Quote Originally Posted by Jim McArthur View Post
I wonder when the last homicide or robbery was committed with a muzzle loader in the UK?

Muzzleloaders should be exempt from legal restrictions, given their low likelihood of criminal abuse.

However, it also seems to me that UK law also seems to try to anticipate and control intended legal use, at the time of sale, or at any point during possession.

Case in point: an original 1851 Colt revolver would be uncontrolled, if the purchaser / possessor intends it only for a curio or ornament: but Section 1, if he intends to shoot it at the range.
It seems that the last recorded use of a BP percussion pistol being deliberately used with intent to cause harm was 1926. With long arms, it's a bit more difficult, as many shotguns used BP cartridges - generally available here until well into the 1960's, and many shotguns were used in crime before and since.

However, there is no recorded use of a BP rifle of any kind being used in crime in UK since at least 1870.

tac