Skeletonised No5

[Roger Payne]

It might already surpass the laws Gil, I don't know as I can't remember just how 'skeletonised' a skeleton action is. AFAIK they don't entirely remove the whole of one side. If there's a magazine well still present I suspect it'll need to be pinned.

[pedro243]

yeah that was my thoughts aswell Peter. I didnt see the point if there were No4's out there.

sorry i do not currently have any pictures but hopefully i can go to the gun shop soon and take some

[Peter Laidler]

But case law has already deemed skeletonised no4's to the EMER spec are not firearms by definition so are already exempt the deact rules. No? And the deact rules already contain a clause that '.....there are other methods of deactivation.. This clause was inserted at the request of the Customs and Excise because other EU nations had official deacts but were done to different specs. And to prevent them being traded freely across the EU would be a blatant restriction of free trade.

[Roger Payne]

You're no doubt right Peter, but I wonder if it would be that straight forward in practice?

Being i) poor, & ii) a coward, I just tend to ask Birmingham Proof House (they're only twenty minutes away from me & know me well) what I should do; I do it, & go along, pay, & collect my stamped up & certed wall hangers. In fact, like Simon, I have little to do with deacts, but every now & then someone will ask me for one; plus it is a good way of being able to sell a nice looking but shaXXed out rifle! Barrel wear & excessive headspace don't matter a jot when the barrel has been filleted, the feed ramp slotted, steel pins welded in place, & so on......

And I think the EU mandarins are still trying to thrash out what deviations from the norm between member countries will be acceptable. We'll probably be long gone before they've decided.

[mrclark303]

To be honest guys, I think a general line in the sand was drawn on 1 April 2015, when the new EU spec was ushered in.

Everything prior to this is regarded as defectively deactivated, most Police forces would probably just lump these actions in that category ... Makes life easier.

I consulted with my local constabulary when I bought my two cutaways a few years back, the advice was clear cut, buy from an RFD and just ensure no pressure baring licensed components are intact before you buy.

Provided good common sense is applied and due diligence is carried out, they are totally deactivated and completely incapable of discharging anything...

[Roger Payne]

It's the 'common sense' bit that worries me!

[mrclark303]

True Roger, I should have added

"your experience may vary"

[Peter Laidler]

Something can be deactivated and not have a PH certificate and therefore not subject to PH criteria. But it can be incapable '........ of discharging a shot bullet or other like missile.... including......... blah blah blah AS DEFINED IN LAW.

[mrclark303]

Again, very true Peter.

I am fortunate in having a very good local constabulary Firearms team you can run ideas past and get common sense advice.

One of the main points raised by the now retired head of the team was to buy it through a reputable RFD who checks and ensures that the piece has no pressure baring parts left reusable on a live Firearm ... In my case the RFD also sent the SKN No4 with a letter detailing its instructional "non Firearm" status.

Just good old fashioned common sense.

[Gil Boyd]

Old school like Peter I'm afraid, if it can't ever be brought back on line as a firearm EVER, it misses the DEAC laws completely, and is what it is intended for...........a training aid.
Did'nt dare mention, you can't even be given a DEAC anymore let alone buy one, or have I read that wrong too??