Firing vs non firing?

I’m super confused about how you tell if a model fires PFC or is just a dummy prop. Is there some type of guide posted here?

From what I understand not having to two top screws, and having SMG stamped near the mag well is an automatic “non fire” but vice versa doesn’t auromatically mean it DOES fire. How do you know?

As I understand it, some MGC PFC firing models (there may have been other makes) were deliberately "deactivated" for import to the USA (some of our regular US correspondents would know for certain)

I believe that alterations were made to the bolt and the chamber to make them non-firing. However, I also understand that these changes are reversable. Some of the links I provided in earlier responses to you, detail others efforts to turn these "deactivated" versions into firing models.

Other parts of the forum cover the general history of modelguns and the various solutions the manufacturers took to make them realistic. The majority of my collection of modelguns were made from Kits (99% Marushin, with one MGC kit - my MAC 11) In the 30 odd years that I have had them, I only (relatively) recently discovered this community and the mine of information contained within it. All my Marushin kits are an earlier type of PFC (side fire, where a block struck the rear of the cartridge to force the cap onto the detonator pin within the barrel) Latterly, they are more like centrefire with a pin striking the rear of the cartridge. The common thing with these models is the Detonator pin is nearly always in the chamber. The cartridge section of the forum will give you a rundown of the various types, from simple 3 piece cartridges to the more complex "evolution" cartridges from Tanaka, made of up to 7 components.

HTH

Andy

Andy is right.

Most MGC M1921s imported to the US were deactivated and made to be "dummy" only. Usually that can be reversed, but it takes parts, some skill and money to do so.

The location of the receiver screws and the SMG stamp have nothing to do with whether that MGC was or is a firing model. It only has to do with the age of the model and whether is has an open barrel or not.