Barrel chopping

[breacher]

I thought that if you get a gunsmith to do it for you then it had to be reproofed as their handing it back to you is the same as selling / transferring to you in the eyes of the law ?

[Hunter87]

I thought that if you get a gunsmith to do it for you then it had to be reproofed as their handing it back to you is the same as selling / transferring to you in the eyes of the law ?

If they are handing it back to you then that's all they are doing they arnt selling it to you as you already own it and they aren't transferring it to you as its already on your FAC.

[Chapuis]

Does it not depend on where the proof marks are? On some of my rifles, the marks are near the muzzle, if it was shortened they would be taken off.
Mat

Those proof marks would only relate to the original screw cutting of the barrel. Barrels are normally marked near the receiver.

[ovenpaa]

Our own company insurance which is a gun trade specific does not mention Proof or the transfer of weapons either in or out of Proof, the only Proof related thing it does mention is weapons that fail during Proof which are covered.

Interestingly Bedfordshire insisted I checked and logged the state of Proof of all items being entered onto my register, Lincolnshire do not. My official stance would have to be it is best to have the weapon Proof fired after any pressure bearing related modifications, having that I often receive weapons with chopped and threaded barrels from other RFD's and FAC holders with the magical muzzle end Proof stamp missing. Invariably nicely done, I have also received a couple of minging jobs, raggedy threads cut by hand and not concentric to the bore yet still in Proof as the test is does the weapon pass the proof firing as opposed to how professional does the job look.

I do have a personal opinion on all this however it is personal and probably best not discussed in the Public domain regardless of how I feel.

What I will add is there is an informal agreement amongst some in the trade who will shorten/crown/thread and not Proof as the weapon is being returned to an RFD.

[SevenSixTwo]

Hmm. Conflicting. Thanks all.

I may or may not go ahead with it - although it's quite likely (knowing my penchant for 'accurate' barrel lengths)!

[breacher]

I guess one has to respect the opinion of dealer concerned. An FAC holder may feel he knows best but he is just risking his hobby if wrong. Wheras the RFD risks his career if wrong.

I would not blame a RFD for taking the "safe" option.

[SevenSixTwo]

My main concern is staying within the law. I'll be sure to consult my FLD (and perhaps one or two others) before I go ahead.

[Activ8]

For what it's worth, we won't shorten a barrel without sending for proof afterwards.

[SevenSixTwo]

How long does proofing usually take - and what costs are involved?

[bradaz11]

out of interest... you buy a brand new gun in proof. send it to be chopped down and threaded, they send it for proof and it fails proof, what happens then?

and if they send it for proof without mentioning to you...?