prop gun

plural prop guns

1. broadcastingA replica of a real gun, incapable of firing projectiles (thus not actually a firearm) used in making a movie or television production.

   Adora brandished the prop gun as if it were real.

   2012, Allergic to Death, page 225

   5 more examples

   The only exception to this is in an extremely intimate theater where the audience can clearly see that a prop gun is being used. Other than that, there is no compelling reason to use a real gun on stage if the gun isn't fired.

   2004, Technical Theater for Nontechnical People, page 196

   At one point Ernest grabs a machine gun and fires it at Reggie but it's only a studio prop: Prop gun, prop girls. Everything phoney.

   2004, Josephy Losey, page 36

   I became frightened that Neil would find a way to switch the prop gun for a real gun.

   2007, Lessons in Becoming Myself, page 245

   right, that's where Burke hid the prop gun after he put the real revolver in its place .. Everyone on the set saw Burke practice taking the prop gun out of the drawer right before the first take. He got his fingerprints on it then. And since he was using the real gun when he convinced Dean that he was having trouble doing the scene, his fingerprints are on that, too. right, that's where Burke hid the prop gun after he put the real revolver in its place .. Everyone on the set saw Burke practice taking the prop gun out of the drawer right before the first take. He got his fingerprints on it then. And since he was using the real gun when he convinced Dean that he was having trouble doing the scene, his fingerprints are on that, too.

   2007, Cherry Cheesecake Murder, page 353 (also page 1128 of the "Apple Turnover Murder Bundle" compiled in 2011)

   It looked like Jeff was wielding a Beretta from where I sat, but of course, I knew it was only a harmless prop gun, designed to look lethal. He wouldn't be shooting real bullets. In fact, a prop gun wouldn't even take a real bullet.

   2010, Reel Murder, page 41