FILM ARMOURER

MOVIE ARMOURERS / COSTUMERS TO FILM, TV, THEATRE

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Sabre holds a Queensland Weapons Act / QLD Police Service issued Theatrical Ordnance Suppliers License.  Our Armourers are also skilled at working as team players on set with cast and crew.  We feel that in addition to our weapon handling skills, people skills are also important traits to bring to a production.

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In Queensland a Theatrical Ordnance Suppliers License is required by law to be a Film Armourer and to supply / possess for the purpose of supply / take any replica of a weapon or weapon onto a film set, TV or stage production (see the QLD Weapons Act 1990 Division 7).  This law applies to blank fire weapons, replicas, de-activated weapons and gel blasters.

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Since our first business 'Movie Militaria' was created on the Gold Coast in 1988 we have enjoyed supporting film, TV and theatre with our expertise and inventory.  We now have many items in stock and can source more as required.  From Pirates, Cowboys, Bushrangers and World Wars to Street Crime, Sci-Fi and Current Conflicts.  

 

If we don't have it tell us what you need and we can do our very best to find it or build it for you.

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OUR SERVICES INCLUDE

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Movie Armourers in QLD / supply of movie guns, props, costumes and on set Armourer's and Advisors to suit your production.

 

Consultancy with Producers, Writers, Directors and Cast to appropriately match items to characters and scripts.

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Working with cast on set to assist in correct carriage and usage.

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Liaison with Stunt, Art Department and Post Production to help assist with authenticity.

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Age and wear effects added to movie guns for screen accuracy.

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Access to a wide range of Military, Police and Historical advisers and subject matter experts in this field.

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Total cast and crew safety is our mission.  With us you are in safe hands.

 

We have worked as a Film Armourer in QLD Australia with productions ranging from student films and stage shows to major feature films with 'A List' Hollywood casts.  

 

Whilst many of our team have extensive Military and Police experience we are also highly attuned to working within creative environments. We embrace the fact that at times authenticity may need to compromise a little for story telling. We pride ourselves on having people who are genuinely cast and crew friendly that are approachable and open to ideas and approaches from other on set specialists.

 

We are team players on set.  In fact one of our other businesses, Sabre Corporate Development, is a successful pioneer (since 1988) in the team building and leadership development field working with corporate, government, defence, sporting, NGO and education clients world-wide.

 

For safety many film and TV productions now use quality costume / prop / replica guns in place of the real thing and then add great post-production effects later.  Far less risk on set, and we can help you make them look and act like the real thing onscreen.  We have many guns that can have their actions cycle believably yet safely using C02 gas. Actors can focus on their character and performance without any underlying concerns (be they conscious or sub-conscious) about their own safety or that of other cast and crew members. 

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For years we have advocated for the use of high-quality non-firing replica guns wherever possible in film, TV and stage productions. With quality post-production effects this is now a viable alternative to the real weapons and the risks that they entail. 

 

As anyone with training and experience with weapons will be well aware, blanks are dangerous.

 

Risks from real guns on set can include injury from unburned propellents, proximity to muzzle blast or ejection ports, hearing damage, components of internal blank fire devices coming loose from corrosion and acting as projectiles, and in extreme cases, death from incorrect usage / loading / aiming of blanks or from actual live ammunition turning up on set. Whilst highly professional armourers work to remove these risks, nonetheless there have recently been too many tragic instances where it has not been the case.

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Our range of quality non-firing costume / prop / replica guns can also be supplied to other Film Armourers around QLD and Australia in support of local film and TV productions.

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Whether providing other Movie Armourers in Australia with quality costume replicas and props, or working on set as Film Costumers / Armourers ourselves, we are delighted to support the Australian Film and Television industry.

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Total cast and crew safety is our mission.  With us you are in safe hands.

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Pros and Cons of Real Guns with Blank Fire vs Replica and / or C02 Gas Actions

 

Replicas / C02 Gas Actions

 

ADVANTAGES:

 

• Look the same but are far safer in terms of risk of injury or death from muzzle blast, fragments, or live ammunition being accidentally brought to set.

• Cheaper to obtain (handy for multiple hero guns and replace breakages than real), use and insure for.

• Actors not familiar with weapons (which is most) are far less consciously and sub-consciously concerned than they would be with handling a real weapon, so may look more confident with them / can focus on their natural performance more.  

• No hearing protection required.

• Less impact and chance of issues and incidents on public / civil authorities if filming on open sets.

• Faster set ups / much easier for production as proximity and angles for camera, cast and crew to firing much less concern.

• Less stoppages and takes from jams and resetting of guns.

• Cannot chamber any live rounds.

• More relaxed cast and crew with non-lethal guns and high tolerance for mistakes / errors.  Most actors, stunt professionals and production crews seem to feel safer using replica / C02 actioned guns than having real weapons onset these days.

• Post-production effects are now excellent and can easily add desired onscreen impacts.

 

DISADVANTAGES:

 

• Some models may have slightly less functionality than real ones and require cut aways for some close up reloading actions on some autos.

• Less visceral recoil / blast so reliant upon actor’s technique and post effects.

 

 

Real Weapons with Blank Fire

 

ADVANTAGES:

 

• Mostly full functionality. 

• Muzzle blast and some recoil.

• Actors that are highly familiar with weapons  (typically in the minority) may prefer real guns.

• Possibly fewer post-production effects required.

 

DISADVANTAGES:

 

• Even blanks are dangerous and muzzle blast / fragments can injure or kill.

• Expensive to source, use and insure for so harder / more expensive to have multiple hero guns or replace damaged items.

• Longer set ups and rehearsals required for angles, proximity, stunts and safety.

• Hearing protection required for all in proximity and set cleared of all non-essential cast and crew.  

• Higher chance of public alarm / issues with authorities on open sets.

• Blanks can jam and fail frequently requiring more takes.

• In the unlikely event that a live round is loaded into one, it will fire it.

• Actors not familiar with guns (most) may take a long time to look confident with real blast and blank firing, so may look less confident / have more startle reflex and overreact to firing onscreen than they would using a replica / gas gun.

• There is zero tolerance for mistakes and errors when using real weapons and so there are higher levels of oversight and tension on set required to professionally manage and oversee this.

 

 

NOTE: By QLD Law / The Weapons Act a Theatrical Ordnance Suppliers License is required to take any real weapon or a replica / imitation onto a stage or film set (including replicas, gel blasters, gas guns etc).

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