Are potato cannons legal?

Rich1988 · 18 Jul 2007 at 20:21

As title really I made one a while back and remember a thread about them but I never really knew whether they are legal or not,
Thanks

Greenlizard0 · 18 Jul 2007 at 20:22

I suppose they are, though the term "potato cannon" is a bit vague.

I don't think it would be legal if e.g. it was nuclear powered or something hehe!

Zip · 18 Jul 2007 at 20:22

I dont think they are

You got cops snooping around have ya?

4T5 · 18 Jul 2007 at 20:23

If they are not, they Should be :cool:

cheets64 · 18 Jul 2007 at 20:24

I think it would be classed as a firearm.

Rich1988 · 18 Jul 2007 at 20:25

but didnt jeremy clarkson make one on tv ? and on braniac ? they even showed you how to make it

danza · 18 Jul 2007 at 20:25

Zip said:
I dont think they are

You got cops snooping around have ya?

It seems, at least as far as the Police are concerned, that they aren't legal.

Normally though, it seems they're impressed at the distance they can launch a spud/noise they make and tell you to not do it again rather than send you to Guantanamo Bay.

Oh, and post the vid

Shotgun_ned · 18 Jul 2007 at 20:28

Technically not, because your average spud canon puts out a fair bit of power and that classes it as an illegal weapon...

Rich1988 · 18 Jul 2007 at 20:31

It does appear they are illegal then oh well

Zip · 18 Jul 2007 at 20:34

danza said:
It seems, at least as far as the Police are concerned, that they aren't legal.

Normally though, it seems they're impressed at the distance they can launch a spud/noise they make and tell you to not do it again rather than send you to Guantanamo Bay.

Oh, and post the vid

I want to make Napalm, Thermite and a Smoke grenade.

I would do this but...

I dont wanna be charged with bomb making

-Colli$ion- · 18 Jul 2007 at 20:36

As long as its used sensibly on private land under safe conditions, well as safe as possible considering your using explosive/flammable gas to launch a spud or whatever, i cant see it being a problem. the law is not that black and white, although it may or may not be technically illegal, the average police officer walking past some PVC piping with half a fire lighter sticking out the end is not going to recognise it as a 'weapon'. Although if they catch you firing it on the streets then they may see it as a weapon and its your own fault for using it in a stupid location.

BlackDragon · 18 Jul 2007 at 20:37

According to this definition it is:

"# A firearm is a kinetic energy weapon that fires either a single or multiple projectiles propelled at high velocity by the gases produced by action of the rapid confined burning of a propellant. This process of rapid burning is technically known as deflagration. In older firearms, this propellant was typically blackpowder, but modern firearms use smokeless powder or other propellants. "

But heck, i doubt the police are gonna raid your house for it

Rich1988 · 18 Jul 2007 at 20:38

"Although it’s not illegal, it can get the local police worried about what you’re doing so be careful and be safe"

Cyber-Mav · 18 Jul 2007 at 20:40

potatoes are quite expensive ammo unless you grow them yourselves.
id rather just stick them in the oven and get some cheese and beans on the go too

topgun06 · 18 Jul 2007 at 22:11

malc30 said:
If they are not, they Should be

Too right

Had a 'spud' gun a while back and i thought it was great fun

Should really fix it...

eddie101 · 18 Jul 2007 at 23:10

*put the piece of drain on the floor and step away from the sack of potatoes.... SLOWLY!'

Angus-Higgins · 18 Jul 2007 at 23:17

Isn't there a minimum speed of projectile for something to be classed as an illegal firearm by law?

I think I read this once (a person had made their own air-rifle).

Angus Higgins

Dandle · 18 Jul 2007 at 23:22

I think(if i remember rightly) that any weapon has to be over 12ft/lbs for it to classed as a firearm. At least it does with air rifles and I would guess that some of the potatoe guns ive seen online would be over that limit.

Dist · 19 Jul 2007 at 00:48

air rifles are different, they fire the projectile with air. which means its required to be under a certain energy.

Weapons that use explosive forces, like gun powder, or anything that ignites to create the propelling force is classed as a firearm, no matter what the power.

So a potato cannon powered by a liquid/gas which is ignited is illegal, but a potato cannon powered by a CO2 or HPA cylinder is legal (as long as its not too powerfull).

Polcing enforcing the law or not is a different matter, and irrelevent.