Last month I was back in my Thai home for about three weeks when there was a little discussion among the family about some pigeons making a nuisance on our roof. A while later my driver (family) appears with an air rifle and shoots dead one of these pigeons!. Needless to say I was impressed and I had a close look at the gun. Evidently, one of the daughter-in-law's papa skills's is making air rifles for the local farmers to kill rodents (I suppose ). So I got him to make one for me which he did for the price of 1000 baht! These guns are absolutely lethal. They are also an example of Thai ingenuity and improvisation.

Here is a picture of it.....



This is what it fires .... 5/16inch steel ball bearings!



and a closer view.... Note the air pump which requires 15 pumps storing air in the presurised chamber for each shot.



Here is a view on the trigger mechanism. The trigger closes the air line from the pressure chamber until suddenly released...

Sorry, but can I ask who removed my (jokey) post?

MODERATOR EDIT (Keith&Mol): Your post was removed by the moderating team after a complaint was received.

Using a similar gun to scare away pigieons, a neighbour unknowingly broke many windows in our neigbourhood. The Royal Thai Police have informed us that these guns are very dangerous and are capable of killing people as well as pigeons. Children in Thailand have died after being accidently shot by one of these guns. Consider using Bird Spikes instead.

That's very good advice Vinny, it does all look a bit Heath Robinson

hi chris the night before my wedding 1 uncle brought out a gun very similar to the 1 uve shown to get some chickens out of the tree with same pump but were having a few probs with it i refused my go but they were very accurate overe short range and i thought same very inventive they just said to me yepp made in thailand and laughed
cheers andy

Vinny/Keith....

This is Thailand (TIT).......... not England

mai pen rai,

quote:

Sorry, but can I ask who removed my (jokey) post?

MODERATOR EDIT (Keith&Mol): Your post was removed by the moderating team after a complaint was received.

[Moderator edit (John)] You are doing it again! That was not exactly your comment, but even so there is no need at all for you to continue down this route!]

If that merits a complaint, fair enough - although that in itself surprises me - but does it really justify being removed because of the complaint?

[Moderator edit (John) : Yes! Your comment was totally uncalled for!]

Well, I am completely bemused!

I wasn't aware I was being offensive to anyone and aplogise if thats the view taken!

I think the response is OTT, but will bear in mind for future and walk on tip-toes!

All seems a bit strange to me too Caller, nowt wrong with either of your posts as far as I could see. Some strange folk about it seems, weird!

Maybe I did post it in the wrong section, I couldn't quite make my mind up.

However this topic is about something I saw last month in Thailand. A hand made Thai air rifle and I can assure you these are not pea shooters! I'd never seen these before in Thailand or anywhere else so I thought I would share the experience with my fellow community members. A little look into another facet of Thai life and culture....

quote:

Originally posted by Chris Buck:
These guns are absolutely lethal.

The Royal Thai Police completely agreed with your assessment. Following many complaints of windows being shot at, they quickly located and arrested the shooter, fined his employer and confiscated the gun. The shooter had been unaware of the damages he was inflicting. Nor had he considered the potential consequences. Luckily, no one had been injured or killed, this time; possibly because the police located the shooter in less than a week .

I would not be surprised if the UK police took the same view.

quote:

Originally posted by Vinny:

quote:

Originally posted by Chris Buck:
These guns are absolutely lethal.

The Royal Thai Police completely agreed with your assessment. Following many complaints of windows being shot at, they quickly located and arrested the shooter, fined his employer and confiscated the gun. The shooter had been unaware of the damages he was inflicting. Nor had he considered the potential consequences. Luckily, no one had been injured or killed, this time; possibly because the police located the shooter in less than a week .

I would not be surprised if the UK police took the same view.

What has the UK police got to do with this??

Also what exactly is the point you trying to make Vinny? Barring that we agree these guns are potentially lethal.

quote:

Originally posted by Chris Buck:
What has the UK police got to do with this??

Just following on from your earlier comments.

quote:

Originally posted by Chris Buck:
Also what exactly is the point you trying to make Vinny? Barring that we agree these guns are potentially lethal.

My point is that they are potentially lethal everywhere.

What isnt potentially lethal everywhere..

I go shooting as a hobby but that doesnt mean i am going to aim in a direction of people or homes..!
I have a motor but it doesnt mean i will travel along the pavement where people stand..!

If the guy has a gun to kill pidgeons so what, he didnt mention whether he was firing over homes or not so how can this compare with the case you argued about windows being shot out.

Yes the guns look very non standard but if it is used in a controlled manner it will only be him that gets hurt.

If you want to gripe about guns take it up with the many governments around the world who take money from taxpayers to buy very dangerous guns and weapons to use soley for killing people in wars and conflicts...

The court heard that the three co-defendants had first fired a home-made gun at the victim, and then beaten him to death.

be careful chris

I would err on the side of caution if I were the owner of this "air gun"

AFAIK all foreigners, regardless of residential status, in Thailand are banned from owning firearms. I am unsure if a homemade air gun constitutes a firearm under Thai firearms legislation-personally I have no desire to find out the hard way!

PS under UK law a firearms licence is required for some air rifles. Projectile velocity being the deciding factor.

quote:

I would err on the side of caution if I were the owner of this "air gun"

When the Ban Kruat Gun Club was first set up, we were politely informed that we could buy a gun, but it had to stay locked up in the building when we went home.

"How about air-rifles?"

"Same same"

I wouldn't have one of those home made ones anywhere near my home.

I often see locals out with home made, black powder, muzzle loading shot guns. Looks like if it flies, it's fair game!
I give those things a wide berth!

I still believe that foreign ownership of firearms is a no-no.
Surely had you bought something it would have been registered in the gun club's name?

Mind you, the proliferation of illegal firearms in Thailand is unbelievable--700B for a 9mm auto with 10 rounds in the mag--no serial number or papers of course!! This is from my brother in law who is as straight as they come.

quote:

I still believe that foreign ownership of firearms is a no-no.

I know a few farang who have guns which they claim are legal in Thailand , but I also know several who claim the earth is flat .

Like everything is probably possible to get a permit if you know the right people and have the correct change.
ash

quote:

Originally posted by steve_k243:
Surely had you bought something it would have been registered in the gun club's name?

No, it could be in my name.... but I have no intention of shooting anything including an inanimate target. I only joined the club to get an ID card in Thai with my photo on it.

As Ash has just said, if you want absolutely anything around here, it can be acquired for the right sum.

quote:

Originally posted by A&A:
The court heard that the three co-defendants had first fired a home-made gun at the victim, and then beaten him to death.

be careful chris

I only have one thing to say to you A&A.... be careful, be very careful.....

quote:

Originally posted by steve_k243:
I would err on the side of caution if I were the owner of this "air gun"

AFAIK all foreigners, regardless of residential status, in Thailand are banned from owning firearms. I am unsure if a homemade air gun constitutes a firearm under Thai firearms legislation

Thats no problem then, the gun belongs to the wife!