deactivated

hi all

does anyone know when deactivated certificates were first issued ?

thanks

Here in the UK, before 1988 we used to have the old failed proof issue cert for deactivations

It used to say something like

"This Firearm (type - S/N) was submitted for proof, but this wasn't possible as the Firearm has been deactivated ... It would then list the work carried out.

In 1988 The Home Office specified the exact work to be carried out on the various Firearm types (before then anything went) and it was up to the deactivator to do whatever they thought was required ... this led to some rather too sympathetic deacs!

Some didn't bother with proof house examination either..

Removable barrels, clear chambers, intact pistons,etc.

My first deac, way back in 1981, was a No4, a really clapped out and very tatty Maltby with the bolt welded shut (couple blobs of Mig) and a fully intact barrel, FP removed too.

I traded it in for a BSA Airsporter if memory serves.

So long winded answer ... 1988 with amendments,1995 and 2016.

Western Australian Laws for the 303's and other magazine equipped rifles, Bolt welded shut from beneath through mag well (full length not just tacked), barrel plug welded at muzzle, underside of chamber to be slotted drilled?, barrel to have X amount of holes in the under side at X distances. I saw this on a deactivate 1916 Lithgow at my stockmakers work shop as he is also a gunsmith so saw first hand what was required. I picked that action up and looked at the other bits and bobs from it and it was all matching 1916:banghead: the family wanted a wall hanger as it was the fathers (Dec) but no one wanted to license it or get a Fire arms license another piece of our history neutered......

thanks, im still researching too

Deactivated Sten Gun in Glasgow G42 on Freeads Classifieds - Replicas classifieds

must be a world record !

If its sold like that a record would be due in time..... it mentions current spec so can only guess all them removable parts are not quite like the picture anymore.

bigduke6, I have a question: can you own machine gun barrels, parts and magazines ?

Magazines yes no certificate required, parts as long as there not pressure bearing yes, deactivated barrels........yes, you can now for some reason as before you couldn't.

All live major parts including barrels or complete Machine guns can be held on the correct certificate which in theory, would give you more rights than Jesus, but does take a lot of hoops to jump through to get.

If we ever get away from the EU, we should be able to trade our old spec deactivated Firearms again.


Current legislation allows sale of old specs to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, as they are nominally independent and not in the EU.

They also still allow semi automatic Firearms and handguns too, as they never introduced the 1988 amendment.

The legislation as currently written, clearly indicates that it applies within the EU, so when we leave, it 'should' effectively cancel itself out.

Properly deactivated pre 1995 spec Firearms are perfectly safe, but allow people to own (as part of larger collections), strip, cock, click and effectively study the actions and manufacture of Firearms that would otherwise be prohibited, SMG's etc.