Mini cannons and the law

[Tantomurata]

From what I've read on the subject, 1920 does not get a tick in the 'antique' box.

Home Office Guidance to the Police says that the Section 58(2) exemptions apply to pre 1939.

If the mini cannon mentioned are indeed from 1920, then provided that they are held as a "curiosity or ornament" they would comply with the guidance and not need a licence.

Part I: Old weapons which should
benefit from exemption as antiques
under section 58 (2) of the Firearms
Act 1968
8.5 Pre-1939 weapons to benefit from
exemption as antiques are as follows:
a) All muzzle-loading firearms;

Remember though that if there is any intent to use them, then they cease to be afforded the exemption offered by Sec 58(2) and would be subject to licencing.

8.4 It remains the case that where an antique
firearm is possessed for any other purpose
than as a “curiosity or ornament”, all the
provisions of the Firearms Acts from 1968 to
1997 will continue to apply, including those
relating to certificate requirements. The intent
to fire the gun concerned, even with blank
charge or ammunition (for example for the
purposes of historical re-enactment displays),
would take it beyond the terms of “curiosity
or ornament”.

Notice that the guidance says 'intent' not the actual act of firing it.

An online copy of the guidance is available here http://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/arc...irearmsLaw.pdf

[$harp$hooter]

Thank you Tantomurata for that reference on the guidance.

[tacfoley]

Home Office Guidance to the Police says that the Section 58(2) exemptions apply to pre 1939.

If the mini cannon mentioned are indeed from 1920, then provided that they are held as a "curiosity or ornament" they would comply with the guidance and not need a licence.

Part I: Old weapons which should
benefit from exemption as antiques
under section 58 (2) of the Firearms
Act 1968
8.5 Pre-1939 weapons to benefit from
exemption as antiques are as follows:
a) All muzzle-loading firearms;

Remember though that if there is any intent to use them, then they cease to be afforded the exemption offered by Sec 58(2) and would be subject to licencing.

8.4 It remains the case that where an antique
firearm is possessed for any other purpose
than as a “curiosity or ornament”, all the
provisions of the Firearms Acts from 1968 to
1997 will continue to apply, including those
relating to certificate requirements. The intent
to fire the gun concerned, even with blank
charge or ammunition (for example for the
purposes of historical re-enactment displays),
would take it beyond the terms of “curiosity
or ornament”.

Notice that the guidance says 'intent' not the actual act of firing it.

An online copy of the guidance is available here http://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/arc...irearmsLaw.pdf

Sir -this VERY useful post, that makes the rather fuzzy law quite clear, even to me, should be made into a sticky, given that this is the second such thread this year.

Thanks again for posting it.

tac

[enfield2band]

This is already a sticky in the Rimfire/Centrefire/shotgun section...but errrrrr....it does not work.

Perhaps the mods could , as tac said, make it a sticky, at least this one works.

[enfield2band]

Home Office Guidance to the Police says that the Section 58(2) exemptions apply to pre 1939.

If the mini cannon mentioned are indeed from 1920, then provided that they are held as a "curiosity or ornament" they would comply with the guidance and not need a licence.

Part I: Old weapons which should
benefit from exemption as antiques
under section 58 (2) of the Firearms
Act 1968
8.5 Pre-1939 weapons to benefit from
exemption as antiques are as follows:
a) All muzzle-loading firearms;

Remember though that if there is any intent to use them, then they cease to be afforded the exemption offered by Sec 58(2) and would be subject to licencing.

8.4 It remains the case that where an antique
firearm is possessed for any other purpose
than as a “curiosity or ornament”, all the
provisions of the Firearms Acts from 1968 to
1997 will continue to apply, including those
relating to certificate requirements. The intent
to fire the gun concerned, even with blank
charge or ammunition (for example for the
purposes of historical re-enactment displays),
would take it beyond the terms of “curiosity
or ornament”.

Notice that the guidance says 'intent' not the actual act of firing it.

An online copy of the guidance is available here http://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/arc...irearmsLaw.pdf

Just in case it goes off this site there is a link to it here as well.

https://www.gov.uk/government/upload...s-Guidance.pdf