After consultation with the Assistant Chief Constable of Dorset who serves on the Home Office Panel responsible for creating the regulations that were scheduled to come into force on October 1st 2007; we have been advised that a delay has been announced for the introduction of the regulations relating to the sale of blank firers whilst a decision is reached on the future suitability of ‘forward venting’ blank firers for importation and sale in the UK. Please note, this delay only relates to blank firers and does not affect any of the other types of realistic firearms covered in the act.
We do not know the date by which a decision will be made but will keep this page updated daily with developments, so please check back here for the latest news. Please stop calling us for information, we are getting dozens of calls every day and it is tying up the sales staff and delaying them from attending to other customers orders. Thank you!
The facts as we know them:
A new definition of “realistic imitation firearm” has been introduced. To fall into this category an imitation has to look like a “real” firearm and a “real” firearm which for this purpose is one that is of a design from after 1870. Thus if the imitation is of a pre 1870 design it is not a “real” firearm and thus not a “realistic imitation firearm”. The Govt appreciates that some people have a legitimate purpose for a realistic imitation firearm and so permit exceptions, which include re-enactors, film, TV and theatre companies.
The Home Secretary will decide which persons are to be allowed to continue to be allowed to purchase imitation firearms and they will be identified within the provisions of the act as stated in Section37 sub section (2).
The Pietta ranges of blank firers that we sell have been designated as of a pre 1870 design. As such they are imitation firearms and not realistic imitation firearms. However if the blank firing specifications do eventually prohibit forward venting, we will not be able to import them, make them, or modify other imitations to forward venting. We will be allowed to sell existing stock, and owners will be able to sell them on, but clearly over time the numbers would dwindle because they could never be replaced. These specifications are now being reviewed and their exact form, and date of introduction, is yet to be decided upon by the Home Office.
With regard to the Denix range, they are not blank firing. As such they would simply be imitation firearms, unless they are imitations of a design post 1870, in which case they are likely to be realistic imitation firearms, and could only be sold to people covered by the list at S37 (2).
A deactivated firearm because legally it was once a firearm, it cannot therefore also be an imitation, and so escapes the restrictions imposed by the act.
Air rifles and pistols are affected separately and we advise you to check with a specialist dealer for information relating to these products, the only thing we can tell you is that in future you will only be able to buy them from a registered fire arms dealer.
Please Note; this information is supplied by the Sutlers Stores for guidance only; it is not intended to be the definitive source for information to re-enactors and owners, which will always be supplied by the Home Office. We will not be held responsible for any misunderstandings or wrongful interpretations of these statements.
