On the scrapheap
Sporting Gun|February 2021
Robert Morgan says the changes to antiques firearms regulations is a debacle that could have been avoided with more thought
Robert Morgan
On the scrapheap

Ever since an antique revolver was recovered from the crime scene of the killing of Fusilier Lee Rigby in 2013, and the high profile arrest and sentencing of antique arms dealer Paul Edmunds three years ago, collectors of obsolete calibre central fire pistols have lived under a ‘sword of Damocles’.

Well, on 8 November that sword finally fell. In one fell swoop the changes of the Antique Firearms Regulations 2020 (implemented by the Home Secretary under powers conferred by the Firearms Act 1968) have consigned a number of significant collectable calibres back onto a section 5 (prohibited weapons) or 7/1 (collectors) licence. These calibres are .320 British (also known as .320 Revolver CF, short or long), .41 Colt (short or long), .44 Smith and Wesson Russian, .442 Revolver (also known as .44 Webley), 9.4mm Dutch Revolver, 10.6mm German Ordnance Revolver and 11mm French Ordnance Revolver M1873 (Army).

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