Gunfight at the Home Office over antique arms

The Policing and Crime Act 2017 includes new provisions for the legal definition of an “antique firearm”.

The definition will cover firearms that are chambered to discharge obsolete cartridges (those that are no longer readily available), their propulsion system, or both.

What this will mean in practice is that the Home Office would make alterations to its obsolete calibre list, potentially removing some of those currently on it and thereby requiring owners of the relevant antique weapons to acquire a licence.