Shotgun deactivation

[JMH123]

I’ve got a nice box lock non ejector I was going to sell with Holts (amongst other lots) but turns out it’s only worth about £60. Tragic. I’m planning to keep it as an ornament and want to get it deactivated. Can any gunsmith do this? Not sure where to send it (based in Scarborough). Any recommendations where to get it deactivated?
Thinking it will make a good handle for my gun cupboard!
Rather sad there’s no market for these any more……

 

[Sonicdmb73]

I’ve got a nice box lock non ejector I was going to sell with Holts (amongst other lots) but turns out it’s only worth about £60. Tragic. I’m planning to keep it as an ornament and want to get it deactivated. Can any gunsmith do this? Not sure where to send it (based in Scarborough). Any recommendations where to get it deactivated?
Thinking it will make a good handle for my gun cupboard!
Rather sad there’s no market for these any more……

Most should be able to. The law has changed and standards for deactivating are stricter. But they basically make the gun comply with those specifications. Then send it off to proof, the Proof house will certify it and you can hang it on the wall.

It’s a shame that there’s no value in many older guns. But at least you still get some enjoyment as an ornament. Rather than it ending up as tin cans.

 

[Jamouk]

Not sure its going to be cheap to do !

 

[Triggermortis]

Do existing deac’s have to be upgraded to the new specs then be certified in the same way ?

 

[Hornet]

It's probably going to cost around £150 ISH I'm sad to say

 

[Jura]

I had a Colt .45 Deactivated by Mr T Abrams a while back; unfortunately, I cannot remember how much it cost.
You could try Googling him.

 

[BSAvale]

Been through this very recently - deactivation is now very expensive with two trips to proof house needed.

I ended up handing in the barrels and action and keeping the stock which i am going to turn into a table lamp.

 

[Sonicdmb73]

Do existing deac’s have to be upgraded to the new specs then be certified in the same way ?

I seem to recall that to sell them on they do. But you can/could keep them as they were.
This might have changed as the violent crime bill iirc made changes to the law around deacts.

 

[Pete1774]

Talk to your FEO. They will have up to date info on the legal requirements.

 

[bfltd0]

Deactivated guns - just how has the law changed?

Understand Deactivated Guns Law with Shooting UK. Clear insights on the latest shooting and gundog laws affecting shooters across the UK.

www.shootinguk.co.uk

This gives a concise summary of the complete dog's dinner that is now the raft of regulations concerning deacs.

Over the years, many, many weapons have been deactivated legally, Proof House certified and then sold legally (with no requirement to retain details of the buyer). Of course, many of these deacs will then have been sold on from individual to individual, with no record-keeping.

There are Proof House records as to who submitted them for certification but after that, I suspect the paper trail gets very hard to follow.

The net result is a potential criminalisation of many individuals if they fail, inadvertently or otherwise, to inform the Home Office of their possession of certain deacs.

Such a waste of time and effort over what are effectively paperweights.

 

[Jamouk]

Talk to your FEO. They will have up to date info on the legal requirements.

My Feo said they they have nothing to do with Deacs .. i have 3 to old standard .. I had to email to register and give a description of them serials make etc and yes if i wanted to sell them they would have to be upgraded

 

[Pedro]

I suspect that to deactivate an old, non-ejector worth circa £60 will cost a few times the value of the gun.

Unfortunately, with the dreaded steel shot being the future there aren't many dealers that will even accept old guns that either aren't steel proofed and/or haven't got 3" chambers. Even 2 3/4 chambered guns are reluctantly accepted in many places. Simply because they can't sell them on as there's a lack of future proofing. So inevitably the price of them has collapsed even further than before.

Unless the for some significant sentimental reason, or you are really desperate for it to become a wall hanger, then the only alternatives are to sell it for a pittance if you can, or consign it to the fiery furnace and look sadly at every Heinz 57 variety can you open and wonder...

 

[Woodsmoke]

Talk to your FEO. They will have up to date info on the legal requirements.

Funniest thing I've read on SD this week . . . . . .

 

[Pete1774]

Funniest thing I've read on SD this week . . . . . .

You're the first one to recognise the satire

 

[Sonicdmb73]

Funniest thing I've read on SD this week . . . . . .

You're the first one to recognise the satire

Nope just the first to comment.

 

[splash]

Old deact’s can’t be sold or gifted swapped.
Once the original owner has finished with it either Deactivated to new spec or destroyed