What You Will Find in the Catalog
The store is organised by period and by type, and both routes lead to the same pieces. If you collect by era, start with the Old West, Civil War, Colonial, Pirate or World War II sections. If you collect by type, the blank firing guns, cap guns, replica revolvers, rifles, edged weapons, holsters and display cases each have their own section.
The smaller sections are worth a look even if you already know what you want. Presentation boxes and frames solve the display problem for a single piece, stands and hangers keep a collection off the shelf, and the badge, badge and letter opener ranges make inexpensive gifts that still belong to the period.
Non-Firing Replica, Blank Gun and Cap Gun: The Difference
A non-firing replica is a solid piece of cast metal. The hammer may move, the cylinder may index and the slide may travel, but the barrel is a closed casting and the chambers are blind, so there is nothing to load and nothing to fire. It is the safest option for a display case, for a costume and for a household with children.
A blank gun is a real mechanism that fires powder without a projectile. The barrel or the top of the chamber is vented, which is what makes it legal in most of Europe and what stops it from ever firing a bullet. It is louder, it needs cleaning, and it is the right choice when a scene needs sound and movement rather than a static prop.
A cap gun is the oldest of the three. A die cast frame, a hammer and a ring of impact sensitive paper caps produce a sharp bang and a puff of smoke with no powder charge at all. For family events, school demonstrations and living history displays aimed at children, it is the sensible middle ground.
How the Replicas Are Made
Denix casts the frames in a zinc aluminium alloy, then fits and finishes each piece by hand. Grips are hardwood or moulded polymer, held by the original screw pattern so they can be replaced. Blued models are chemically darkened rather than hot blued, and antique finishes are applied as a patina that deliberately varies from one piece to the next, which is why no two antique replicas look identical.
The weight is the detail most people notice first. A full size 1911 replica sits around a kilogram, a Peacemaker with a 7.5 inch barrel is heavier, and a Garand or a Thompson is heavier still. That weight is what makes a replica feel correct in the hand, and it is also why the display hardware in this catalog is rated rather than decorative.
Handling, Display and Storage
Treat every piece as if it were real. Keep the muzzle pointed away from people, never point a replica at anyone who has not agreed to it, and transport it in a case rather than in your hand. Even a solid replica can cause a police response if it is waved in public, and several countries treat realistic replicas as controlled items.
For display, keep the piece out of direct sun and away from radiators. Sun fades the antique finish unevenly and dries the wood; heat warps the felt in a presentation box. A light coat of oil on a cloth, wiped over the metal twice a year, is enough for the guns, and a little furniture wax once a year keeps a hardwood stock even.
Ordering, Shipping and Support
Orders ship from Kansas within one to two business days, with a tracking number sent by email. International orders depend on the destination: replica firearms and blank guns are restricted in several countries, and the buyer is responsible for checking the rules before ordering. If a parcel is stopped by customs, we cannot refund the shipping, so please ask first if you are not certain.
The blog on this site has been written in house since 2010 and covers the models in detail: disassembly, finish comparisons, period history and the practical side of owning a replica. If a question is not answered there, the contact page reaches a real person in Wichita, usually within one business day.
