Deactivated FAC Air Rifle - Advice Wanted

[ReBreatherSteve]

Hi,

This may sound strange or even a little weird but as anyone bought a deactivated FAC air rifle?

Let me try and explain why I'm asking this question...

A good friend of mine has a very nice looking air rifle, the stock is immaculate and the action is better than anything I've ever seen before, however it's on his ticket, ie FAC. When I showed an interest in it he said he could deactivate it and then take it off ticket, I guess like any other firearm or pistol/gun, then add it to my collection. I believe the stock and barrel would cost more than £300 each therefore I'm very interested in what the options are in taking it off ticket and deactivating it.

I've never heard of anyone buying a deactivated air rifle or anyone taking an air rifle off ticket by deactivating - is this possible? Do you know of anyone who has done this?

Any help/advice would be appreciated.

[Vincente]

Hi,

This may sound strange or even a little weird but as anyone bought a deactivated FAC air rifle?

Let me try and explain why I'm asking this question...

A good friend of mine has a very nice looking air rifle, the stock is immaculate and the action is better than anything I've ever seen before, however it's on his ticket, ie FAC. When I showed an interest in it he said he could deactivate it and then take it off ticket, I guess like any other firearm or pistol/gun, then add it to my collection. I believe the stock and barrel would cost more than £300 each therefore I'm very interested in what the options are in taking it off ticket and deactivating it.

I've never heard of anyone buying a deactivated air rifle or anyone taking an air rifle off ticket by deactivating - is this possible? Do you know of anyone who has done this?

Any help/advice would be appreciated.

My understanding has always been that FAC airguns could not, in fact, be 'de-activated' but I could be wrong, as I have never been in a situation where I needed or wanted to remove a rifle from my certificate.

If I were you and to be absolutely certain, I would contact West Yorkshire Police Firearms Department at Wakefield.

[air-tech]

I believe the stock and barrel would cost more than £300 each...

What gun would that be?

The answers you will typically get on here as to whether you can de-fac an FAC airgun will be:

No, never, impossible.
Yes, can be done.
Yes, I have done it.
Yes or No depending on where you live/Police force. <this one

But really what gun is this that is worth going to all this effort for?

[18 Wheeler]

For it to be considered lawfully deactivated you'll need a Proof House mark and deactivation certificate. You can't just remove a couple of parts and take it "off ticket", the process must be irreversible and documented.

Doing this will probably remove most of the item's value.

[Uncle Albert]

It all depends on whether you want to fire the rifle after "de-activation." Strictly speaking, de-activating a rifle means that it cannot be used again. This defeats the point in my opinion. All you would be buying is a lump of metal and wood/plastic. Being able to fire it again is a different matter.

As far as I understand it, if it is on ticket then it has to stay on ticket. What's to stop you buying the parts removed by your mate and re-installing them? Would it be financially worth while either? Even if sent back to the manufacturer then the cost of the work and certification of such, it would seriously approach the cost of a new rifle.

[capt hindsight]

Why not apply for a FAC and use it?

[PriceEddie]

To deactivate any rifle, I would just drill the barrel, and remove the firing valve/pin Don't know about the legislative side of doing so however.

Eddie.

[hawkdriver]

To deact any rifle to current spec would involve barrel being slotted full length of forearm, breach welded with hardened steel block from side, bolt either welded shut or made so couldnt work as it did and if pcp reservior slotted and valve removed or deacted, may be even trigger mech welded solid.

spring gun, barrel slotted, cylinder slotted under woodwork, breach welded with hardened block so could load a pellet,
it would trash any gun forever and there wouldnt be any chance of re acting it, anyhow making a deactivated gun live again is illegal.

it isnt as simple as removing parts, it gets welded and milled slots put in so you cant use major parts ever again and or strip easily

have had several firearms deacted over the years, they are more drastic with them than ever now.

air gun = firearm in eyes of law so same treatment.

[adymorris]

I think the OP means de-tune to sub 12fpe not deactivte

the answer is some forces allow it some don't

speak to you FEO first then you'll know what to do next

[Maxiboy Wales]

couldn't it be that some Fac air rifles be de_tuned to non Fac levels by adjusting or swapping components

[Smithy2997]

I think that an FAC powered air rifle can be tuned down BY A GUNSMITH, but i only know for sure if the gun is shooting too hot when it should be sub 12

[Vic Thompson]

As far as I can make out, some Counties allow FAC Air Rifles to be taken off ticket it they are modified to produce a ME of less than the current limit of 12tlbs. All you need to do is get someone in one of these Counties to apply to have it taken off ticket and it then becomes a legal sub 12ftlb Air Rifle after the work has been carried out. Then if you still want to, you can subsequently de-activate it if required.

HTH, Vic Thompson.

[ReBreatherSteve]

Many thanks for the informative information - much appreciated.

Does anyone know of an actual county that will take a FAC air rifle and sign it off ticket? (if that makes sense) I was told Essex, West Yorkshire and Humberside might but it appears they don't.

The air rifle in question is quite old and very collectable but it's doing 60lbs, it can have it's internal parts altered (removed) so it will be fixed at less than 12lbs so in theory it could be taken off ticket.

I realise common sense applies as it could be re-modified again to go above 12lbs but that applies to most air rifles, also the thought of spending a significant amount of time in a 10x6 cell does not appeal to me!

All your advice/help is greatly appreciated.

[air-tech]

The air rifle in question is quite old and very collectable but it's doing 60lbs,

You have not told us what gun it is?

Something is not quite right here perhaps, the only old and highly collectible airguns of value I know of that could possibly produce anywhere near that ME figure enter into the antiques category for which I don't think you'd need a FAC anyway, and also, any messing with these would seriously devalue them.

What are we talking about here?

[Kes]

Many thanks for the informative information - much appreciated.

Does anyone know of an actual county that will take a FAC air rifle and sign it off ticket? (if that makes sense) I was told Essex, West Yorkshire and Humberside might but it appears they don't.

The air rifle in question is quite old and very collectable but it's doing 60lbs, it can have it's internal parts altered (removed) so it will be fixed at less than 12lbs so in theory it could be taken off ticket.

I realise common sense applies as it could be re-modified again to go above 12lbs but that applies to most air rifles, also the thought of spending a significant amount of time in a 10x6 cell does not appeal to me!

All your advice/help is greatly appreciated.

A little bird told me the other day that Wiltshire will allow it.