Legality of Airsoft weapons in IRELAND

Fallschirmjager

hi,

now before you answer can you please read all of this as i saw some turned into a flame fest on a varierty of other issues like morality, IQ, etc

Here is what i would be interesed if anyone knows cos i cant get a straight answer from anyone (yes i tried the Gardai and i read the act, but i cant get a reliable answer)

I would like to buy and import an airsoft rifle and modify it as i am a collector of sci fi weapons (resin one normally)

The reason i ask is that the only truly accurate model of this rifle is an airsoft one. I am not interested in using it outside my house and i have mate in the US and i promised to send him one in the future.

So to my question

is it legal to own (NOT USE) an airsoft replica weapon in Ireland?

Is it legal to import Airsoft weapons into IRELAND (eg UK, Hong Kong etc)

I am begging you not to get into a flame fest of why or what if and the dangers of.


thanks for your help in advance



F
PS if i have posted in the wrong area...sorry

vasch_ro

I am not sure what an airshot gun is but if it is capable of discharging
any slug or missile its a firearm and whether in your house or not
requires a licence
look below the words
"any other weapon incorporating a barrel from which metal or other slugs can be
discharged" would seem to apply

FIREARMS AND OFFENSIVE WEAPONS ACT 1990 - SECT 4
Extension of Firearms Acts to crossbows and stun guns.

4.—(1) In the Firearms Acts, 1925 to 1990, "firearm" means—

( a ) a lethal firearm or other lethal weapon of any description from which
any shot, bullet or other missile can be discharged;

( b ) an air gun (which expression includes an air rifle and an air pistol) or
any other weapon incorporating a barrel from which metal or other slugs can be
discharged;

( c ) a crossbow;

( d ) any type of stun gun or other weapon for causing any shock or other
disablement to a person by means of electricity or any other kind of energy
emission;

RampagingBadger

Is it basically an air-rifle you're looking for? You need a licence for one of those babies but the licence isn't terribly difficult to get. You may need to join a rifle club and have land on which to use it or a reason for owning it. If all you want is a pretty thing that looks like a gun then I don't think you need a licence. Just go to a toy store (or grow up).

tuxy

Originally posted by RampagingBadger
Is it basically an air-rifle you're looking for?

its a airsoft not air-rifle
airsoft dosnt use c02 so the pellet dosnt have as much power behind it
my father is a guard i asked him and he dosnt have a clue

RampagingBadger

A friend of mine has an air-rifle that doesn't use CO2. You crank it manually. If you got hit with it it would bloody hurt. It could easily break the skin and it rips through compressed Linx cans (which if you have a flame beside it makes for interesting viewing). You definately need a licence for them and that's a good thing. If your dad's a guard there should be no problem getting the licence.

DMT

Originally posted by RampagingBadger
If your dad's a guard there should be no problem getting the licence.

Note that tuxx is not Fallschirmjager....

BlitzKrieg

on the ability to import them...i had no trouble importing mine though i have a licence they never asked me and i imported them in bulk (4 of em in the same package) mine are the air manual plastic bb ones and the only serious problm i've had with them is that they have no proof on them that they are not real (very authentic look and feel and no replica message) These were desert eagle replica's so u can see the worry in some faces.

Wha are you hoping to import it could help with the defining of its legality.

Fallschirmjager

Gentlemen,

thanks for the assistance. It looks like to me that you dont (sort of) but in classic irish law..you should to avoid any ARU laser dots on your chest.....

Blitz, what i am building is the rifle from the film aliens and the main housing is a thompson airsoft from marui. you then can get the outer shroud to make it look like the film. this involves stripping down all of the thompson to it bare components. so you pretty much destry a thompson airsoft in the process and if you wanted to be very accurate you would need to destroy 2 shotguns for the lower grenade part also.

Blitz, as i am a bit ignortant on the license thing...do you have a particular type of firearms license or is their only one type?



to those who honestly gave their time and help...thanks a million

ferdi

Originally posted by Fallschirmjager
Is it legal to import Airsoft weapons into IRELAND (eg UK, Hong Kong etc)

:rolleyes:

Kiith

on a similar note, whats the law on swords. i want to buy the highlander katana from the first film. i can order it from england, but i'm not sure if it's legal here. any help???

rymus

Apologies for thread hi-jacking but.. I wanted to get a couple of replica handguns some time ago but was unsure of the legalities of importing and owning such things. None of them have firing pins and the chambers are blocked up. Need I live in fear of a Gardai asswhooping if I bring a few of these back from England in the summer?

Kiith, if it helps.. there are a few shops in Cork that sell replica swords. Can't see any problem with going in there and picking one up. If you can buy one as freely as that I don't see why there should be a problem getting one from England. Just don't send it An post

Fallschirmjager

rymus,


i think i can help a small bit there..i read one of the paras from the weapons act and i am fairly sure you need to let the local gardai know as they are still classed as guns. it seemed to imply there would be no problem for collectors but you have to inform. i will see if i can find it again...

Sleepy

Originally posted by Kiith
on a similar note, whats the law on swords. i want to buy the highlander katana from the first film. i can order it from england, but i'm not sure if it's legal here. any help???

If you're refering to the Conor McCloud dragon's head katana they sell it in Sub City in Galway so I'm sure they must be legal to import.

Fallschirmjager

here is what i found in the act on knives swords etc....


) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), where a person has with him in any public place any knife or any other article which has a blade or which is sharply pointed, he shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1) to prove that he had good reason or lawful authority for having the article with him in a public place.

(3) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (2), it shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1) to prove that he had the article with him for use at work or for a recreational purpose.


so it looks like to me (then again i know buggerall on the law (hence this thread) )you cant bring it anywhere.....but you can responsibly own it.

hwo you get it home from the shop is anyones guess.....

Fallschirmjager

and Rymus....here is the other one

Authorisation to district hold defective firearm without firearm certificate. 6.—(1) The superintendent of the Garda Síochána of a district may grant an authorisation in writing to a person resident in the district not being a person disentitled under the Firearms Acts, 1925 to 1990 to hold a firearm certificate, to have in his possession, without a firearm certificate, a firearm where he is satisfied that the firearm would not be a firearm but for section 4 (1) (f) and that the person has a good reason for wishing to keep it and may be permitted to do so without danger to the public safety or the peace.

(2) The superintendent of the district where the holder of an authorisation under this section resides may, at any time, attach to the authorisation any conditions, whether as regards safe custody or otherwise, which he considers necessary and may at any time revoke the authorisation.


again and i aint a lawyer...it looks like you need to go to the friendly garda station, sit down and have a heart to heart....

Dr_Teeth

I talked to my local gards about this a couple years ago as I wanted to buy an airsoft pistol on the 'net.

As far as they were concerned it was at least a replica weapon, and at most an actual firearm, so I couldn't bring it into the country or own it without some kind of licence/authorisation.

Teeth.

Fallschirmjager

Doc teeth,

did they mention what type of authorisation. is it a special license or just a standard firearms one?


thanks for the post

Sleepy

I know we were looking at getting a couple of Tippman 98's for the NUIG Paintball Club and we got the nod from the guards provided we could prove that the 'guns' (we call them paint markers in paintball) were stored securely under lock and key. If you're a student in a college that has a shooting club (I know Trinity have one) you could always join them which would add weight to your case. As usual, if you're from a rural area and happen to know a cop it should just be a matter of walking into the copshop and asking for permission...

tapest

Hi guys
5 or 6 years ago I was looking for info on this and related subjects.
I rang the 'ballistic' section. They told me that it was legal to own and to import replica hand guns, even those that could discharge / fire blank cartridges,e.g starter pistols, but not exclusively. When I asked them the best way to import them they said carry them through in hand luggage, not suitcase. I suggested telling airport staff and they said NO that could be dangerous. In light of recent events I be a bit vary. At that time I was told the proceedure for exporting real firearms without owner licience, garda car would hand them to me at the steps of the aircraft.
Dunno if still aplies, Call them.."they're in the book"
t

Funk Daddy

Screw the law. I bought 2 handguns here: http://www.bbguns.co.uk/

They shipped to Ireland fine, and they both arrived fine. Great fun.

Hobbes

You should ask on the shooting forum, but unless the law has changed bbguns can get you into trouble if you don't have a license for them.

OFDM

Funk Daddy wrote:

Screw the law. I bought 2 handguns here: http://www.bbguns.co.uk/

They shipped to Ireland fine, and they both arrived fine. Great fun.

Were they spring loaded? And are the spring loaded ones legal here?

I have old spring loaded toy guns that fire rubber darts about 10ft, so would the spring loaded ones come under a toy classification?

-Strawbs-

Funk Daddy wrote:

Screw the law. I bought 2 handguns here: http://www.bbguns.co.uk/

They shipped to Ireland fine, and they both arrived fine. Great fun.

Well said! Thats how to do it! :cool:
I have spring handguns and just keep em secret, dont use them in public and u'll be fine

Cmar-Ireland

Hi,

Did you order any of these yet? I am hoping to buy a few replicas for my collection. I have a few movie props and I would like to get the Terminator Rosebox shotgun, laser rifle and Robocop beretta. these are all easily available online from the UK, US or HK. These will form part of a display in a home cinema room.

Cheers

Fallschirmjager wrote:

hi,

now before you answer can you please read all of this as i saw some turned into a flame fest on a varierty of other issues like morality, IQ, etc

Here is what i would be interesed if anyone knows cos i cant get a straight answer from anyone (yes i tried the Gardai and i read the act, but i cant get a reliable answer)

I would like to buy and import an airsoft rifle and modify it as i am a collector of sci fi weapons (resin one normally)

The reason i ask is that the only truly accurate model of this rifle is an airsoft one. I am not interested in using it outside my house and i have mate in the US and i promised to send him one in the future.

So to my question

is it legal to own (NOT USE) an airsoft replica weapon in Ireland?

Is it legal to import Airsoft weapons into IRELAND (eg UK, Hong Kong etc)

I am begging you not to get into a flame fest of why or what if and the dangers of.


thanks for your help in advance



F
PS if i have posted in the wrong area...sorry

NeMiSiS

Move to Airsoft/Paintball forum ffs.

TK

Cmar-Ireland

I have seen a few sellers on ebay with resin kits for the alien gun, also the T2 plasma rifle. Maybe another option??

Fallschirmjager wrote:

what i am building is the rifle from the film aliens and the main housing is a thompson airsoft from marui. you then can get the outer shroud to make it look like the film. this involves stripping down all of the thompson to it bare components. so you pretty much destry a thompson airsoft in the process and if you wanted to be very accurate you would need to destroy 2 shotguns for the lower grenade part also.

Karoma

Airsoft thread moved to Airsoft forum with open link from AH...

Idbatterim

ok didnt read the replies but speaking from experience, i assume your talking about pellet guns right? the rifles are legal if you you hold a license, you have to have a safe and have it inspected by the gardai, the pistols are completely illegal and for good reason, they are complete replicas, no one would question anyone pointing it in their direction. the pistols are generally powered by C02 and rifles by a pressure chamber which you pump each time you fire... if you have any other questions let me know and ill try to help

whupass

airsoft guns (or pellet guns) and air rifles or air pistols are different!

airsoft are legal without a license and air guns aren't. one of the main differences is the bullet, airsoft uses a small 6mm plastic bb but air guns use a .117 or .22 metal bullet shaped like a champagne cork.

Cmar-Ireland

Yes, the one I have looked at shoot the 6mm plastic bb. So do you think there would be any problem ordering some from the US or UK?

whupass wrote:

airsoft guns (or pellet guns) and air rifles or air pistols are different!

airsoft are legal without a license and air guns aren't. one of the main differences is the bullet, airsoft uses a small 6mm plastic bb but air guns use a .117 or .22 metal bullet shaped like a champagne cork.

Harekin

Look at the bloody thread stickied and appropriately called "The one and only is Airsoft Legal thread!!"

Cmar-Ireland

:rolleyes:

Harekin wrote:

Look at the bloody thread stickied and appropriately called "The one and only is Airsoft Legal thread!!"

tuxy

Harekin wrote:

Look at the bloody thread stickied and appropriately called "The one and only is Airsoft Legal thread!!"

look at the date of the original post

whupass

i'm preety sure he means cmar-ireland

b0v1n3

Airsoft is completely safe and fun sport...... i own two airsoft weapons an m4 and an ak47...... airsoft weapons "can" use co2 but they dont have the same muzzle velocity as an air rifle or real firearm....as a co2 airsoft gun can travel at max of one joule (as is the law in ireland) electricly powered or spring loaded can only be used without a license if they are under 1 joule.....

o1s1n

Hey,

The last post in this thread was three years ago. Please check the date before replying.