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Firearms licensing: proof
Memorandum on black powder guns . . . continued
A gun, through neglect or misuse, may become unsafe even in a short time, and a gun made over fifty years ago may be extremely dangerous.
Shooters are therefore urged most strongly to buy only guns bearing the marks of nitro proof and not to permit the use of nitro or smokeless cartridges in any black powder gun already in their possession, until it has passed the nitro proof. If owners wish to use such guns with nitro powders, they should send them to their makers, other gun firm or gunmaker for advice, estimate for preparation in accordance with the Rules of Proof, the carrying out of such work, and submission for nitro proof.
The charges involved must of course be paid whether or not a gun passes the proof test, but it is better that any weakness be revealed at the Proof House rather than in the field.
Muzzle-loading and black powder proved guns may be reproved for black powder. It will hardly be necessary to point out to members of the gun trade that neither their own interests nor those of their customers can be served by the sale of black powder guns which may have become dangerous. For many years some firms have not sold black powder guns and, in addition, will not do any work to such weapons except preparation for and submission to proof.
Such a policy may not be possible in all cases, but apart from any question of legal liability for repairs carried out, it is urged that there is a heavy moral responsibility to point out the age and condition of any of these veteran guns before accepting them for repair.
Muzzle-loading arms should never be fired with nitro powders.
The sale at auction of shotguns and small arms
Care should be taken in accepting small arms for sale, because under the Gun Barrel Proof Acts of 1868 to 1978, it is an offence to sell or offer for sale by auction or otherwise, any small arm, i.e. shotgun, rifle, revolver, pistol or other firearm, unless it bears lawfully impressed and valid proof marks.
Caveat emptor does not apply if the arm is unproved. It must be emphasised that the sale of unproved arms between auctioneers and registered gunsmiths or dealers, is as much an offence under the Act as is the more obvious offence of selling an unsafe and unproved gun to a member of the public.
The Act makes no distinction between trade, auctioneers and the public. The offence is absolute!
All arms made in Great Britain are proved and marked at either the London or Birmingham Proof Houses prior to sale to the public. Valid proof marks of certain other countries with which reciprocal agreements are in force, also legalise sale in this country.
All ex-military arms proofed by the Government Arsenals must pass the civil proof tests, prior to sale to the public. Following privatisation of small arms manufacturers in 1982, all small arms were subject to proof by the British Proof Authorities and do not require reproof.
There is no provision in Proof Regulations to permit the sale of unproved arms as ornaments, nor is there any exemption for antiques.