Issue Brief Number 10 February 2015 From Replica to Real An Introduction to Firearms Conversions Introduction models are more appealing because report the problem most frequent­­ly, of their design, the materials used converted weapons appear in many While national firearms regulations in their construction, and the ease countries, including most recently often restrict the types of firearms with which it is possible to circum- in several African countries. civilians may legally own, such regu- vent the barriers that manufacturers lations do not necessarily eliminate put in place to prevent conversion. The Issue Brief begins with a brief demand. Prohibitions on handguns Demand for converted firearms is dis cussion on terminology. Since ‘con- in particular have led some parties to influenced by: the ease of access version’ is used in several contexts in devise new means to acquire these or to conventional firearms; legal re- relation to firearms, there is a need to comparable firearms. One common strictions; the high cost of pistols; clarify the term. The Brief then dis- method involves mechanically altering and the fact that replicas are un- cusses several types of replica firearms an accessible replica firearm to func- traceable, which appeals to criminal used in conversions and explains their tion in a similar way as a restricted elements. unique features. firearm. This process is generally Globally, law-enforcement agencies The Issue Brief presents data on the known as a firearms conversion, and frequently confiscate large num- global proliferation of converted fire- has been observed worldwide. bers of replica firearms and often arms, but in view of the challenges in This Issue Brief offers an overview express concern about their possi- compiling such data, it presents infor- of illicit firearms conversion. Firearms ble conversion. mation on actual conversions and sei- conversion poses a challenge to cur- Firearms conversion is a global zures of replicas, in which concerns rent efforts to control small arms as it practice. While European nations about their potential conversion were enables individuals to manufacture a functioning firearm, unfettered by government regulations. Firearms conversion is also a product of the same control efforts in that the more difficult it is to obtain real weapons, the greater the appeal of a converted firearm. To combat the proliferation of converted firearms therefore calls for an understanding of why and how such weapons are produced. Significant findings in this Issue Brief include the following: Blank-firing handguns are the most commonly converted replicas worldwide, but many other types of replica firearms are also highly convertible. Although conversion is possible A man attempting to assassinate Bulgarian politician Ahmed Dogan, using a gas pistol, which failed to fire, Sofia, for most replica firearms, certain Bulgaria, January 2013. © BTVnews/AP Photo http://www.smallarmssurvey.org 1 mentioned. National records, open 2. The reactivation of a deactivated Weapons most suited for source searches, and interviews with firearm is occasionally referred law-enforcement agencies provided to as a conversion. A deactivated conversion the data presented in this section. firearm is a genuine firearm which While skilled artisans can convert a Finally, the Issue Brief examines the has been rendered inoperable (i.e. variety of objects to fire live ammuni- motivations for conversion as well as incapable of expelling a projectile). tion, replica firearms (and specifically the impact of current small arms con- This form of conversion involves blank-firing firearms) are attractive trol efforts on shaping that demand. reversing the deactivation process options. This section discusses the to enable the item to once again types of replica firearms that are most The concept of conversion fire a projectile. According to the frequently converted. Firearms Protocol, ‘[a]ll essential There is no common definition of the parts of a deactivated firearm are Blank-firing firearms term ‘converted firearm’. Policy- to be rendered permanently in- Blank-firing firearms, also known as makers, law-enforcement officers, and operable’ (UNGA, 2001, art. 9(a)). alarm guns, starter pistols, or gas firearm enthusiasts may use the term In practice, however, states adopt guns, are typically noise- and flash- to describe different types of firearm deactivation requirements of producing replicas of real firearms alterations—some legal, others not. vary ing rigour, which in many (Ferguson and Williams, 2014, p. 3). A firearms enthusiast, for instance, cases knowledgeable individuals Blank-firing firearms have multiple might use the term ‘conversion’ to can overcome. legitimate uses, including military describe the process of replacing key 3. A semi-automatic firearm modi- training, hunting-dog training, private components of a firearm with new fied to have fully automatic collection, use in sporting events, self- parts (such as the barrel or buttstock) (select-fire) firing capacity is the defence, and as film props. Most mimic or new accessories, potentially alter- third alteration occasionally re- the actions of genuine firearms. These ing the performance of the original ferred to as a conversion.2 This actions include the movement of a fir- firearm. Depending on the country, category differs from the others as ing pin so that it strikes the primer on many such alterations are legal. it involves alterations to an item a blank ammunition cartridge, some- Firearms experts with a law- that, even without the conversion, times (in the case of some blank-firing enforce ment role, on the other hand, functions as a firearm. Yet, as with pistols) expelling the spent cartridge focus on modifications that produce the two other types of conversion, case and reloading a new cartridge in illicit firearms. In 2014, the Small Arms the item’s function is transformed. the chamber. The result is an action Survey conducted a survey among While many states permit civil- and a sound similar to those produced firearms experts from nine countries.1 ians to own semi-automatic fire- by a real firearm, but no projectile is They each recognized at least one arms, they almost always prohibit expelled. —and sometimes two or three— civilian possession of fully auto- Blank-firing firearms, as the name distinct type of mechanical alteration matic firearms (Parker, 2011, pp. suggests, fire blank ammunition as fitting their definition of (illicit) 269–73). In this type of conversion, rounds. These rounds produce noise conversion. Three general categories the approved mode of fire of an and a flash, though some contain irri- of alterations emerged: approved, legally registered fire- tant agents (Ferguson and Williams, arm is modified. 1. The alteration of a replica firearm 2014, p. 5; EC, 2010, 2.6).3 The cartridges to fire live ammunition was the Each of these types of conversion alters are generally shorter than bulleted most commonly recognized form the capability of the pre-converted cartridges and come in two designs: of conversion. Again, definitions item (i.e. the replica, deactivated, or a crimped brass case or a flat-nosed vary by country, but in general a semi-automatic firearm), thereby poten- cartridge sealed with a coloured plastic replica firearm is ‘a device that is tially changing the weapon’s legal cap. Common calibres include 8 mm not a real firearm, but that was status. Each method also presents or 9 mm PAK (Pistole Auto ma ti sche designed to look exactly or almost challenges to small arms control ef- Knall), and .380 or 9 mm RK (Revolver exactly like a real firearm’ (RCMP, forts. This Issue Brief focuses on the Knall), although calibres not identical 2013). Replica firearms include conversion of replica firearms (particu- to bulleted ammunition also exist blank-firing firearms, air guns, or larly blank-firing firearms) to fire live (Ferguson and Williams, 2014, p. 5; even toy guns. The conversion ammunition. It is important, however, Hannam, 2010, p. 757).4 changes the nature of the device to recognize that other forms of con- Regulations on blank-firing fire- so that it functions as—and meets version exist and have implications arms vary, but are generally signifi- the definition of—a real firearm. for national control efforts. cantly less stringent than those applied 2 Small Arms Survey Issue Brief Number 10 February 2015 to standard firearms. There are, how- live ammunition (in particular, the Box 1 Modifying ammunition ever, a few countries that treat blank- material used for pressure-bearing 8 firing firearms in the same way as components and barrel blockages), Standard bulleted ammunition does not typi- real firearms. These countries may, making some blank-firing firearms cally fit blank-firing handguns given their for example, require citizens to obtain much better conversion options than smaller chamber. These weapons therefore licences, undergo criminal background others (see Table 1). require specific types of ammunition or altera- checks, and register the blank-firing tions to industrially manufactured rounds 5 before they can fire live ammunition. Traumatic firearm with the relevant authorities. Converting blank-firing firearms More often, countries have few if any cartridges (blank ammunition rounds fitted regulations concerning blank-firing Converting a blank-firing firearm es- with rubber projectiles) can, in some cases, fit without modification (Ferguson, 2014). firearms. Some impose minimum-age sentially involves removing the barri- Another option is to modify bulleted or requirements on their purchase, but ers to normal firearm functionality blank ammunition. Certain blank calibres, such many require no licensing of the per- put in place by manufacturers. While as the .22 blank and 9 mm PAK, are similar in almost any blank-firing firearm is po- son or registration of the blank-firing size to various standard ammunition calibres firearm. tentially convertible, certain models (.22 mm Long Rifle and 9 mm Luger). The latter Manufacturers of blank-firing fire- have features that make them more can therefore sometimes fit a blank-firing fire­­ arms typically add features to prevent attractive as potential ‘converts’.