Walking stick guns

Cyres

Well-Known Member
I notice today on the BBC news website that as part of the amnesty in Manchester a walking stick gun has been surrendered. There is a comment from the police that its an unlicencable prohibited weapon.

Is this correct?

What is the position as some may be very collectable.

Alex feel free to move if needs to be in legal section

D
 
I think it is correct,it is a prohibited weapon.
I remember them being advertised in the Shooting Times magazine as well as swordsticks and sword umbrellas,all from one of the London gunships I think.
How times change,another you know you're getting older when...
 
I had one handed to me by a member of the public some years back when I was responsible for a very large firearms collection. It was a 410 walking stick gun with a rams horn handle in almost mint condition taking a 2" cartridge if I remember rightly.

The police refused the guy to keep it and hence him handing it to the museum. I think they are regarded as concealed weapons and are therefore banned.
 
I think there was a thread on these on ankther forum quite recently.

Seemed the approach towards them varied between forces (what's new!).

From memory some people had them on standard sgc, others under the collectors exemption and perhaps some as section 5? My memory is a little hazy so don't quote me exactly on that!

Novice
 
I know of one person with one on my local shoot, similar to the one you describe sikamalc. I believe he has a special exemption as it is collectible or something (west mercia). Apparently it was a real pain to get sorted as well and the only reason the guy bothered was because of its sentimental value. On his previous cert it was on a standard sgc so maybe they are tightening down on them around here. It's a beautiful thing, but I think I would have just had it deactivated, it's a lot of hassle for something that he virtually never shoots.

On second thoughts it may not be with W. Mercia as I am not entirely sure which force covers his area
 
I think you would get away with it under a collectors licence, providing you are a collector? otherwise no. But as you say depends on the constabulary.
 
I think you would get away with it under a collectors licence, providing you are a collector? otherwise no. But as you say depends on the constabulary.
Malc I know this is probably a stupid question but what would the definition of a collector be to the police ? Atb Jim
 
This is what the latest Home Office Guidance states.
13.58 The collecting of firearms by a genuinely interested collector should be accepted as a
“good reason” for the grant of a firearm certificate. There should be no blanket policy to
prevent the collecting of modern firearms (though collectable firearms will tend to be of the
Second World War or earlier eras) nor should arbitrary limits be imposed on the number
or type of firearms. However, a single firearm is unlikely to be acceptable unless it forms
part of a collection of other exhibits (but see chapter 9). Modern reproductions of vintage
arms may be collected, especially to fill gaps in collections of older firearms. There are
no calibre-based limits for collecting, and collections may include field artillery, tanks and
other armoured fighting vehicles. Vintage handguns are dealt with in chapter 9. Collections
may include firearms disguised as other objects that would otherwise be prohibited
under section 5(1A)(a) of the 1968 Act. Ammunition may be collected of itself, including
expanding, incendiary or armour-piercing ammunition or explosives that would otherwise
be prohibited under section 5(1A) of the 1968 Act.
13.59 Chief officers of police should satisfy themselves that the applicant is a bona fide collector
who has a genuine interest, perhaps academic, in the evolution of firearms or in particular
types or periods, and that the types of firearm requested fall within this interest. Evidence
that a person is a member of a relevant society (for example the Historical Breechloading
Smallarms Association or the European Cartridge Research Association) might be taken as
an indication that they have a genuine interest in collecting, but this is not a requirement.
Firearms capable of being fired may be collected, and a collection may include items
other than firearms, for example, uniforms and military equipment. Collections of one
or two firearms should not normally be accepted unless they form part of a wider
collection of non-firearm related exhibits. “Collection” should not be used as an excuse
to retain firearms purely for personal or sentimental reasons. In the case of Hutchison v
Chief Constable of Grampian’ (1977), the Court upheld the decision to refuse to issue a
certificate for collection to an applicant who was not considered to be a bona fide collector.
 
I think walking stick guns fell foul of EU rules that prohibited a firearm from looking like something else..ie; a walking stick. Probably have to be de-activated now.
 
Malc I know this is probably a stupid question but what would the definition of a collector be to the police ? Atb Jim

Getting the recognition as a "Collector" can be extremely difficult as I know from personal experience. Belonging to such interested bodies, associations and clubs such as the Historical Breechloading Smallarms Association to which one needs to prove a degree of specialist knowledge to join helps. However even then as mentioned it entirely depends not only on Constabulary/Force that you live under but the individual whom deals with your application.
 
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