Lee Metford MkI

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Originally Posted by newcastle

Is there such a thing as an antigue over ther even? Here is the US, for those in the UK or not in the know. A rifle made in 1898 or before is classed as an antique and NOT a firearm. There are zero restriction on ownership or shipping. As an example I was able to walk into a store and buy my 1898 winchester model 1895 in 303 british and walk out with it there and then like it was a pound of apples.

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This may help what we can buy or hold with no certificate,

SECTION 58(2)” – text copied from Chapter 8 of the Home Office Manual of Guidance:

“Section 58(2) of the 1968 Act exempts from the provisions of the Act – including certificate controls under sections 1 and 2 and prohibition under section 5 – all antique firearms which are sold, transferred, purchased, acquired or possessed as curiosities or ornaments.”

The term “Antique firearm” is, as yet, undefined in law but the Guidance makes it clear that IF the item is “used” then the exemption cannot be claimed and the firearm MUST be certificated.
There is a rebuttal presumption that ammunition should not be held, which creates a problem for the collector of both Firearms AND Ammunition. The Home Office provides a list of “obsolete chamberings” (Appendix 5 of the “Guidance”) to assist the Collector and the Police.
Although the letter of the law does not prohibit the possession of the component of ammunition for s.58(2) firearms, or equipment to assemble such ammunition, such possession puts at risk the whole concept.


The obsolete chambering or cartriges applies to ammunition that can not be bought off the shelf, a good example of this is the P13.