Apparatus, kit and method for a blank-only machine non-firearm

Abstract

A blank-only machine non-firearm includes a replica shell and replica barrel from a non-firing replica machinegun, such as an airsoft replica machinegun. An insert that defines a receiver may be inserted into and contained within the interior volume of the replica shell. An exhaust gas barrel is attached to the receiver and extends within the replica barrel. The replica receiver and barrel are configured to fire blank cartridges and not to fire live rounds. Noise and flash from a firing blank cartridge is directed from a chamber defined by the receiver to the exhaust gas barrel and hence to the replica barrel.

Claims

1. A blank-only machine non-firearm, the blank-only machine non-firearm comprising: a. a replica shell and a replica barrel of a replica machinegun, the replica shell and replica barrel providing an outward appearance of an actual machinegun, the replica shell defining a shell interior volume; b. an insert, the insert having an insert body, the insert body being configured to be contained within the shell interior volume, the insert defining a receiver of the blank-only machine non-firearm, the receiver defining a longitudinal direction, the receiver defining a receiver interior volume; c. the insert including a bolt contained within the receiver interior volume, the bolt having a configuration for reciprocating motion in the longitudinal direction; d. the insert having a configuration to strip a blank cartridge from a magazine, to load the blank cartridge into a chamber, to fire the blank cartridge, to direct an exhaust gas from the fired blank cartridge through the replica barrel and to eject the fired blank cartridge from both a receiver ejection port defined by the receiver and a replica ejection port defined by the replica shell, whereby the replica shell and barrel define the outward appearance of the blank-only machine non-firearm while the insert allows the blank-only machine non-firearm to fire only blank cartridges.

2. The blank-only machine non-firearm of claim 1 wherein the receiver interior volume has a first receiver end distal to the barrel and a second receiver end proximal to the barrel, the configuration for reciprocating motion comprising: a. one or more rods, the one or more rods being disposed in the receiver interior volume and extending in the longitudinal direction between the receiver first end and the receiver second end, the bolt having rod-receiving holes communicating through the bolt, the bolt being in sliding engagement with the one or more rods; b. one or more springs disposed on the one or more rods, the one or more springs being configured to urge the bolt toward the second receiver end from the first receiver end; c. a sear, the sear being configured to hold the bolt in a cocked position proximal to the first receiver end under the control of a trigger, the sear being configured to release the bolt when the trigger is depressed so that the bolt may move toward the second receiver end under the urging of the one or more springs.

3. The blank-only machine non-firearm of claim 1, further comprising: the insert defining an exhaust gas barrel, the exhaust gas barrel extending into the replica barrel, the exhaust gas barrel having an exhaust gas barrel longitudinal axis, the replica barrel defining a replica barrel longitudinal axis, the replica barrel longitudinal axis and the exhaust gas barrel longitudinal axis being substantially coextensive, whereby the exhaust gas barrel directs a flash and a noise from the firing blank cartridge through the replica barrel.

4. The blank-only machine non-firearm of claim 3 wherein the configuration of the insert to direct exhaust gas through the replica barrel further comprises: the chamber is misaligned with the exhaust gas barrel longitudinal axis and the replica barrel longitudinal axis, whereby if a live round is fired in the chamber a bullet cannot exit the chamber and cannot issue from the exhaust gas barrel or the replica barrel.

5. The blank-only machine non-firearm of claim 1 wherein the configuration of the bolt to strip the blank cartridge from a magazine, to load the blank cartridge in the chamber, to fire the blank cartridge and to eject the blank cartridge from the receiver comprising: a cartridge-retaining assembly, the cartridge-retaining assembly being mounted to the bolt, the cartridge-retaining assembly being aligned with the chamber, the cartridge-retaining assembly not being aligned with the exhaust gas barrel longitudinal axis or the replica barrel longitudinal axis.

6. The blank-only machine non-firearm of claim 5 wherein the receiver interior volume defines a first receiver end distal to the barrel and a second receiver end proximal to the barrel, the reciprocating motion of the bolt being between the first and second receiver ends, the cartridge-retaining assembly comprising: a. a firing pin mounted to the cartridge-retaining assembly, the firing pin being configured to strike a primer of the blank cartridge when the bolt is moving toward the receiver second end from the receiver first end and the blank cartridge is seated in the chamber, b. an extractor, the extractor being configured to grip the case of the fired blank cartridge so that the bolt pulls the expended case from the chamber as the bolt is moving from the second end of the receiver toward the first end of the receiver; c. an ejector, the ejector being configured to eject the expended case through the ejection ports of the receiver and the replica shell.

7. The blank-only machine non-firearm of claim 6 wherein the cartridge-retaining assembly is adapted from an actual firearm bolt.

8. The blank-only machine non-firearm of claim 7 wherein the actual firearm bolt is an AR15 bolt.

9. The blank-only machine non-firearm of claim 1 wherein the receiver has a configuration so that the receiver will not accept an actual machinegun bolt, whereby the receiver cannot be readily converted into an actual machinegun by substituting the bolt from the actual machinegun.

10. The blank-only machine non-firearm of claim 9 wherein the configuration of the receiver not to accept the actual machinegun bolt is that the receiver interior volume has a dimension, the dimension being less than a corresponding dimension of the actual machine gun bolt.

11. The blank-only machine non-firearm of claim 9 wherein the configuration of the insert not to accept the actual machinegun bolt comprises a boss extending from an interior wall of the receiver into the receiver interior volume, the bolt having a slot corresponding to the boss, the slot being configured to allow reciprocating movement of the bolt past the boss, the boss being configured to interfere with reciprocating movement of the actual machinegun bolt within the receiver interior volume.

12. The blank-only machine non-firearm of claim 1 wherein the configuration of the insert to strip the blank cartridge from the magazine comprises a magazine well insert, the magazine well insert being attached to the replica shell at a magazine well of the replica shell, the magazine well insert being configured so that the magazine well will not accept an actual magazine of the actual machinegun but will accept a blank-only magazine, whereby the receiver cannot load a live round even if the blank-only machine non-firearm is modified with an actual machinegun bolt and an actual machinegun barrel.

13. The blank-only machine non-firearm of claim 12 wherein the magazine well of the replica shell is configured not to retain the actual magazine of the actual machinegun if the magazine well is modified by removing the magazine well insert.

14. The blank-only machine non-firearm of claim 13, further comprising: the blank-only magazine configured to engage the magazine well insert, the blank-only magazine being configured to hold and feed a plurality of the blank cartridges when the blank-only magazine is in engagement with the magazine well insert, the blank-only magazine being configured to resemble the actual magazine when the blank-only magazine is in engagement with the magazine well insert.

15. The blank-only machine non-firearm of claim 1 wherein the replica shell and replica barrel are configured for releasable engagement, the replica shell being configured so that an actual machine gun barrel cannot be in engagement with the replica shell, whereby the blank-only machine non-firearm cannot be modified to fire live rounds through the actual machinegun barrel.

16. The blank-only machine non-firearm of claim 15 wherein the replica shell defines threads having a diameter configured for engagement with the replica barrel, the diameter being too large for threaded engagement with the actual machine gun barrel, whereby the actual machine gun barrel cannot me mounted to the replica shell.

17. The blank-only machine non-firearm of claim 1 wherein the replica shell defines a length that is greater than a corresponding length of the actual machine gun, whereby if the blank-only machine non-firearm is modified with an actual bolt, an actual barrel and an actual magazine of the actual machine gun, the modified blank-only machine non-firearm cannot fire live rounds because a firing pin on the actual bolt will not reach a primer of the live round.

18. The blank-only machine non-firearm of claim 1 wherein the actual machinegun is an M3A1 machinegun.

19. The blank-only machine non-firearm of claim 1 wherein the replica shell is from one of an airsoft replica M3A1 machinegun, an airsoft replica MP 40 Maschinenpistole, an airsoft replica Browning Automatic Rifle 1918, and an airsoft replica MP 44 Maschinepistole.

20. A method of making a blank-only machine non-firearm, the method comprising: a. providing a replica shell and a replica barrel of a non-firing replica machinegun, the replica machinegun resembling an actual machinegun, the replica shell defining a shell interior volume; b. providing an insert having an insert body, the insert body being configured to fit within the shell interior volume, the insert body defining a receiver for the blank-only machine non-firearm; c. inserting the insert body into the shell interior volume, whereby the receiver is contained within the shell interior volume and has the appearance of the actual machinegun; d. providing an exhaust gas barrel, the exhaust gas barrel being attached to the receiver, the receiver defining a chamber configured to receive a blank cartridge, the chamber being configured to generate an exhaust gas upon firing of the blank cartridge in the chamber, the chamber being in fluid communication with the exhaust gas barrel, the exhaust gas barrel being disposed within the replica barrel when the insert is inserted into the replica shell, the exhaust gas barrel and the replica barrel being misaligned with the chamber, whereby a flash and a noise from the blank cartridge are conveyed from the chamber through the exhaust gas barrel and through the replica barrel and whereby a live round fired in the chamber cannot propel a bullet down the exhaust gas barrel and the replica barrel.

Description

III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an actual M3A1 submachine gun.

(2) FIG. 2 is a side view of a non-firing toy replica M3A1 submachine gun. FIG. 2 also illustrates the appearance of the blank-only machine non-firearm of the Invention.

(3) FIG. 3 is a side view of a replica shell.

(4) FIG. 4 is a side view of a replica barrel.

(5) FIG. 5 is a side view of the insert of the invention.

(6) FIG. 6 is a side view of the insert partially inserted into the replica shell.

(7) FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of the insert.

(8) FIG. 8 is a view of the disassembled parts comprising the insert.

(9) FIG. 9 is a cutaway sectional view of the replica shell and replica barrel with the insert installed.

(10) FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the chamber of the insert.

(11) FIG. 11 is a front view of the chamber of the insert.

(12) FIG. 12 is a detail perspective view of the chamber through the ejection port of the insert.

(13) FIG. 13 is a detail sectional view of the bolt and body of the insert showing the boss and mating slot.

(14) FIG. 14 is a detail bottom view of the replica shell showing the magazine well with the well insert.

(15) FIG. 15 is a detail bottom view of the replica shell showing the magazine well without the well insert.

(16) FIG. 16 is a side view of the blank-only magazine.

(17) FIG. 17 is a color photograph showing the difference in length of the replica shell and the actual M3A1 submachine gun receiver to prevent the replica shell from being modified to fire live rounds.

(18) FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a cartridge-retaining assembly.

IV. DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

(19) The Invention is a blank-only machine non-firearm 28 that is capable of fully automatic fire of blank cartridges, that will not fire live rounds, and that cannot be readily converted to fire live rounds. The Invention is also a kit and a method for converting an airsoft or other replica machinegun 26 into a blank-only machine non-firearm 28. The apparatus and method of the Invention apply to other replica machineguns 26 of different types and are not limited to an airsoft toy M3A1 submachine gun 26.

(20) The Invention includes features to prevent firing of live rounds. The principal features are (a) misalignment between the chamber 64 and the longitudinal axis 86 of the exhaust gas barrel 40, (b) misalignment of the cartridge retaining assembly 68 with the longitudinal axis 86 of the exhaust gas barrel 86 that prevents the bolt 46 from holding a live round along the longitudinal axis 86, and (c) configuration of the magazine well 96 to prevent insertion of an actual M3A1 magazine 10 and to prevent loading live rounds through the magazine well 96. The misalignment of the chamber 64 and cartridge retaining assembly 68 with the exhaust gas barrel longitudinal axis 86 and replica barrel longitudinal axis 84 are discussed below with respect to FIGS. 7 and 9-12. The configuration of the magazine 62 and magazine well 96 is shown by FIGS. 14, 15 and 16.

(21) In any blank-only automatic non-firearm 28, the risk of conversion of the Invention into a fully functional machinegun capable of firing live rounds is a concern. The Invention includes several features to preclude ready conversion to a functional machinegun. To convert the Invention to fire live ammunition, a user would be required to change at least the replica barrel 32, the chamber 64, the bolt 46, the extraction and ejection mechanism of the cartridge retaining assembly 68, the magazine 62 and reconfigure the magazine well 96. The user also must overcome the effects of a boss 88, shown by FIG. 13, and must overcome limitations imposed by critical dimensions of the components of the Invention, some of which are described relating to FIG. 17 and all as described herein. A person seeking to convert the Invention to fire live ammunition effectively must build an entirely different firearm.

(22) FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an actual M3A1 submachine gun 2. The actual M3A1 submachine gun 2 featured a stamped steel actual receiver 4 that defines the outward appearance of the firearm. An actual barrel 6 is in threaded engagement with the front end of the actual receiver 4 and also defines the actual chamber 22. An actual magazine well 8 receives and retains an actual magazine 10 that holds live rounds. An actual bolt 14, actual guide rod 16 and actual spring 18 assembly are disposed within the actual receiver 2. The actual bolt 14 is configured for reciprocating motion within the actual receiver 2 and controlled by the actual guide rods 16. Actual springs 18 urge the actual bolt 14 to the front of the actual receiver 4.

(23) From FIG. 1, the actual trigger assembly 12 selectably actuates an actual sear that releases the cocked actual bolt 14, causing the actual bolt 14 to move rapidly toward the front end of the actual receiver 4 under the force of the actual springs 18. As the actual bolt 14 moves toward the front end of the actual receiver 4, the actual bolt 14 strips a live round from the actual magazine 10 and pushes the live round into the actual chamber 22. The live round stops when fully chambered. The momentum of the moving actual bolt 14 causes the actual firing pin fixed to the actual bolt 14 to crush the primer of the chambered live round, causing the live round to fire and propelling a bullet down the actual barrel 6. The recoil of the firing live round propels the actual bolt 14 toward the back end of the actual receiver 4, compressing actual springs 16. The actual bolt 14 grips the spent live round case, pulling the case from the actual chamber 22. An actual ejector trips the spent case and propels the spent case through the actual ejection port and past the actual ejection port cover 20. The actual ejection port cover 20 also acts as a safetywhen closed, the actual ejection port cover 20 interferes with the actual bolt 14, preventing the bolt 14 from moving forward and preventing the actual M3A1 submachine gun from firing. When the actual ejection port cover 20 is open, the actual ejection port cover 20 does not interfere with the actual bolt 14 and the actual M3A1 can fire.

(24) FIG. 2 is an airsoft replica M3A1 submachine gun 26. The airsoft replica 26 is very similar in appearance to an actual M3A1 submachine gun 2 and to the blank-only machine non-firearm 28 of the Invention. The replica shell 30 of the airsoft replica 26 corresponds in appearance to the actual receiver 4 of the actual M3A1 submachine gun 2; however, the replica shell 30 is not an actual receiver 4 and is not capable of receiving the actual bolt 14, the actual magazine 10, a live round, or a blank cartridge.

(25) FIG. 3 shows the replica shell 30 stripped of its internal and external parts. FIG. 4 shows the replica barrel 32. For the airsoft replica M3A1 submachine gun 26, the replica barrel 32 and replica shell 30 are configured for threaded engagement. Any other mechanism for attaching a replica barrel 32 to a replica shell 30 is contemplated by the Invention. The replica shell 30 with the attached replica barrel 32, with the external parts attached, defines the external appearance of the blank-only machine non-firearm 28 of the Invention.

(26) FIGS. 5 through 13 depict the insert 34. FIG. 5 is a side view of an assembled insert 34, ready for insertion into the replica shell 30. The insert 34 includes an insert body 36. The insert body 36 defines the receiver 38. An exhaust gas barrel 40 extends in a forward direction from the insert body 36.

(27) FIG. 6 shows the insert 34 partially inserted into the shell interior volume 42 of the replica shell 30. Insertion of the insert 34 into the replica shell 30 interior volume 42 from the front is particularly appropriate for an airsoft replica M3A1 submachine gun 26, but any other direction of insertion and any manner of enclosure of the insert 34 in the replica shell 30 interior volume 42 is contemplated by the Invention. For example, the replica shell 30 may be bifurcated into separable left and right portions, or into separable top and bottom portions, or may open at the rear, or may have other access to the shell interior volume 42 that allows insertion of an insert 34.

(28) FIG. 7 is a cross sectional side view of the insert 34 and FIG. 8 shows the disassembled parts of the insert 34. FIG. 9 is a partial cross-section cutaway showing the insert 34 in the replica shell 30 and replica barrel 32.

(29) From FIGS. 7-9, the insert body 36 defines a receiver interior volume 44. The receiver interior volume 44 contains a bolt 46 configured for reciprocating motion in a longitudinal direction 48. The bolt 46 is in sliding engagement with one or more rods 50 that extend the length of the receiver interior volume 44. The rods 50 penetrate rod-receiving holes 52 that extend through the bolt 46. Springs 54 on the rods 50 urge the bolt 46 toward a second receiver end 56 from a first receiver end 58.

(30) When the insert 34 is fully inserted in the replica shell 30, the magazine well 96 of the replica shell 30 aligns with the receiver magazine port 60 of the insert 34 so that the bolt 46 can strip blank cartridges from the blank-only magazine 62. The ejection port 74 of the insert 34 and of the replica shell 30 also align, all so that the Invention can receive, chamber, fire and eject blank cartridges in a realistic manner while not being able to fire a live round and not being readily converted to fire the live round.

(31) The receiver 38 operates in a manner similar to an actual M3A1 submachine gun 2. When a trigger is depressed, the trigger causes a sear to release the bolt 46 from a cocked position proximal to the first end of the receiver 38. The trigger and sear are similar in construction and operation to that shown by FIG. 1 for the actual M3A1 submachine gun. Springs 54 urge the bolt 46 toward the receiver second end 56. The moving bolt 46 strips a blank cartridge from a blank-only magazine 62 at magazine port 60. The moving bolt 46 seats the blank cartridge in the chamber 64. The momentum of the moving bolt 46 causes a firing pin 66 at the bolt face to crush a primer of the blank cartridge, firing the blank cartridge. Exhaust gas from the fired blank cartridge travels through a fluid connection to the exhaust gas barrel 40, from which the exhaust gas, noise and flash discharge from the replica barrel 32.

(32) The recoil from the firing blank cartridge propels the bolt 46 toward the first end 58 of the receiver 38. A cartridge-retaining assembly 68 mounted within the bolt 46 is aligned with the chamber 64. The cartridge-retaining assembly 68 includes an extractor 70 that grips the spent blank cartridge. The cartridge-retaining assembly is described below with respect to FIG. 18. The momentum of the bolt 46 pulls the spent blank cartridge from the chamber 64. As soon as the front end of the spent cartridge case clears the chamber 64, a spring-loaded ejector 72 rotates the spent cartridge case, freeing the spent cartridge case from the extractor 70 and propelling the spent cartridge case through the receiver ejection port 74 and the replica ejection port 76.

(33) A recoil plate 78 is located at the receiver first end 58. When the bolt 38 approaches the end of its travel in the rearward direction, a recoil pin 80 mounted to and protruding from the back end of the bolt 46 contacts the recoil plate 78. The recoil pin 80 is in a sliding relationship with the bolt 46 and is spring-loaded by recoil spring 82. The spring rate of recoil spring 82 is greater than that of springs 54. When the recoil pin 80 on the moving bolt 46 contacts recoil plate 78, the motion of the bolt 46 compresses recoil spring 82, slowing and then reversing the rearward motion of the bolt 46. The recoil spring 82 and the springs 54 then propel the bolt 46 toward the second end 56 of the receiver 38. If the user releases the trigger, the sear retains the bolt 46 in the cocked position proximal to the first end 58 of the receiver 38. If the user keeps the trigger depressed the firing sequence repeats automatically until the magazine 62 is empty.

(34) The recoil pin 80 and recoil spring 82 are not included in the actual M3A1 submachine gun 2. The purpose of the recoil pin 80 and spring 82 is to simulate the recoil of the actual M3A1 submachine gun 2. Because the blank cartridge does not accelerate a bullet, the recoil of a blank cartridge provides a different sensation to the user from that of a live round. The compression of the recoil spring 82 by the rearward-moving bolt 46 lengthens the duration of the push of the bolt 46 against the recoil plate 78, providing a more realistic experience to the user.

(35) FIGS. 10 and 11 are a sectional view and an end view of the receiver second end 56. FIGS. 10 and 11 show the chamber 64 configured to receive a blank cartridge. FIGS. 10 and 11 show that the chamber 64 is misaligned with the longitudinal axis 86 of the exhaust gas barrel 40, preventing a live round fired in the chamber 64 from traveling down the exhaust gas barrel 40. FIG. 11 also shows the one or more rods 50 in end view.

(36) FIG. 12 is a detail perspective view of the chamber 64 viewed through the receiver ejection port 62 of the insert body 36. FIG. 12 illustrates that the chamber 64 is misaligned with exhaust gas barrel longitudinal axis 86 so that a live round fired in the chamber 64 cannot travel through the exhaust gas barrel 40.

(37) FIG. 13 is a detail sectional view of the assembled insert 34 at the receiver ejection port 74. A boss 88 depends from an interior wall 90 of the insert body 36 and extends into the receiver interior volume 44. The bolt 46 defines a slot 92 configured to receive the boss 88. The slot 92 allows reciprocating motion of the bolt 46 within the receiver interior volume 44 without interference between the boss 88 and the bolt 46. If a user attempts to convert the blank-only machine non-firearm 28 into an actual machinegun 2 by inserting an actual bolt 14 from an actual M3A1 submachine gun 2, the boss 88 will interfere with the actual bolt 14, preventing operation of the actual bolt 14. The actual bolt 14 also will not fit within the receiver interior volume 44 because a dimension of the receiver 38 is selected to interfere with the actual bolt 14. For example, the diameter, width or height of the receiver interior volume 44 may be selected so that the actual machinegun bolt 14 will not fit within the interior volume 44. Alternatively, the one or more rods 50 may be located so that they are not aligned with the holes through an actual machinegun bolt 14 or are of the wrong diameter to fit the actual machinegun bolt 14.

(38) FIGS. 14, 15 and 16 illustrate the blank-only magazine 62 and magazine insert 94 of the blank-only machine non-firearm 28 of the Invention. The blank-only magazine 62 of the Invention will not accept a live round and the magazine well 96 of the replica shell 30 will not accept a magazine 10 from an actual M3A1 submachine gun 2. From FIG. 14, a magazine well insert 94 is affixed to the replica magazine well 96 of the replica shell 30 and configures the replica magazine well 96 to receive and retain a blank cartridge-only magazine 62. If a user were to remove the magazine well insert 94, as shown by the replica magazine well 96 on FIG. 15, the replica magazine well 96 would not retain an actual magazine 10 of an actual M3A1 submachine gun 2 because the actual retaining mechanism is missing. The modified magazine well would not allow the actual magazine 10 to feed live rounds to the insert 34. The blank-only magazine 62 is configured to resemble the actual M3A1 magazine 10 when the blank-only magazine 62 is installed in the magazine well insert 94 on the replica shell 30.

(39) Critical dimensions of the replica shell 30, replica barrel 32, and insert 34 are selected to preclude substitution of parts from an actual M3A1 submachine gun 2. The replica barrel 30 cannot be exchanged for an actual barrel 6 and chamber 22 from an actual M3A1 submachine gun 2 because the threaded diameter of the replica shell 30 is too large to mate with the actual barrel 6. The actual bolt 14 of an actual M3A1 submachine gun 2 cannot be substituted for the bolt 46 of the Invention because the dimensions of the actual bolt 14 are too large to fit within the receiver interior volume 44.

(40) As shown by FIG. 17, even if a person were to exchange the replica barrel 30 and chamber 50 of the Invention for the actual barrel 6 and chamber 22 of an actual M3A1 submachine gun 2 and if the person were able to fit the bolt 14 from an actual M3A1 submachine gun 2 into the insert 34, the Invention still would not fire a live round because the replica shell 30 of the Invention is slightly longer than the receiver 4 of the actual M3A1 submachine gun 2. At the forward limit of its travel, the bolt 14 of the actual M3A1 submachine gun would not contact the primer of the live round in the chamber 22 and hence the live round could not fire. This subtle difference in a critical dimension between the Invention and an actual M3A1 submachine gun 2 prevents ready conversion of the Invention to a functioning machinegun.

(41) FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the modular cartridge retaining assembly 68. The firing pin 66, extractor 70 and ejector 72 are incorporated into a modular cartridge retaining assembly 68. The firing pin 66 is fixed in the firing pin opening 98 between the extractor 70 and ejector 72. The cartridge retaining assembly 68 shown by FIG. 18 is adapted from a bolt for an actual firearm, in this case an AR15 gas-operated rifle. The use of the AR-15 bolt substantially eases the process of manufacture of the cartridge retaining assembly 68 because the firing pin 66, extractor 70 and ejector 72 are already incorporated into the AR15 bolt. Any other suitable cartridge retaining assembly 68 is contemplated by the invention, including cartridge-retaining assemblies 68 adapted from other firearms. The cartridge retaining assembly 68 may be attached to the bolt 46 of the Invention by a pin, not shown. A hole penetrates both the bolt 46 and the cartridge retaining assembly 68. The pin passes through the hole and positively fixes the cartridge retaining assembly 68 to the bolt 46. This modular approach to the construction of the bolt 46 is particularly useful because the chamber 64 and the cartridge retaining assembly 68 are not aligned with the exhaust gas barrel longitudinal axis 86 and the insert 34, which otherwise would make the task of manufacturing the extractor 70, ejector 72 and firing pin opening 98 difficult.

(42) The kit of the Invention includes components to convert a replica M3A1 submachine gun 26, either airsoft or otherwise, into the blank-only machine non-firearm 28 of the invention. The method of the Invention comprises the steps of installing the parts of the Invention to the replica shell 30 and replica barrel 32 of an airsoft or other replica M3A1 submachine gun 26. The apparatus, kit and method of the Invention are not limited to a replica M3A1 submachine gun 26 and may be applied to any suitable replica machinegun 26, whether airsoft or otherwise. The Invention specifically applies to a blank-only machine non-firearm 28 based on a replica MP 40 Maschinenpistole, on a replica Browning Automatic Rifle 1918, on a MP 44 Maschinepistole, or on any other replica machinegun 26. For use in replica machineguns 26 other than the M3A1, the insert 34 is configured to fit within the replica shell 30 and replica barrel 32 of the other replica machinegun 26. The operation of each of the reconfigured components is as described above.

LIST OF NUMBERED ELEMENTS

(43) The following are the numbered elements identified in the specification and drawings: 2 actual M3A1 submachine gun 4 receiver of the actual M3A1 6 barrel assembly of the actual M3A1 8 magazine well of the actual M3A1 10 magazine of the actual M3A1 12 trigger assembly of the actual M3A1 14 bolt of the actual M3A1 16 guide rods of the actual M3A1 18 springs of the actual M3A1 20 ejection port cover 22 chamber of the actual M3A1 26 replica M3A1 submachine gun 28 blank-only machine non-firearm 30 replica shell 32 replica barrel 34 insert 36 insert body 38 receiver 40 exhaust gas barrel 42 a shell interior volume; 44 a receiver interior volume 46 bolt 48 longitudinal direction 50 one or more rods 52 holes through the bolt 54 springs 56 receiver second end 58 receiver first end 60 receiver magazine port 62 blank-only magazine 64 chamber 66 firing pin 68 cartridge-retaining assembly 70 extractor 72 ejector 74 receiver ejection port 76 replica ejection port 78 recoil plate 80 recoil pin 82 recoil spring 84 replica barrel longitudinal axis 86 exhaust gas barrel longitudinal axis 88 boss 90 interior wall 92 slot 94 magazine well insert 96 magazine well of the replica shell 98 firing pin opening