Firearms licensing: proof
The law
The present law on the subject is to be found in the Gun Barrel Proof Acts 1868, 1950 and 1978 and various Rules of Proof, but particularly those of 1925, 1954, 1986 and 1989, when the metric system of measurement was introduced. Copies of the several Acts and of Rules of Proof of 1989 may be obtained from either Proof House, details of which appear at the end of these particular pages. The maximum prices per barrel, which may be charged for proof, are set down in the Gun Barrel Proof Act of 1950 and subsequent statutory orders.
The Proof Acts
The provisions of the Acts apply to all small arms, whether of present use or future invention, within certain fixed limits of bore size and projectile weight (with the exception of some military arms made for the use of H. M. Forces ). Air guns, not being "firearms", are specifically excluded.
The Proof Acts lay down that no small arm may be sold, exchanged or exported, exposed or kept for sale or exchange or pawned unless and until it has been fully proved and duly marked. The maximum penalty is £1,000 for each offence, but with provision for higher penalties where, for instance, the sale of a number of guns constitutes one offence. Alteration to or the forging of proof marks is a still more serious offence.
Arms previously proved and bearing apparently valid proof marks are deemed unproved if the barrels have been enlarged in the bore beyond certain defined limits or, if the barrel or action has been materially weakened in other respect.
The offence of dealing in unproved arms is committed by the seller and not by any unwitting purchaser.
Importation
The importation of unproved arms into the United Kingdom is subject to control as prescribed in Section 122(4) of the 1868 Act, as amended by the Act of 1978.
Notification of importation has to be given to the Proof House within seven days and/or the arms submitted to proof within twenty eight days of arrival in this country.
These regulations do not apply to small arms imported by any person for his own personal use, while they remain his own property. Penalties for offences are similar to those for the sale of unproved arms.
Foreign proof marks
Prior to June 1980, there was reciprocal agreement for recognition of certain foreign proof marks, by international accord. At that time the United Kingdom became a signatory member of the International Proof Commission (C.I.P.), Secretariat, at the Belgian Proof House, Liege. Since then the United Kingdom has recognised all the proof marks of the other member nations and, reciprocally, they all recognise UK marks. The C.I.P. has been working since 1914 for the standardisation of proof, which also involves standardisation of pressure measurements, of chamber and bore sizes and cartridge dimensions.
Currently its members are: Austria, Belgium, Chile, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Russia, Spain and the United Kingdom.
Previous reciprocal agreement continues with the Republic of Ireland as it is not a member of the C.I.P.