Guns converted to Blankfire
 

You know how guns are converted to be able to fire blanks for films.
Can these firearms still fire live rounds?

If the gun is a bolt action, pump action, revolver, or some other manually operated weapon, blank conversion isn't usually needed.

To convert a gun to fire blanks for a film, the barrel needs to be threaded for a Blank Firing Adapter (BFA). Some guns have external BFAs that screw on like Israeli blank adapters for AK-47s, but some guns need to have the inside of the barrel threaded and then plugged with an adapter. This blocks a certain amount of gasses so the weapon has enough pressure to fire blanks and cycle reliabley. Some guns need just this alone like the Walther P38 and the Beretta 92FS. But some guns like the M1911A1 need to the the top of the barrel milled around so the weapon will properly feed crimped blank cartridges.

And if the gun is adapted to fire blanks, it is ruined permanantly for using live rounds. If it was "modified" to fire blanks, it might just need a BFA added to the muzzle, but if it is "adapted" and permanantly changed, it is a blank gun only.

If I got anything wrong I'm sure the three armorers on this forum will correct me. :D

How about p99s? I heard those need serious work to cycle blanks.

That's horrible :(

The barrel is (usually) the only thing that's ruined permanently in the blank conversion process, I believe.

It depends on the weapon on how aggressive the conversion is. The Beretta 92F is just the barrel the 1911 is the complete top end. The Glock, SIG, Smiths and HK is also the complete top end. Rifles conversions are also across the board on setting up for blanks. Most semi-autos are just a BFA some require other mods to assist them on working with blanks. Being a gunsmith in the film industry you need to let go of wow that's a great weapon and just do the job.

:( sad it's like removing a man's manhood.

By the complete top end, do you mean the top of the barrel that's exposed? When I've looked at pictures of blank-converted Glocks and SIGs, that's the only external mod visible, and that affects the complete barrel assembly. So if you replace the entire barrel assembly, would those guns be set to fire live rounds again?

I do realize 1911s are a bit harder because the ejection port has to be widened, but does that also affect ability to chamber and fire live rounds if the barrel gets replaced?

The mods are internal on both the slide and the barrel. Once that is done even the slide would have to be replaced along with the barrel to convert the weapon back to live fire.

So i heard you cant really convert a standard walther p99, and need special blank only models? This true?

Yeah, I read that on the Casino Royale page. Apparently they are difficult to convert reliabley to blanks so they use Umarex replicas for shooting.

I also hear guns like Desert Eagles require serious modification to fire blanks, which is a permanantly damaging conversion and you need to know what you are doing or the gun is completely wrecked.

We have some P99 in stock and They are a little harder to convert but we use the same blanks in all of the 9mm pistols.

I've worked with Umarex blank firers before, and they are pricey but are made better than Kimar or Bruni, which show up occasionally in TV and film. Ethan Hawke uses a 1911 in his new flick that looks to be one of the Kimar models. It has the flash on the top.

Umarex is well worth the extra cost IMHO, and for actors who are afraid of guns, there is a subconsious relaxation that happens when you tell them it's not a real gun, just a replica that can only fire special blanks. I know that's odd, but I've seen it happen time and again. Even if they get some training on the range, and have minimal tactical training.

I always try to have some replica blank firers around for the nervous types to use. :D

Wow, so are you also an armorer?

And yes, I've seen those Kimar and Bruni blank-firing replicas in quite a few movies. The gangbangers in "Shaft" used quite a few replica 1911s and Beretta 92F Inox replicas (Kimar, I think). And I remember in the early seasons of "La Femme Nikita", they also used the Kimar Beretta replicas.

No, I'm not an armorer like the hollywood guys. I used to work in films in Florida, and I fell into training actors, and supplying guns to a handful of low budget films, as well as my own films over the years.

I was raised around police officers (nearly went that route with my life as well), and was always around guns, and I love film, so it all just worked out.

I don't live in Florida anymore. Now I build custom guns, and do design work for video games and I do a lot of writing.

Interesting you mention Shaft. I used to get some of my blank firers from Maxsell Armory in Coconut Grove. He used to tell everybody that he supplied all the guns to that film's armorer, and I think a few other well known flicks bought from him too. It was always fun to drive over there and see what kind of toys he had laying around. :)

Blank firing guns are easy and difficult, it's a love hate relationship.
Like one fellow said, it's just a tool but.....

Aside from the limited details that the guys have mentioned, you have to figure out the hole size of the bfa you are using, it all depends on the type of charge and where it was manufactured.

I have ran into 10 different blanks of 9mm Full flash and they are never the same load.
Keeping a detailed record of each gun for each charge from each manufacturer :eek:

Anything gas operated has to be modified.

Some blank guns will work fine firing live.

I strongly suggest that you don't do it, not only are you going to destroy the gun which equals money, but you could really hurt yourself, so I will never tell anybody how to do it, so don't ask.