Guns converted to Blankfire

[ShootingJames]

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.

[MT2008]

Originally Posted by ShootingJames

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.

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.

[ShootingJames]

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.

[gunguy001]

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

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.