Prop Guns?

[JudasIscariot]

Posted: 10/26/10 at 12:02am

Hey guys,

I am directing a production of The Lonesome West by Martin McDonagh right now and I'm in need of a fake shotgun. Does anyone have any cheap options for getting one? Anyone have any old replicas lying around or know of any cheap prop houses here in NYC?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[philitalia]

Posted: 10/26/10 at 8:49am

The Donmar Warehouse may have some they'd like to get rid off

[JudasIscariot]

Posted: 10/26/10 at 2:24pm

They're a tad bit out of my price range..

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 10/26/10 at 2:43pm

Philitalia is referring to a serious accident regarding a prop gun in Passion at the Donmar. I haven't heard any follow-up on the actor, who suffered an eye injury and they weren't certain he wasn't going to lose his vision in that eye as a result. Anyone have any further word?

Whatever you end up with, be safe.
Prop gun accident

[philitalia]

Posted: 10/26/10 at 3:34pm

Last I heard was that David Birrell was in good spirits recovering in hospital. Since then nothing has appeared in the newspapers, so I hope he's doing well.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 10/26/10 at 4:55pm

If you are a non-profit, contact the other ones in town (MTC, Roundabout, Vineyard, The Public, etc.) and see if they have any prop guns in their warehouses to rent or borrow. Offer program credit.

[TressaMay]

Posted: 10/26/10 at 6:38pm

Side note: Make sure that you have the orange piece on the tip of the gun any time the prop is being used (minus the final performances).
I was in a show at my school at which a prop gun was being used (without the orange thing) and it turned into a whole campus lockdown.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/26/10 at 8:29pm

theatrehouse.com is a great resource. Much of their stuff is very reasonably priced and their delivery is EXCELLENT.

[JudasIscariot]

Posted: 10/27/10 at 12:23pm

Ahhh yes, okay I'd heard about the Donmar incident but I didn't remember the name of the theatre.

Thanks for the help guys, I'll check out everything that you mentioned.

[roseyv]

Posted: 10/27/10 at 3:15pm

Not to be a wet blanket or anything, but I believe one of the reasons it’s so difficult to rent or buy a prop -- or even a realistic toy -- gun in NY State is because they’re illegal here. You may, depending upon your show, actually have to apply for a police permit even to use one on stage. We did a show in the Fringe a few years ago where this was one of the biggest production challenges we faced (well, that and wanting to have a character smoke on stage. In the end, we just cut that). Of course, because Fringe shows are a bit more “visible” than a typical showcase or similar small production, the rules are more stringently followed there, but I’d still proceed with caution and plan well ahead.

I can't speak with any real authority, but this may be a more complicated matter than just finding a place to rent.

[grandpianoalex]

Posted: 10/27/10 at 4:47pm

I second the Theater House website. I end up ordering from them for every production I do and have always had a great experience. They ship very fast too. Looking on their website, they have a good selection of guns that fire everything from blanks to rubber pellets, to nothing.

[Jon]

Posted: 10/27/10 at 10:07pm

If you have a good relationship with your local police department, they might actually lend you confiscated guns that have had their firing pins removed.

As long as you don't have to actually fire them onstage, you're fine.