Patrick, as you're probably well aware the various aspects of legislation affecting firearms in the UKicon (and probably in lots of other countries) are not consistent. Her Majesty's Custom & Excise regard anything more than a hundred years old as "Antique" and so importation doesn't require an import licence and a reduced rate of tax is levied. What happens once it's in the UK is another matter: if the rifle's chambering is on the Home Office list of obsolete calibres and if it's going to be held as an "ornament or curio" then a Firearms Certificate is not required (even if it's less than 100 years old). If the calibre isn't on the list (7.65x53, for example) then the rifle isn't an Antique for licensing purposes even though it is more a 100 years old, like my M1891 Argentineicon Mauser. Despite these inconsistencies, the obsolete calire list approach has worked reasonably well over the last ten years or so. Mark.
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