn't have the money to do exact replicas. The director made a point: If someone notices that the gun was not the exact one, then we aren't putting on a good enough show. We had a replica for Booth, but other than that, we just kept to the general category of the gun. Large revolver, small caliber revolver, bolt action rifle, etc.   


Posted By: TonyDi
Date Posted: 10/26/10 at 7:19am
It has already been said that as long as you can get a reasonable representation of what the period guns are supposed to look like, you're ahead of the game. And it depends - as it's also been said - how much your audiences will "buy" that the guns need NOT be accurate necessarily.
 
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
 
 


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"Almost famous"


Posted By: SM_Ted
Date Posted: 10/26/10 at 2:30pm
Use replicas.  Real working firearms have no place on stage.



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