UK Proof houses, a useless (and expensive) anachronism?

[FredB]

So how do we get rid???
Fred

[tackb]

what is the actual offence if you sell an unproofed gun?

edited because some people are just too sharp for their own good!

[breacher]

what is the actual offence if you sell an unroofed gun?

Probably a building regulations issue ?

[tackb]

mind you don't cut yourself breacher !

[zanes]

what is the actual offence if you sell an unroofed gun?

Probably a building regulations issue ?

But on a more serious note:

24.3 The proving of firearms is governed by the Gun Barrel Proof Acts of 1868, 1950 and 1978
(However, note that much of the 1950 Act was repealed in 1996 by SI 1996/1576).
Under these Acts it is:
(a) an offence to sell, exchange, expose or keep for sale, or export, or keep for
exportation, or to attempt to sell, exchange or export, or to pawn or pledge, or attempt
to pawn or pledge, or to take in pawn or pledge, an arm, the barrels of which are not
duly proved and marked as proved (section 108 and 109 of the 1868 Act);
(b) an offence to import into the United Kingdom small arms, the barrels of which are not
duly proved and marked as proved, without giving notice in writing within seven days
to either the London or Birmingham Proof House or to send such imported arms,
within twenty-eight days of their arrival in the United Kingdom, to be proved at either
the London or Birmingham Proof House (Section 122 of the 1868 Act).
This does not apply to any small arm imported by any person for their own personal use
whilst it is in their possession. In such a case, the proof is the responsibility of the possessor.

24.4 For each offence committed, every person shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine,
and on conviction on indictment to a fine (see Section 122 of the 1868 Act). If it should
come to notice that firearms which do not bear recognised proof marks are being dealt
with in any way, the fact should be communicated to the Proof Master at one of the
addresses above.

However, you'll be relieved to note:

24.2 [...]
Please be aware that at the time of writing (April 2013) [sic as taken from March 2015 guidance] proof authorities are both working
to implement a new Proof Act to ensure the continued safety of guns and ammunition, and
compiling guidance specifically on matters relating to proofing.

ABSOLUTELY NOT MORE JOBS FOR THE BOYS.

[Browning_grrl]

Just btw, I'd never even heard of this until I read this thread. Seems like utter nonsense to me.

[Sixshot6]

Just btw, I'd never even heard of this until I read this thread. Seems like utter nonsense to me.

It's what you get with an organisation called the worshipful company of gunmakers (really look it up, the proof house is run by them).

[dromia]

Again the issue of the necessity of proof is something that a decent national organisation would champion on our behalf, however seeing that we have no organisation to represent gun ownership in the UK we are again victims of the self serving proof monopoly.

[snayperskaya]

Isn't it correct that if they are CIP proofed in their country of origin they don't need to be proofed in the UK?......

[Airbrush]

my rifle just failed proof , two thou too tight on the chamber which was made to tight tolerances for accuracy reasons.

my belief is that it's an out dated and unnecessary job for the boys organisation run along the lines of 1970's union cars production 'not my job mate'

the fact that they now stamp the end of the barrel so if you re-thread it you have to pay for proof again says everything about there organisation.

You only have to have the barrel reproofed if you go to sell the gun.