Acquiring scrap/deactivated guns

R. Macleod & Son - The Best Hunting Companion
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User00035

Well-Known Member
Not sure where this should be posted, but I'll try here.

Where would be the best place to source off-ticket scrap or deactivated guns? I want to turn old decommissioned guns into ornaments and table lamps. Shotguns or rifles, anything in fact, but shotguns particularly.

Ideally they would still have the action and triggers externally intact for appearance sake even if the internals are absent, as I want to utilise the trigger as a switch. And preferably at least some of the barrel/barrels and stock will be present, but anything could be potentially usable.

What happens to scrapped firearms and what would be the lawful procedure for acquiring them for this purpose?
 
Lampwick said:
It’s not as easy:cheap as you think!

Pressure bearing parts, actions, barrels etc will need to be “De-activated” and certified at a proof house!
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I've seen quite a few old guns repurposed in this way. They must be getting them form somewhere.

Does the proof house do the disposal after certifying or are the guns returned to an RFD?
 
Finch said:
I've seen quite a few old guns repurposed in this way. They must be getting them form somewhere.

Does the proof house do the disposal after certifying or are the guns returned to an RFD?
Click to expand...
Generally (as I understand it) people send their guns away to be de-activated then have them as “wall hangers” Those surrendered to the police are destroyed.

If you can find a supply of de-acts your laughing but they are not normally cheap as it costs a far but to get them in de-activated in the first place.

I had a little look into it a few years ago and gave up!
 
AFAIK all deactivated guns in private hands are supposed to have been registered with the Home Office for near two years now.

On many the current specification requires the triggers to be welded solid? But may be wrong. Certainly on side by side shotguns the internals of the triggers must be near obliterated.

Scrap guns are at your own risk. Under UK law unless a near rusted solid 'relic" a scrap gun if it opens, closes, can cock, chamber a cartridge is still s5, s1 or S2.
 
I may look at offering a bespoke service making items for people who have their own de-activated/off-ticket gun and want to preserve it as a keep-sake or a gift. But I'd need some examples of my work first.

I have seen guns converted in this way and offered for sale and wondered how they'd been acquired.

If the triggers have to be welded solid, maybe (on a shotgun at least) the safety catch could be utilised as a switch.
 
There are plenty of deactivated guns for sale on Gunstar but they start at about £150 for shotguns and they are complete rather than damaged/partially complete. Rifles, historic and military pieces are much more expensive though.
£150 for a donor gun is economically feasible, depending on where the finished product is marketed but I just wondered if there was a source for damaged/ incomplete scrappers to practice on.
 
Last edited:
I should add, apart from the cost, I'd have reservations about cutting up a historic gun to make a table lamp or an ornament or piece of art. If it's lost half its stock or the barrels have been cut off it's salvage and re-purposing which I'm happier with.
 
You can get the lock/stock only where they cut the barrels off for shotguns at holts auctions for peanuts. They usually have a section for that on sealed bid auctions
 
Finch said:
de-activated/off-ticket
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As others have said its not that simple.

There's a big difference between deactivated, and off ticket.
Handling the latter might get you in a whole world of trouble.

M
 
You need to think through the legislation and how to remain within it. A deactivated gun even if "converted" to a lamp stand /art remains a deactivation and needs to retain it's certificate and deactivation stampings. If you acquire a deactivation you now need to register it with the Home office GOV.UK. Failure to do so is an offence, the person you sell the art/lamp stand to then would need to notify the home office. I'm not sure on the legality of modifying deactivations. what was once permissible in the past no longer applies so just because such items existed before doesn't mean you can do it now. Yes you could look at some section 58 items but these are not cheap and such a conversion would probably be worth less than the item you make from it. Perhaps a resin cast of the relevant parts of a deactivation might be a way forward.
 
This uses just the stock so is cheap to do. Having said that you'll have the cost of disposing of the controlled parts aka barrels, action. But the stock on its own has no controls. But personally I'd sooner have three teeth pulled without anaesthetic (I had that pleasure once indeed yes) than own such a thing.

haresandgrace.com

Gun Stock Table Lamp.

This gun stock has been tastefully converted into a stunning lamp, Teamed with a 30cm lampshade in our very own Foraging Pheasant design, an Ideal size that will fit anywhere in the house to create a cosy ambience. Matching cushions and footstools also available.
haresandgrace.com haresandgrace.com
 
You could look for obsolete chamberings? .577/450 etc? Maybe easier than having to go through deactivation etc.

Regards,
Gixer
 
Finch said:
There are plenty of deactivated guns for sale on Gunstar but they start at about £150 for shotguns and they are complete rather than damaged/partially complete. Rifles, historic and military pieces are much more expensive though.
£150 for a donor gun is economically feasible, depending on where the finished product is marketed but I just wondered if there was a source for damaged/ incomplete scrappers to practice on.
Click to expand...

Sounds good ! I bet these will look amazing and be real points of conversation

I would speak with your local Gunshops - many take guns in that are not fit for use or well past there best for nothing and scrap them - They would be able to help with the paperwork too i would imagine
 
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