"The Air Gun as a Serious Weapon" by H Marks

[harvey_s]

"Derivatives of primary functions"? Not sure exactly what you mean by this. Is a kid's cap gun a 'derivative' of a .44 Magnum? In one sense it is, but it's absurd to suggest that it's therefore a weapon...

It means that it's primary function of being a hunting weapon firing the same lead pellet at the same velocity remains unchanged.
Therefore the damage that the projectile can inflict at arrival also remains unchanged.
IE. By adding the word 'match' you have not altered it's intrinsic design purpose.

The kid's cap gun IS an example however of where the design HAS been changed to remove the ability to cause harm and therefore is not a weapon....but the 'match' still is one in the eyes of the law and quite rightly so.