No civilian proof marks on latest No.4Mk.2's imported to U.S. by C.A.I.?

[drweiler]

I'd commented on another thread that my 'Irish Contract' doesn't have a civilian proof mark, perhaps because it is in that contract. Got to thinking and looking, and nor is there a civilian proof mark (BNP etc.) on my UF 55 A14963. Could it have been released to the civilian market without civilian proofing? Thanks, Don

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.

[Peter Laidler]

I think that that UK Military arms need to be proofed if they are destined for disposal abroad. I don't know the why's and wherefores of the archaic UK proof rules but I feel sure that it only affects weapons being sold etc etc etc in the UK.

On that basis, if weapons were purchased from UK Miltary disposals, they'd be taken directly to a secure bond somewhere and then freighted to the US - or wherever

[drweiler]

Searching back I founding a posting by Frederick303 that mentions some UF 55's were in the 'Irish Contract' as well as the PF's, perhaps that could explain the lack of English (Birmingham or London) proofs on both? Cheers, Don

[Thunderbox]

Lots of these rifles were sold direct from MoD to German wholesalers. Check for German proofs - these marks often look like square dimples, and are sometimes hidden away.

[Brian Dick]

The CAI imports were delivered direct from Donnington to Century Arms and don't have the British commercial proofs present.

[Beerhunter]

The CAI imports were delivered direct from Donnington to Century Arms and don't have the British commercial proofs present.

Its taken me a while to work this out but UK Proof law in this case is actually quite simple. If sold directly by HM Government (As opposed to going via a third party.) firearms do not need Proof because the government is exempt from the Gunbarrels Proof Act.

Having said that, the OP noted the lack of BNP marks. BNP is a mark of the Birmingham Proof House and so a firearm would only show those marks if Proofed in Birmingham. Firearms Proofed in London will show the Gunmakers Company marks: GP entwined and the letters NP below an arm holding a seax.

[Peter Laidler]

As I mentioned in thread 2 and confirmed by Brian, who has hit the nail on the head, there's usually a simple explanation for these things.

[Brian Dick]

The same thing happened with the shipment of L42, L39 rifles, Inglis Browning pistols and a menagerie of other No.4's, flare pistols etc. imported by Navy Arms in the early 1990's. They will be found less the commercial proofs unlike many I imported that came from Charnwood Ordnance who collected them at Donnington and had them proofed according to UK firearms law as they were being marketed both in the UK and for export.