Modified Weapons: “A Business at the Expense of Security”

Many Germans apparently want to arm themselves for fear of a blackout. Over the counter weapons that are easy to convert seem to be popular, like SWR-show research. Security experts sound the alarm.

A soft “pleng” sounds as the cartridge hits a tin can. The rainwater that has collected in it splashes out. Nothing that could disturb the peace and quiet in the small town in the Odenwald on this Thursday afternoon. “As you can see, the gun is already very weak overall,” says the man with his finger on the trigger of his airgun and a smile on his face.

Many people are familiar with the garden in which this scene takes place. At least many who are interested in guns. It belongs to Jörg Sprave, a middle-aged man with a strong build and a full beard. He’s a tinkerer. In this garden he shoots weekly videos in which he presents weapons that he has built himself: crossbows, pencil slingshots or toilet brush “revolvers”. Millions of people follow him and his films on YouTube, which now enjoy cult status in the gun scene.

Airguns that are easy to convert

This time, however, Sprave isn’t presenting a weapon that he built himself. It is an American manufacturer’s airgun, made in China. Sprave brought it onto the market in Germany and sells it in its online shop – for a whopping 999 euros. And this despite the fact that he himself says of the rifle that it is “not a particularly good” weapon.

Because with this rifle, the customers are not interested in precision, but in something completely different: It is said that it can be converted in a few simple steps so that it is many times more powerful than a conventional air rifle. more dangerous. fatal.

Specifically, it is about compressed air guns, so-called precharged pneumatic weapons. According to the Weapons Act, adults may buy these without a permit if the weapons do not exceed an energy of 7.5 joules. However, the guns are designed in such a way that, according to the seller, they can be converted in a few simple steps so that they then achieve an energy of more than 200 joules, comparable to a police pistol from the 1960s. The parts required for the conversion are already included with the weapon when it is sold.

To the SWR-Research format FULL SCREEN and the ARD political magazine Report Mainz managed to acquire such a weapon, which is currently not available from Sprave. In an experiment, they tested how easy it is to convert the weapon and how strong it is afterwards – together with weapons expert Thomas Malcher. Although anyone of legal age can buy the weapon, anyone who converts it without special permission and then owns it is liable to prosecution.

Using commercially available tools, the professional can modify the weapon in less than 15 minutes. The only thing the weapon has in common with the harmless airgun whose bullets easily ricochet off a tin can is its appearance. After the conversion, the bullet easily shreds a large watermelon. “It’s dangerous, it’s deadly,” says Malcher. “It’s frighteningly easy, every layman can do it in the same way”. Because the gun comes with everything you need to convert it when you sell it.

Fear of civil war-like conditions

According to Sprave, it has already sold around 8,000 such airguns, and 2,000 of them have been delivered. “We can’t even begin to meet the demand,” says Sprave. But what motivates his customers to spend so much money on the guns? “The additional feeling of security,” the arms dealer is certain. Apparently, the energy crisis and concerns about power outages play a role.

Sprave’s customers are apparently assuming the worst. “The fact that public order is collapsing, that there is actually a civil war-like situation in Germany, with a dysfunctional police force, with plundering hordes,” says Sprave, describing his customers’ fears. He himself thinks that’s extremely unlikely, but he still sells the weapons – without a guilty conscience.

“A business with pension provision,” he calls it. Especially since it’s all legal. He had the weapons approved by the authorities and, when selling them and also in his videos, always points out that conversion and subsequent possession without permission are prohibited. In addition, you only have to drive across the border to get “much more dangerous weapons”.

demand on the federal government

Michael Mertens from the police union is less relaxed about the sale of such weapons. “This weapon can cost lives,” he says. He’s worried about how creative dealers are to meet the need for firearms where it’s actually banned. “It’s a business at the expense of security,” says the police officer. He speaks of a legal loophole and calls on the federal government to close it. “If everyone thinks they have to take their rights into their own hands, we’ll soon be living in the Wild West again.”

on SWRrequest, the Federal Ministry of the Interior merely refers to the existing laws. The sale of the weapons is legal, even if the conversion parts are included. Special permits are required for conversion and subsequent ownership. So it doesn’t sound like the federal government sees a problem in the market. Good for Jörg Sprave and his business. Because the next customers are already waiting for another batch of airguns to arrive in Germany. He still has 6000 orders open.