7,000 No8's to be melted down unless .......................

[Alan de Enfield]

Have a look at the video 'appeal'.


Save the .22s! Can You Help?

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[Ovidio]

Let’ hope they can be saved... I’d love to buy one, but the UK does not want me as a buyer...so bad...

[Alan de Enfield]

Let’ hope they can be saved... I’d love to buy one, but the UK does not want me as a buyer...so bad...

The UK Government doesn't even want me as a buyer and I'm on 'home ground'.

[Strangely Brown]

I think that's it's worth noting that representations have already been made to the UK government about the No.8's; in fact over a year ago by both LERA and the HBSA.
I'm not sure what response they received if any at all, I will ask those in the know.

[NORTHOF60]

You are fighting a bitterly anti-firearm government and a bureaucracy terrified of the embarrassment of facilitating murder. It used to be a pillar of British common law that you were innocent until proven guilty. Sorry, I'm very sensitive to the prevailing attitude that if you are a gun owner, you are a potential baby killer. I firmly believe in the saying: "You can't trust a government that doesn't trust you."

[Stanforth]

The excuse given was that there was a EU directive stopping the sale of military weapons to the public. They said that they could to used to train terrorists.

The No.8 is a single shot bolt action .22 rifle. Surely a semi automatic AK47 .22 clone ( which can be purchased easily in the UK) would be a better training rifle for the purpose. Also. in a few months EU directives will not apply to the UK.

A decent No.8 will fetch £1,000 (that's what I paid for mine 2 years ago) and I believe they would sell readily to the trade for £500 average for all conditions. That is £3,500,000 of our money that could help the NHS.

Not only that but many of us learned to shoot in the cadets with these rifles. THEY ARE PART OF OUR HISTORY.

[browningautorifle]

I had a couple and shot them to great effect on our small bore team with my battalion in the '70's. Would be sad to see them destroyed, they could glean the Gum't a good few pounds notes. No self respecting terrorist would train on those.

[limpetmine]

It's financial foolishness to not get something for them. Maybe the Brexit deal can be put to some use here. I won't hold my breath.

[Alan de Enfield]

It all comes down to a UN protocol (signed by many / most countries including the UK & USA)

This, and other protocols ban the sale of military firearms and ammunition to anyone except another Government department.

Even President Obama, signed up to it - meaning that all us 'home loaders' could now require a Ammunition Manufacturers licence from our Governments.

From the UN document :

(c) “Ammunition” shall mean the complete round or its components,
including cartridge cases, primers, propellant powder, bullets or projectiles, that are
used in a firearm, provided that those components are themselves subject to
authorization in the respective State Party;

(d) “Illicit manufacturing” shall mean the manufacturing or assembly of
firearms, their parts and components or ammunition:
(i) From parts and components illicitly trafficked;
(ii) Without a licence or authorization from a competent authority of the
State Party where the manufacture or assembly takes place; or
(iii) Without marking the firearms at the time of manufacture, in accordance
with article 8 of this Protocol;

Licensing or authorization of the manufacture of parts and components shall be in
accordance with domestic law;

[mrclark303]

While I can accept the wisdom of an international accord to try to control the flow of small arms heading into conflict zones, there has to be 'some' common sense applied!

No8's are in way, shape or form a weapon of war and are obviously purely paper punches.

Their destruction helps no one, but plays extremely well to the anti gun lobby.

Such a shame, like many UK shooters, the No8 was the first Firearm (and Lee Enfield) I ever fired and I will add one to the collection one day.