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This is one mostly for RFD's on this forum. From time to time I have to scrap a firearm component because it is beyond safe use or is worn out or is damaged, a good example being a T8 Reflex 6,5mm suppressor yesterday morning that I took in as damaged, the can had seen many years service and had rotted out so I chopped it into a few pieces on the band saw, sectioned one piece for a forum member and tossed the rest into the scrap bin and my RFD register updated to reflect this process

The same process applies to discarded rifle barrels, I tend to chop them through the chamber and again just in front, save the long part as they can be handy for small jobs and update my register.

This is all well and good as far as I am concerned however I recently spoke to another RFD who advised me his FEO used to visit once a month to formally write off such items so it set me thinking. What do you do as an RFD and has your Firearms Department given you any guidance on this matter?

As a 'non rfd', I have written off mods before by crushing them in a press, and emailing my Licencing office to inform them of the destruction. That was fine as I rang a few days later to check, not done a barrel yet, but will be in the next few weeks, so I'll see what happens

Swamp Donkey wrote:As a 'non rfd', I have written off mods before by crushing them in a press, and emailing my Licencing office to inform them of the destruction. That was fine as I rang a few days later to check, not done a barrel yet, but will be in the next few weeks, so I'll see what happens

As a 'non-rfd' I didn't think you had the authority to dispose or destruct licensed items yourself, are there not appropriate guidelines that need to be followed?

ovenpaa wrote:a good example being a T8 Reflex 6,5mm suppressor yesterday morning that I took in as damaged, the can had seen many years service and had rotted out so I chopped it into a few pieces on the band saw, sectioned one piece for a forum member and tossed the rest into the scrap bin and my RFD register updated to reflect this process

Arrived today. Much obliged indeed David! :)

Cad Monkey wrote:

Swamp Donkey wrote:As a 'non rfd', I have written off mods before by crushing them in a press, and emailing my Licencing office to inform them of the destruction. That was fine as I rang a few days later to check, not done a barrel yet, but will be in the next few weeks, so I'll see what happens

As a 'non-rfd' I didn't think you had the authority to dispose or destruct licensed items yourself, are there not appropriate guidelines that need to be followed?

What did you base this assumption on, out of interest? All the guidelines I've read are quite clear on what can & cannot be done...

I'd be interested to know what sources you used that stated differently

ovenpaa wrote:... however I recently spoke to another RFD who advised me his FEO used to visit once a month to formally write off such items so it set me thinking....

...it's got me thinking, as part of the remit of being an RFD is a higher level of trust & knowledge (no, don't laugh) & also being legally allowed to do things that us mere mortals are not worthy of....

Wonder if his FEO has taken a shine to him/his missus/his brand of biscuits/lives a couple of miles down the road so uses it as an excuse for a monthly flyer (jolly) - as I'd be surprised of ANY department that was so understaffed that they could lose an FEO on half a day per month per RFD on their books!!
Sounds more like local muscle flexing than the letter/spirit of the law!

saddler wrote:

Cad Monkey wrote:

Swamp Donkey wrote:As a 'non rfd', I have written off mods before by crushing them in a press, and emailing my Licencing office to inform them of the destruction. That was fine as I rang a few days later to check, not done a barrel yet, but will be in the next few weeks, so I'll see what happens

As a 'non-rfd' I didn't think you had the authority to dispose or destruct licensed items yourself, are there not appropriate guidelines that need to be followed?

What did you base this assumption on, out of interest? All the guidelines I've read are quite clear on what can & cannot be done...

I'd be interested to know what sources you used that stated differently

The following: (taken from Camb police web site)

What is the process for disposing of, or destroying a firearm?
You may do one of the following:

1. You may submit the shotgun, firearm and ammunition to your local police station for destruction. The Firearms Department will destroy the weapon, unless it is considered to be of historical interest whereupon the weapon may be offered to museum consortium or other official body.

2. You may have it deactivated, which must be by a Registered Firearms Dealer and then examined at a Proof House. The Proof House will proof mark the weapon, and issue it with a deactivation certificate. Once deactivated, the weapon is no longer considered a firearm, as it will be incapable of being fired, or being reactivated. Deactivating a weapon must be done officially, by a professional, it should not, under any circumstances, be undertaken by a layperson.

You MUST keep the Proof House Certificate safe, the weapon is not considered to be held legally unless you have both a Proof House mark on the gun and the relevant Proof House Certificate.

3. You may give, sell or transfer the ownership of a Section 2 shotgun to another shotgun certificate holder or Registered Firearms Dealer. If you wish to give, sell, or transfer the ownership of a Section 1 firearm, you must ensure that the person receiving ownership of the firearm holds a valid certificate authorizing the acquisition and possession of such a weapon.

4. Section 1 ammunition may be surrendered at your local police station, or disposed of through a Registered Firearms Dealer or an authorised firearms certificate holder, whose certificate authorizes the possession and the amount of the calibre concerned.

Do not attempt the disposal or destruction of a firearm or shotgun yourself. It is essential that you go through one of the appropriate channels, as the firearms licensing authority must account for every licensed weapon. Whichever of the above means of destruction or disposal you decide upon, it is essential that you inform the firearms licensing authority that issued your certificate exactly what has been done with the weapon.

Cad Monkey wrote:

saddler wrote:

Cad Monkey wrote: As a 'non-rfd' I didn't think you had the authority to dispose or destruct licensed items yourself, are there not appropriate guidelines that need to be followed?

What did you base this assumption on, out of interest? All the guidelines I've read are quite clear on what can & cannot be done...

I'd be interested to know what sources you used that stated differently

The following: (taken from Camb police web site)

What is the process for disposing of, or destroying a firearm?
You may do one of the following:

1. You may submit the shotgun, firearm and ammunition to your local police station for destruction. The Firearms Department will destroy the weapon, unless it is considered to be of historical interest whereupon the weapon may be offered to museum consortium or other official body.

2. You may have it deactivated, which must be by a Registered Firearms Dealer and then examined at a Proof House. The Proof House will proof mark the weapon, and issue it with a deactivation certificate. Once deactivated, the weapon is no longer considered a firearm, as it will be incapable of being fired, or being reactivated. Deactivating a weapon must be done officially, by a professional, it should not, under any circumstances, be undertaken by a layperson.

You MUST keep the Proof House Certificate safe, the weapon is not considered to be held legally unless you have both a Proof House mark on the gun and the relevant Proof House Certificate.

3. You may give, sell or transfer the ownership of a Section 2 shotgun to another shotgun certificate holder or Registered Firearms Dealer. If you wish to give, sell, or transfer the ownership of a Section 1 firearm, you must ensure that the person receiving ownership of the firearm holds a valid certificate authorizing the acquisition and possession of such a weapon.

4. Section 1 ammunition may be surrendered at your local police station, or disposed of through a Registered Firearms Dealer or an authorised firearms certificate holder, whose certificate authorizes the possession and the amount of the calibre concerned.

Do not attempt the disposal or destruction of a firearm or shotgun yourself. It is essential that you go through one of the appropriate channels, as the firearms licensing authority must account for every licensed weapon. Whichever of the above means of destruction or disposal you decide upon, it is essential that you inform the firearms licensing authority that issued your certificate exactly what has been done with the weapon.

Aye - LOCAL interpretation of the laws!!
Note that the FIRST suggestion for disposal is the local police station!! Makes sound financial sense = but will be more free clutter for the Propaganda, er, sorry, Meeja Relations Officer to have photographed of "look wot we tuk of da streetz, innit..." type headline.

I see that they neglect to suggest taking Section 1 guns to an RFD, just Section 2

It IS 100% legal to de-activate a firearm yourself & I know someone that has done quite a few!

I suggest someone brings to the attention of Cambs Police the National wording/policy on such matters- i.e. Guidance Notes, Firearms Acts, etc. as their remit is clearly to remove or destroy from circulation (legal transfer is the third option in their table...)

To be honest Saddler I think the guidance given by Camb police makes perfect sense otherwise there would be no control of any items that may or (more worryingly) may not have been destroyed.
Without any control what would stop someone giving false notification to the authorities that an item has been destroyed/disposed of when in fact it is still very much fit for purpose and could end up in the wrong hands.

Cad Monkey wrote:To be honest Saddler I think the guidance given by Camb police makes perfect sense otherwise there would be no control of any items that may or (more worryingly) may not have been destroyed.
Without any control what would stop someone giving false notification to the authorities that an item has been destroyed/disposed of when in fact it is still very much fit for purpose and could end up in the wrong hands.

What happens say, hypothetically, you're on a boat with your rifle and it gets knocked over the side. There's no possible way to find it so it has effectively been destroyed. How do you take it to an RFD...?