What is the law regarding antique firearms?

[LordGamebore 0]

Well, I've come across a fine pair of percussion target pistols that I'm intrested purchasing, but my knowledge regarding the law on antique firearms is a little hazy. I know there is some form of exemption for antique firearms, where the exepmtion allowes a buyer to purchase fully working firearms without a licence, but I'm not sure if this covers all percussion weapons.

 

Does anyone have any knowledge of the exact particulars?

 

Cheers

[SportingShooter 0]

If the weapons are before certain dates then they can be bought in full working order as antiques and are exempted from any certification as long as they are not fired.

 

The earliest date that I know of is 1898. So if the weapon is pre-1898 then they can be bought under the legal exemption as "curios" and hung on the wall for example.

 

If you want to fire the weapon, then you need the appropriate certificate, for a muzzle loading pistol, it would require a Firearms Certificate adequately conditioned.

 

To sum up, as long as they are originals then they are exempt

[SportingShooter 0]

Copied from "Firearms Law:Guidance to the Police 2002"

 

Part I: Old weapons which should

benefit from exemption as antiques

under section 58 (2) of the Firearms

Act 1968

8.5 Pre-1939 weapons to benefit from

exemption as antiques are as follows:

a) All muzzle-loading firearms;

Breech-loading firearms capable of

discharging a rimfire cartridge other than

4mm, 5mm, .22 inch or .23 inch (or their

metric equivalents), 6mm or 9mm rimfire;

c) Breech-loading firearms using ignition

systems other than rimfire and centrefire

(These include pin-fire and needle-fire

ignition systems, as well as the more

obscure lip fire, cup-primed, teat fire

and base fire systems);

[LordGamebore 0]

If the weapons are before certain dates then they can be bought in full working order as antiques and are exempted from any certification as long as they are not fired.

 

The earliest date that I know of is 1898. So if the weapon is pre-1898 then they can be bought under the legal exemption as "curios" and hung on the wall for example.

 

If you want to fire the weapon, then you need the appropriate certificate, for a muzzle loading pistol, it would require a Firearms Certificate adequately conditioned.

 

To sum up, as long as they are originals then they are exempt

 

That's what I needed to hear, thankyou.

[LordGamebore 0]

If I decided to add an antique gun to one of my licences, would get the gun be safe to use? Would its value decrease if used?

 

Thanks

[RicW 67]

If I decided to add an antique gun to one of my licences, would get the gun be safe to use? Would its value decrease if used?

 

Thanks

I hate to say it but that is a whole different cap and ball game :stinker:

[LordGamebore 0]

If I decided to add an antique gun to one of my licences, would get the gun be safe to use? Would its value decrease if used?

 

Thanks

I hate to say it but that is a whole different cap and ball game :stinker:

 

Yep, very funny LOL

 

On a serious note?

[SportingShooter 0]

Not necessarily LG.

 

If the gun remains in the condition it is bought in and looked after then it is the same as when you bought it, especially when you consider how few originals there are in comparison to modern weapons.

 

I don't know about safe to use as it depends on the condition of the gun when you buy it