Mini cannons and the law

[$harp$hooter]

Curiosity or ornament so you can shoot it infrequently, no more than once or twice a year.

Hassle is, it's a pistol so Home Office approved ranges only.

After much searching I found a toy cannon with 24" from muzzle to point of ignition. Had to import it from Germany but worth the effort because it is a shotgun and the law is a lot less restrictive.

If being held as a curiosity or ornament they cannot be shot at all, unless the relevant FAC/SGC applies if I have read the guidance right. As soon as you show any intent to fire them they become subject to all the relevant firearms controls.

Keeping them on the mantelpiece as a collectors piece is ok but then to get some powder and load it they become a firearm. Unless I've missed something on the guidance.

[Jim McArthur]

Helpful post, thanks. 1899 was the thing I was thinking of. Thats how I got my Martini Henry out of the US, exported without restrictions as prior to 1899, imported without restrictions as obsolete calibre. Cool.

Yes! Date controls in the US: obsoleteness of caliber controls in the UK (for cartridge guns).

If your Martini Henry rifle were made in 1899 or later, it would have been readily importable into the UK: but NOT readily exportable from the US.

The US laws aren't-always more lenient than the UK's.