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Afternoon all,

Been trying to ascertain the legal status of a cutaway display firearm, the example in question is an L1A1 that has been sectioned, probably as a base workshop instructional piece.

Quite a few early Fn X8 trails SLR's ended up meeting this fate. When L1A1's were condemned in service a number were also sectioned for this purpose....

Now then, I think I am right in saying a factory built cutaway that never was a "firearm" can be kept off FAC or require deactivation. But a military firearm thats been cutaway when its useful service life had expired is a gray area in my book.

It meets with the Home Office requirements of deactivation "by other means"....ie clearly incapable of discharging a missile, but all the SKN Lee Enfield instructional actions that come onto the market these days are deactivated with certs.

The action, chamber, bolt, barrel and carrier have been sectioned and the firing pin shortened (no doubt to stop a squaddy doing a "what if" if with live ammo!) able to cycle inert rounds for armourers instruction.

So all the pressure bearing parts are safely out of proof

I have a feeling a judicious Firearms officer may still regard it as Section 5, as if you stick to the letter of the firearms act it is...

Deactivation would require it to be welded solid, so useless really.

Opinions please ! sign85

It used to be that if it had proof marks on it and then sectioned it retained it's original firearm classification , But if it had no proof markings it was then deemed to be manufactured as a non firing instructional piece (not a firearm).

I don't really know...but could it be classed as a "lethal barrelled weapon of any description from which any shot, bullet or other missile can be discharged" ? if not then it isn't a firearm.

Mike

I suppose that the barrel it self could be considered a "component part" though.

Jeez what a nightmare our laws are.

andy h wrote:It used to be that if it had proof marks on it and then sectioned it retained it's original firearm classification , But if it had no proof markings it was then deemed to be manufactured as a non firing instructional piece (not a firearm).

Hi Andy, spot on....give that man a cigar!

I made a few enquarys yesterday with the ever helpful Mike Wells, he chatted with the London Proof master and confirmed the legal position. If the proof marks are intact it retains its original firearm classification and status, ie the L1A1 cutaway would be Sec5 and still be treated as live from a legal perspective.

But with no proof markings, its fine and unrestricted, providing all pressure bearing parts are cutaway , as any of those components would be regarded as sec 1, if still in a live state.