Enfield bolt bodies for sale on e-bay UK FAC holders BEWARE.

[Robert303]

Which is why it can be good to quote to them from the Guidance to Police as that can shut them up quite promptly. Mentioning Legal Insurance with the NRA can be quite good as well.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Gil Boyd]

Guidance to Police.......now there's a laugh in itself, all 43 Forces interpret the Firearms Law differently as it is, caused by it being badly written in the first place.
Those tasked with writing the legislation should have took council from all bodies concerned including the NRA then perhaps we could all blame ourselves if we no longer liked it, and not the poor sods trying to make it work.
It can be said about a lot of knee jerk written stuff though unfortunately

[Alan de Enfield]

Guidance to Police.......now there's a laugh in itself, all 43 Forces interpret the Firearms Law differently as it is, caused by it being badly written in the first place.
:

Some time ago I was discussing with our local Police Firearms Manager the possibility/problems of importing from the US, during the discussions I told him I was looking to re-stock one of my rifles.

A few days later I received a letter from he Firearms Manager informing me that I must now have the rifle (that I was re-stocking) re-proofed as changing the 'furniture' meant it was no longer in proof.

Several letters and a few weeks later he had not moved his position, so I wrote to the proof office asking for guidance, to which they replied (in writing) that they request that all firearms are submitted for proof without the 'furniture' to avoid any potential damage to the woodwork in their clamps.

I submitted the letter to the Firearms Manager suggesting that as I had now fitted the furniture was he proposing that I remove it, submit it for proof, then replace the furniture, at which time it would (according to him) need reproofing.

The matter seemed to go very quiet - I never received anything further on the subject.

[Beerhunter]

A few days later I received a letter from he Firearms Manager informing me that I must now have the rifle (that I was re-stocking) re-proofed as changing the 'furniture' meant it was no longer in proof.

Actually it get worse. You are not obliged to "re-proof" anything no matter what you do to it, unless you sell it or otherwise move it to another party.

BTW, your Firearms Licensing Department are mere amateurs in the incompetency stakes - mine took FIVE MONTHS in 2013.

[Peter Laidler]

Re ZGB's comment, thread 45, para 2 about component parts taken from a deact reverting to their original status, such as a flash eliminator as a point in case, I have been advised that this is an opinion so far and hasn't been tested in law*. And while the enabling legislation for such minor changes, clarifications and amplifications is in place, a change such as this has not been enshrined or incorporated. So as things stand, if you have your bayonet collection mounted on an old ex-deact L1A1 or No5 flash eliminator for example - or have a Vickers thingummyjig or whatsit or a Bren butt slide, it remains legal! And in any case, if/once it IS incorporated into a part of the act, the act is not retrospective. That means if you had yours before that date then it's OK - And you ain't got to prove anything............ I'm trying to scribble notes while sister is chuntering away on the phone so bear with me...........

* it very probably HAS been tested but the case had been defeated and not challenged/appealed. If it HAS been incorporated into law, please let me know and I'll tell her the act and section.

Is it any wonder why noone ever wants to be a solicitor

[bigduke6]

An interesting thread with 63 posts and most giving an opinion or something they know of from experience...... considering we ( most of us being shooters or collectors) seem to be well ahead of the game regarding the law, there are a few posts that stand out and are news to me, but think the post by Alan # 62, says it all....... I feel for the next generation of shooters/ collectors who will have to deal with managers with such a high level of Incompetence.

[Gil Boyd]

Hand picked and specially chosen men to do the incompetent role........"not you Steve by the way, Green Jackets were alright"

[Alan de Enfield]

The Police Firearms Department are under a huge amount of pressure (apparently).

I received a letter mid May saying my FAC expired very early July and please send the money and completed forms into them in good time (suggested as being 4 weeks prior to expiry), I sent all the paperwork in before the end of May.
Come the end of June - not having had my 'visit' and my Doctor not having been contacted (although I did get a letter some time ago - that should have gone to my Doctor, asking me to confirm I was fit to hold a firearm certiicate) I contacted the Police Firearm dept and told them that withn a couple of days I would be breaking the law by holding firearms that I was not licenced to hold and what did they propose to do - they confirmed they had received my renewal application but nothing had happened as they appeared to have 'lost it'.

I phoned a couple of days later and told them "I am now illegally holding firearms" and the reply was - dont worry we will issue a "Temporary Permit",

Said permit arrived a few days later allowing me to hold the firearms I already hold until October, however I cannot buy or sell any firearms - despite having variations on my (expired) FAC and I cannot buy any ammunition. (Presumably I can still reload ?)

We are now 6 weeks past my FAC expiry date and I still have not had a visit, and my Doctor has still not been approached.

Our local Police Firearms Dept is 'Managed' by two people on a "job-share" basis so if you call on the changeover day, you have to wait until next week to talk to them again. You can never get to speak to any of the staff more than once as they seem to change almost daily (I think they are on a Government work experience scheme)

[PrinzEugen]

Yeah mine took I think four months a couple of years ago to reissue. I don't think trying to build up relationships with these people really helps much - not that there's any malice on their part, but it's best just to keep it on a professional basis for all concerned. Don't bother them and...

[Peter Laidler]

Yep, absolutely professional. Although I have never had any problems - except for one who tried to get above himself during a variation, saying he would revoke or not renew it it if I didn't elaborate on 'security' at Warminster - many around these parts tape their verbal dealings. He cannot revoke it, only a Chief Officer can and he can't 'not remew it' as renewal ain't on the agenda! But keep it professional I say

When I hear the phrase 'lack of resources' from ANY government department, it simply means '....we want more money.....'