Whether you’re buying gifts for an airsoft fan or trying to convert someone into a fanatic, you may be interested in the idea of buying an airsoft gun as a present. However, there are a few things to consider before you fork over that cash.
In most cases, we generally wouldn’t recommend buying an airsoft gun as a gift – a gun is something people tend to want to choose themselves, plus there is a lot of different airsoft equipment you could choose as a gift.
That being said, we get asked about this a lot, and there are some instances where buying a gun as a gift makes sense. So, here is a run-down of the rules.
Airsoft Guns as Gifts: What are the Rules?
Most of the rules around owning and gifting airsoft weapons in the UK are outlined in the Violent Crime Reduction Act (2006), which covers the selling and use of imitation firearms.
To simplify the legalese, the main rules when purchasing an airsoft gun as a gift concern whether it is a realistic imitation firearm (RIF), and who you are giving it to:
- – It is illegal to purchase an RIF without a valid defence (usually a UKARA number). However, it is not illegal to legitimately purchase a RIF, then gift the RIF to someone without a defence, although you will ultimately be responsible for who has the weapon if something happens.
- – Anyone over 18 can purchase and own a two-tone airsoft weapon without a defence. It is legal to gift an airsoft weapon (RIF or two-tone) to someone under 18, but they can only legally have it on private land.
Gifting Realistic Vs Two-Tone Guns
Legally, airsoft guns can be split into two categories:
- Realistic imitation firearms (RIF): Any airsoft weapon that looks like a firearm designed post 1870; often anything in traditional firearm colours such as black or camo.
- Imitation firearms: Any airsoft gun that is at least 51% painted in a bright, vivid colour, or is made of clear plastic.
Because RIFs look like legitimate firearms to the untrained eye, there are strict rules around who can purchase them – see the Licenses section below.
On the other hand, there are fewer rules around general imitation firearms, which can be owned by anyone over 18. These are commonly referred to a two-tone guns as they are usually painted in black alongside a bright, unrealistic colour, which makes it obvious that it is not a real weapon. However, imitation firearms also include things like clear plastic weapons.
Ultimately, there is no legal difference between gifting an RIF and a two-tone gun. However, because the law is harsher around RIFs, there is more risk with this kind of weapon if not carefully supervised.
Licenses for Gifting Weapons
When purchasing an RIF, you must present what is called a ‘defence’ to prove you’re not using it maliciously.
There are various defences for things such as film crews and historical reenactment groups, but the most common for airsoft is being a UKARA-registered player. This involves playing multiple games at a UKARA-registered airsoft site. Once you are a registered player, you will be given a UKARA number, which you can use to purchase an RIF.
You cannot purchase an RIF under someone else’s UKARA – if you are buying for an airsoft player, they would have to purchase the gun themselves to prove it will be in their ownership.
If you are UKARA registered, you can purchase an RIF and then gift it to someone else who isn’t registered. However, you must do this with the utmost caution because if anything were to happen, it would be traced back to you.
Gifting to Adults Vs Under 18s
It is legal to gift an airsoft rifle or pistol to someone under 18. However, they are only allowed to have it on private land. Unless you own a lot of land, that often means they could keep it on display but wouldn’t be able to use it until they turned 18.
There are fewer rules around gifting to adults, as anyone over 18 is allowed to own a two-tone airsoft gun. However, bear in mind that any RIF gifted to another adult will be traced back to you.
Why We Don’t Recommend Buying Airsoft Guns as Gifts
While it is technically possible to buy an airsoft gun as a gift, it’s not something we recommend for various reasons:
- Personal Choice: Picking an airsoft gun is something quite personal, given the many options available. A surprise gift may not suit their playstyle.
- Realistic Imitations: The majority of airsoft players want realistic weapons, which can only be legally purchased by them. A two-tone weapon might not be what they’re looking for.
- Safety: Rules surrounding RIFs and those under 18 are in place to ensure your safety and the safety of everyone else.
There might be some niche situations in which giving an airsoft gun as a gift makes sense. For example, if you’re gifting a realistic replica of a famous gun because someone has shown an interest. However, if looking for gifts for airsoft players, it’s often much easier to choose something else to give them.
Alternative Gift Ideas for Airsoft Fanatics
If you need gift ideas for the airsoft fanatic in your life, don’t worry; there are plenty of other things you can consider. Here are some of our most common recommendations:
- Ammunition: BBs are something simple and practical that they’ll get use out of; just make sure you get the right size and weight.
- Outdoor Clothing: Things like combat trousers or military gloves will help them out on the field.
- Protection: A good set of airsoft goggles or a face mask can go a long way.
- Patches: Creative patches can be stitched onto their usual airsoft clothing to make them stand out.
- Gift card: If in doubt, give them money towards shopping for their favourite airsoft gear.
If you need any advice with picking out a suitable gift for the airsoft player in your life, feel free to visit us or contact our team – we’re always happy to help.