Yes, even back in 1920 it was a bad idea to use real guns as props:
“Props is props” thinks the police judge here. But props, to be props, should be in a property room, and not a bedroom. Roy Burness, Broadway theatre property man, was fined $25 under the anti-gun law, after he had explained that the revolver found in his room was theatre equipment.
The Seattle star. (Seattle, Wash.), 27 Feb. 1920. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87093407/1920-02-27/ed-1/seq-4/>
