EU Deact proposal will go ahead!

[Airbrush]

What he said. ^^^

[snayperskaya]

Once saw a group of "Russian" re-enactors riding on the back of an original WW2 T-34,Eastern Front style, at War and Peace some years back.......they were all far too old, far too clean and far too "well nourished" to pull it off and it just looked comical in my opinion.

All carried butchered Mosins and PPSh's etc , including an original very early Imperial M91.....sacrilege!.

[saddler]

...they were all far too old, far too clean and far too "well nourished" to pull it off and it just looked comical in my opinion...

NKVD day trippers?

[snayperskaya]

...they were all far too old, far too clean and far too "well nourished" to pull it off and it just looked comical in my opinion...

NKVD day trippers?

Nah, they didn't have a line of Maxims and a loudspeaker

[GeeRam]

From what I recall if you currently own an "old spec" deac you wouldn't be able to sell it under the proposed rules......but at present deacs are pretty much untraceable so no one knows whos got what and where so how they would enforce the "no sale" bit I don't know.

Well, I guess you certainly won't be able to openly advertise them for sale, or sell to a dealer etc, but as you say, it would be impossible to enforce a sale or give-away to someone 'in person' if a buyer (probably known to the seller) made a personal approach...??

I also think it's unfair for those on here to be so critical of re-enactors in regards de-acts, as clearly it from a position of not knowing anything about it. From my time doing it back in the 90's, I'd say 95% of the guys I knew that didn't have FAC's, would have loved to have had one, but as we all know, it's hardly the easiest thing in the world to get, and for many it's simply not a viable option. Some people even wouldn't have met the critieria, due to various acts of youthful stupidity and having a 'record'.

Many groups might not even known about the theatrical ticket to have a live weapon but not ammo, as again, the shooting community could do more to help and promote/assist groups down that route.

Sadly, it's all part of the secret squirrel nature of shooting in the UK as opposed to doing things that could ultimately benefit our community long term.

[hitchphil]

correct me if wrong But....... there is no requirement to inform anybody of the sale or acquisition of a deact firearm?, no register, no FLO, no record, so just sell them privately as will be happening now in the National Socialist State of Scotland with air guns.

[saddler]

Maybe post-Brexit it'll be "normal service resumed"
Looks like a HUGE gain for the Leave vote campaigners....not in the EU, so EU rules not applicable

Win win.....

[450 Martini]

The majority of reenactors I know are supportive of Britain's Exit from the EU.
Also the vast majority of people I know would rather not see any usable firearms deactivated, but we are subject to the same inane useless laws as the rest of UK Shooters.
For anyone who re-enacts pre 1890's deacts are quite rare martini henry's, sniders, P-53's, brown besses, and matchlocks are quite easy to get a FAC or SGC for. inert replicas of some of these are freely available.
20th Century conflict reenactors are the ones who drive the deact market, specifically the WW2 mob.
My Great War group (The Birmingham Pals) prides itself in the high number of Firearm Certificates held by the membership, this is possible due to a long standing good relation with both west mids and Staffordshire police and occasional words of advice from a friendly FEO from another force. Over the past 4 years I have helped about 10 people through the FAC process.
Occasionally we do get event requests where the organisers specify a "deact's only" rule which we see as unworkable as our members have to shell out up to £1000 just to turn up properly dressed and equipped. It is asking a lot of people to spend several hundred pounds on acquiring a certificate and a period rifle and then telling them having to acquire a butchered rifle.

I personally own 2 deactivated SMLE's which originally had pitted and worn barrels so had seen long service lives. I need these for educational displays with members of the public and in schools.
The picture is of my Great War small arms display at an event a few years ago. Everything except the Vickers and the Lewis which are purpose built gas firing replicas is live and held on FAC.

[Christel]

450 Martini, thank you for your post

[Maggot]

"UKSN understands that British experts are very worried by this, as welding deactivated firearms solid makes it impossible to check whether internal cutting and welding has been properly carried out. The UK spec allows very limited stripping of deactivated semi- and full-auto firearms, which pleases collectors but also allows the authorities to ensure they really do comply with the specifications."


The above statement alone will cause an at least partial collapse of the deac market, the proof houses are private companies and can refuse (I hear will refuse) to certificate deactivated semi/full auto firearms that they cant visually check the internals of, I don't blame them, I wouldn't put my name to it either, not a chance!

You simply can't ask them to certificate a firearm as deactivated if they cant see the bolt carrier etc to verify the firearms deactivated status! As firearms legislation goes, this really is world class stupid!

So when you think about it, its potentially no safer than the myriad of weapons that are dug up welded by rust and nobody knows if there is one up the spout...genius.

How would a re-enactor have a firearm? As a collector or under a new condition? Unless they are going to shoot it at targets?