4G Company to Offer Non-Firing Replicas of Historic Guns On-Line

Bella Vista, AR, March 10, 2009 --(PR.com)-- "Non-firing replicas of historic firearms have been gaining in popularity with collectors and fanciers, due to the scarcity and expense of originals", said JoAnn Graham, a partner in 4G Company, an internet marketing company headquartered in Bella Vista, Arkansas. "Also the flap over Second Amendment constitutional rights intensified during the 2008 presidential campaign and has continued unabated ever since", she added, "increasing interest in guns of all kinds--even the non-firing ones."

Unlike conventional firearms, replica guns cannot be used to fire harmful projectiles or adapted to do so, and therefore require no federal license.

"So long as they are displayed as collectibles or used in a sane manner by responsible adults, they are the safest guns you can own", said Graham, "but they are definitely not toys! They are so authentic that they can be easily mistaken for the real thing," she cautioned, "and therefore not at all suitable for children."

"When handled responsibly", she continued, "they are safer and carry less restrictions than the real thing, and they are much less expensive than the originals if you're interested in creating a collection of vintage firearms.

"Replica guns are frequently used as props by Civil War reenactors, western living history performers, movies and other historical/entertainment venues because of their historical authenticity. And because they have working mechanical parts, they can also be used for training purposes," she added.

4G Company recently launched an internet venture, GunsOfOld.com, offering authentic, non-firing replicas of historic guns, such as Winchester's iconic 1873 rifle and Colt's famous "Peacemaker" revolver. Their collection of Old West items also includes replicas of famous lawmen's badges. The Civil War collection is augmented by a number of accessory items for reenactors, such as offier's swords and bugles.

"Quality gun replicas are made of metal and wood. They have the weight and heft, and the look and feel of the real thing," Graham said. "They have fully functioning mechanical parts, except for the firing capability. They will not fire, and cannot be adapted to do so, " she added, "but metal dummy bullets are available that can be fitted into the loading mechanism, enabling owners to feel the heft, test the action and get everything but the bang."

Replicas offered on GunsOfOld.com include several much-sought firearms from the two World Wars, such as the famed "Broomhandle" Mauser C/96 machine pistol, the Luger P08 Parabellum, and the Walther P38 favored by officers in the German military during WW2, along with the Walther PPK made famous by Ian Fleming's fictional secret agent, James Bond.

"Many generations of American military veterans will remember the M1911A Colt .45 automatic", she said, "since it was the standard military issue sidearm in all branches of the American armed services for seventy years. We have M1911A replicas in several different finishes, along with its more modern replacement, the Beretta 9mm automatic.

"Representing the Cold War, we have three different versions of the famous and reliable Soviet-made Avtomat Kalishnikov (AK-47) tactical assault rifle," she said. "We offer that one with a wooden stock, a folding metal stock, or without the stock. Like our other replicas, they have the functioning moving parts. The AK-47 replicas can even be cleaned and field-stripped like the original.

"Classic police firearms are also represented", she added, "with the famed Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum revolver in four different barrel lengths. These started service in the Mid 1930's and were in widespread use by police forces nationwide.

"We've tried to include something for fanciers of firearms from every era, including the old flintlock pieces," she went on, "along with historic information about the firearms themselves, the times in which they were used, and famous people who used them, like Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp. Among our Civil War officer's swords, we have a replica of the sword used by General Joe Shelby, the only Confederate general who was never defeated and did not surrender at the end of the War."

The site includes a blog, "The Non-Smoking Gun", with articles related to historic firearms and western badges, along with forums on Second Amendment rights and other issues of interest to gun fanciers.

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