Ukara

Why do I need UKARA and what is it?

In the United Kingdom all airsoft guns are classed as Imitation Firearms and as such can only be purchased by over 18's and are divided into two categories:

- Realistic Imitation Firearms - majority of airsoft guns (black, camouflaged ones, etc.) can only be purchased by registered airsoft skirmishers & re-enactors,

- Non-realistic Imitation Firearms - brightly coloured ones (bright green, red, blue, pink, orange, purple, yellow & transparent) are free for purchase by anyone over the age of 18.

If you do not have UKARA registration or other site membership you will only be able to get your airsoft replica after it has been birghtly coloured to order. It is a customization service that we offer for players without membership. Please note that it will take 2-3 working days to get your replica painted to order.

If you would like to know more about UKARA:

UKARA was formed as a response to the drafting of the Violent Crime Reduction Bill in 2006 which later became an Act of Parliament.

UKARA is an association of UK Airsoft Retailers brought together to protect themselves from prosecution and enable a safe method of selling Realistic Imitation Firearms ( RiF's ) to the largest of the permitted purchaser groups in the UK - Airsoft Players.

The onus is on the seller of a RiF to make sure they only sell to a legitimate purchaser, prosecution could result as a failure to do this.

The Governments desire was to have a third party system in place which would track sales to legitimate purchasers of RiF's, checking their eligibility.

UKARA interest was to provide such a system and make it free to sites and players, and as inclusive as possible for the future of their market, without which they would not exist.

This has benefited all players and game sites, as it has produced a framework acceptable to the Government to allow Airsoft as a sport to remain viable.

The UKARA database keeps a record of all participating Airsoft players and game sites, and is used by retailers and the UKBA for verification of sales and imports.

For more details and UKARA Q&A section please check their website www.ukara.org.uk