What is the difference between a clone and a replica?

[Dillon Justice]

My understanding is that a clone is either a complete copy or nearly a complete copy, either authorized or not authorized, with most of the parts being interchangeable. A good example of a clone would be the new Springfield SA35 Highpower. Where as a replica can be something that looks like the original, whether functioning or non- functioning. An example would be the Ruger Vaqueros, where they look like a Colt S/A but no parts are interchangeable and are not meant to be a copy, they only replicate the appearance. What say you?

 

[rugerguy]

it's all 'semantics' and as the English language is all too often quite confusing, can be used as need in any sentence, the folks that KNOW ,,understand...just like a "reblue ,refinish , restored"...they "restore " cars and "reblue-refinish" guns,,,again, the experts know the difference, so that will affect the "values"........then of course you have "fakes, repops" and thats when it can become a 'scam'.....caveat emptor

 

[Jeepnik]

Well for one thing a clone is a biological reproduction.

 

[powder smoke]

I always believed what jeepnik said. Clones are usually living thing like plants.
That gun would be a duplicate ps

 

[Hondo44]

Dillon, you have it right:

A clone is an exact copy of the original (parts should interchange).

A replica looks like or resembles the original. Your example of the Vaquero as a replica is a good one.

The word clone is usually mis-used when used for guns.

Also:
The 2nd and 3rd generation Colt cap and ball revolvers are sometimes called clones or replicas, but are not. They are original Colts just reintroduced after a long interruption of their original production period by the same original manufaturer.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Clone does imply parts interchangeable . But it gets squishy in that many clones are also Replicas .

 

[Bret]

So would y’all consider a Tanfoglio Witness, IWI Jericho or a SAR B6 clones of the CZ75?

 

[Dillon Justice]

So would y’all consider a Tanfoglio Witness, IWI Jericho or a SAR B6 clones of the CZ75?

Not sure but I think the Tanfoglio does not have interchangeable parts with the the CZ so ( if true) it would not be a clone, whereas the Jericho does interchange parts making it a true clone. I know absolutely nothing about the SAR. Just my thinking, and what I think and $5 would buy you a cup of coffee, LOL

 

[Snake Pleskin]

My understanding is that a clone is either a complete copy or nearly a complete copy, either authorized or not authorized, with most of the parts being interchangeable. A good example of a clone would be the new Springfield SA35 Highpower. Where as a replica can be something that looks like the original, whether functioning or non- functioning. An example would be the Ruger Vaqueros, where they look like a Colt S/A but no parts are interchangeable and are not meant to be a copy, they only replicate the appearance. What say you?

I think you have it pretty well nailed.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

I searched a couple of dictionary sites for synonyms . . .

Clone = replica

Replica = Clone

 

[Bret]

Not sure but I think the Tanfoglio does not have interchangeable parts with the the CZ so ( if true) it would not be a clone, whereas the Jericho does interchange parts making it a true clone. I know absolutely nothing about the SAR. Just my thinking, and what I think and $5 would buy you a cup of coffee, LOL

I'm a big fan of the CZ75 and the other pistols that were inspired by it that have inverted rails. I have a good number of them. Most of the people that are really in to these pistols would consider the Tanfoglio, Jericho, SAR, etc. to be clones. In fact, the primary forum for CZ firearms (czfirearms.us) has a subforum called the CZ Clone Club. The general design of the Tanfoglio pistols was copied from the CZ75 with some improvements. The Jericho, SAR, Rock Island, etc. were in turn copied from the Tanfoglio design, so they have more in common with it than the CZ75. All this to say that my take on what's a clone is primarily based on my experience with these pistols. Therefore, I'm not of the opinion that there needs to be parts interchangeability for something to be considered a clone. Heck, some CZ75 parts and Tanfoglio parts won't interchange with other variations from the same manufacturer. CZ75 magazines are a good example.

 

[Biggfoot44]

FWIW , back in the day . the Tangfolios were commonly known as CZ-75 Clones .

 

[Jeepnik]

Calling a replica a clone doesn’t make it so. They don’t have identical DNA. In fact being purely inorganic (except possibly and then even rarely today wooden grips) they don’t have DNA.

 

[Fox Mike]

Clone:
noun

• 1. an organism or cell, or group of organisms or cells, produced asexually from one ancestor or stock, to which they are genetically identical.

verb

• 1. propagate (an organism or cell) as a clone: "of the hundreds of new plants cloned the best ones are selected"

rep·li·ca
/ˈrepləkə/

noun

• 1. an exact copy or model of something, especially one on a smaller scale: "a replica of the Empire State Building"

 

[Bret]

Calling a replica a clone doesn’t make it so. They don’t have identical DNA. In fact being purely inorganic (except possibly and then even rarely today wooden grips) they don’t have DNA.

Words have different meaning depending on the context. Based on the definition of clone that you've used, there would be no gun clones at all. I just wanted to point out that when it comes to guns, there is no set definition regarding what a clone is.

When it comes to computers, according to dictionary.com a clone is defined as "a computer designed to simulate exactly the operation of another, typically more expensive, model. "an IBM PC clone" Nobody would argue that the companies that make PC clones are attempting to produce identical computers. They are attempting to produce computers that function and perform in a similar manner.

 

[Biggfoot44]

CZ-75 is a unique situation .

In the U.S. , The Tangfolio was what established the popularity and reputation for " CZ Type " pistols . The TZ's (any of the dozen or so importers with their own model names , but all the same pistols from the same production line) were " normal " , and actual Czech CZs were rare exotics .

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Not only biological. From a couple other dictionaries . . .

Clone: one that appears to be a copy of an original form, a DUPLICATE A clone of a personal computer

Clone: One that copies or closely resembles another, as in appearance or function: "filled with business-school clones in gray and blue suits"

Fun with semantics.

 

[Snake Pleskin]

SO, can you clone a replica or replicate a clone? : )

 

[Ale-8(1)]

SO, can you clone a replica or replicate a clone? : )

Sure, why not?

 

[Bob Wright]

Well for one thing a clone is a biological reproduction.

AMEN!

Bob Wright

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Merriam-Webster Thesaurus

Synonyms of clone

something that is made to look exactly like something else

• the car is a clone under a different brand name—it's even manufactured in the same plant as its cousin

Synonyms for clone

• carbon,
• carbon copy,
• copy,
• dummy,
• dupe,
• duplicate,
• duplication,
• facsimile,
• imitation,
• mock,
• reduplication,
• replica,
• replication,
• reproduction

There are, of course, biological clones as well.

 

[Jhawk@1261]

My understanding is that a clone is either a complete copy or nearly a complete copy, either authorized or not authorized, with most of the parts being interchangeable. A good example of a clone would be the new Springfield SA35 Highpower. Where as a replica can be something that looks like the original, whether functioning or non- functioning. An example would be the Ruger Vaqueros, where they look like a Colt S/A but no parts are interchangeable and are not meant to be a copy, they only replicate the appearance. What say you?

Good answer no more explanation needed.

 

[Rclark]

I too like the above definiton of clone vs replica. Clone means to me parts interchange. I have replicas (not clones) of the Colt SAA... It looks good, but... oh look it has a floating firing pin, and missing the safety notch on the hammer, and etc .... We all have our way of looking at things .

 

[noahmercy]

I use the term "exact copy" when discussing something that is indistinguishable from an original and has parts interchangeability, and "modern version" if it is similar to an original, but lacks parts reciprocity or has new features. However, if someone uses "clone" or "replica", I can often infer what they are saying by context or by simply asking a question or two. While I get uptight about a few mangled terms ("bullet heads" is a personal peeve), I generally don't get too bent out of shape when someone uses a word that can be properly employed in several ways.

 

[Ruger 10/22]

My Taurus 85 is a Replica of a J Frame S&W = Not a Clone even though? NOT a RUGER...
HaHaHa

Admire the Brazilian Snubby & all its $300 worth of protection in todays marketplace, At least it's blued & not painted

 

[nvbirdman]

Clone has five letters, replica has seven, otherwise there's very little difference.

 

[Dillon Justice]

My Taurus 85 is a Replica of a J Frame S&W = Not a Clone even though? NOT a RUGER...
HaHaHa View attachment 2585
Admire the Brazilian Snubby & all its $300 worth of protection in todays marketplace, At least it's blued & not painted

It looks like it has a very nice blued finish. I had a Taurus 85 Poly that I gifted to someone that couldn't afford to buy herself a pistol. I was surprised that for a budget gun, it was of descent quality. I also inherited a Rossi 357 that was Taurus owned. Also a nice gun for the price. My sister wanted it, so I gave it to her.

 

[Dillon Justice]

Merriam-Webster Thesaurus

Synonyms of clone

something that is made to look exactly like something else

• the car is a clone under a different brand name—it's even manufactured in the same plant as its cousin

Synonyms for clone

• carbon,
• carbon copy,
• copy,
• dummy,
• dupe,
• duplicate,
• duplication,
• facsimile,
• imitation,
• mock,
• reduplication,
• replica,
• replication,
• reproduction

There are, of course, biological clones

Clone:
noun

• 1. an organism or cell, or group of organisms or cells, produced asexually from one ancestor or stock, to which they are genetically identical.

verb

• 1. propagate (an organism or cell) as a clone: "of the hundreds of new plants cloned the best ones are selected"

rep·li·ca
/ˈrepləkə/

noun

• 1. an exact copy or model of something, especially one on a smaller scale: "a replica of the Empire State Building"

Webster's dictionary defines clip as:

clip
noun (1)
Definition of clip (Entry 2 of 4)
1: any of various devices that grip, clasp, or hook
2: a device to hold cartridges for charging the magazines of some riflesalso : a magazine from which ammunition is fed into the chamber of a firearm
3: something (such as a piece of jewelry) that is worn as an ornament or fastener and that is held in position by a clip

Most gun people would probably disagree that a clip is a magazine ,even though the dictionary says it is. However I don't care when people use them incorrectly, I know what they meant from the context.

 

[larry1096]

In the guitar world, the difference is fairly well defined:
Clone: A guitar with the basic shape and features of a model made famous by another manufacturer, but branded with the name and logo of the company making the clone
Replica: A guitar made to replicate a model by another manufacturer *exactly*, including using the name, trade dress and other IP of the original manufacturer.

As a general rule, clones are not particularly frowned upon, where replicas (also called 'counterfeits') definitely are.

Larry

 

[Bob Wright]

Word definitions also differ with the realm in which they are used. In my field, column was called a "colyum", and steel angles were "angle irons." The original meaning of clone was of biological/medical usage. And, calling a firearm a "clone" just seems too "preppy" to me. Same as "wheelgun, bottom feeder, bang switch," and similar terms.

So, I'm an old stick-in the-mud.

Bob Wright