Replica Firearms The sale of realistic looking replica firearms of a design first dating before 1870 has now been banned in the UK although certain exemptions apply: Certain bodies are permitted to purchase realistic imitation firearms for specific activities which include: museums or galleries, theatrical, television and film productions and rehersals and organisations holding historical re-enactment events and those who are Crown exempt. In respect of historical re-enactment a copy of that organisation's third party liability insurance must be provided before purchase. Other organisations will need to demonstrate that they are exempt. Replica firearms are split into two main categories; Realistic Imitation Firearms and Imitation Firearms. A Realistic Imitation Firearm is one which, for all intents and purposes, is indistinguishable from a real firearm. An Imitation Firearm will not be considered to be a realistic imitation if it is of a specified principle colour: Bright red, orange, yellow, green, pink, purple, blue or transparent. Imitation firearms, realistic or not of a "modern" design which is a design from the year 1870 onwards is subject to the above restrictions. Those weapons of a design before 1870 is NOT a realistic imitation firearm but are classed as Imitation Firearms only. Persons under the age of 18 years may not purchase imitation firearms, either imitation or realistic imitation. What you should know about owning an airgun You may not buy an airgun, or airgun ammunition of any kind, below the age of 18. You can only buy air weapons from a Registered Firearms Dealer as a 'face-to-face' transaction. You may not purchase any air weapons by mail order or via the internet. It is perfectly legal to shoot a legal-limit airgun in your garden, provided NO pellets leave your boundaries. It is illegal to fire an airgun within 50-feet (15 metres) of the centre of a public highway, if by so doing you cause upset or inconvenience to anyone using that highway. Legal airgun quarry species include brown rats, magpies, carrion crows, rooks, jays, squirrels, woodpigeons, feral pigeons and collared doves. Other species', such as sparrows, starlings, lesser black backed gulls, herring gulls and greater black backed gulls are best left to professional pest controllers. The U.K. legal muzzle energy limit for air rifles is 12 ft.lbs., and 6 ft.lbs. for air pistols. Rifles developing more than 12 ft.lbs. are subject to a Firearms Certificate. Except under special circumstances, pistols producing over 6 ft.lbs. are deemed prohibited and may not be owned. Penalties for unlawful possession of a firearm - such as an air rifle which exceeds the UK legal power limit - are severe and can carry mandatory, 5-year prison sentences. When used unlawfully, airguns are regarded as firearms and attract the same penalties as illegally used shotguns and live-ammunition arms. The above is taken from 'Air Gunner' Annual 2005. Air Gunner magazine is available at most newsagents and provides the reader with a wealth of information on the subject. Romsey Publishing Air Cartridge Weapons From 20th January 2004 the sale, purchase or transfer of air weapons which use a self-contained gas (air) cartridge system is an offence. Anyone who already owns one of these weapons must either obtain a special firearms certificate for it from the Police or the weapon should be surrendered to them. No compensation will be paid. The above DOES NOT apply to weapons that use a CO2 capsule system because CO2 capsules do not contain a projectile and are therefore not self-contained.