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Statutory Instruments
Arms And Ammunition
Made
1st March 2021
Coming into force
22nd March 2021
The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 58(2B)(b), (2C), (2D)(b) and (2F) of the Firearms Act 1968(1).
In accordance with section 58(2G) of that Act, a draft of these Regulations has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.
1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Antique Firearms Regulations 2021 and come into force on the twenty-first day after the day on which they are made.
(2) In these Regulations “the 1968 Act” means the Firearms Act 1968.
(3) These Regulations extend to England and Wales and Scotland but regulation 3(d) applies only in England and Wales.
2. The description of cartridges specified for the purposes of section 58(2B)(b) of the 1968 Act are set out in the Schedule to these Regulations.
3. For the purposes of section 58(2C) of the 1968 Act, the following descriptions of firearms’ propulsion systems are specified—
(a)any propulsion system which involves the use of a loose charge and a separate ball (or other missile) loaded at the muzzle end of the barrel, chamber or cylinder of the firearm and which uses an independent source of ignition;
(b)any propulsion system in a breech-loading cartridge firearm which uses an ignition system other than rim-fire or centre-fire;
(c)any propulsion system which involves the use of rim-fire cartridges (other than .22 (5.58mm), .23 (5.8mm), 6mm or 9mm rim-fire cartridges) in a breech-loading firearm, or
(d)any propulsion system for an air weapon.
4. For the purposes of section 58(2D)(b) of the 1968 Act, the firearm must have been manufactured before 1st September 1939.
Kit Malthouse
Minister of State
Home Office
1st March 2021
Regulation 2
1. The following descriptions of centre-fire cartridges (imperial)—
.22 Extra Long Maynard
.22-15-60 Stevens
.25-20 Single Shot
.25-21 Stevens
.25-25 Stevens
.250 Rook (or .297/.250 Rook)
.255 Jeffery Rook
.26 BSA (.26 Rimless Belted Nitro Express)
.275 Jeffery
.276 Enfield P.13
.28-30-120 Stevens
.297/.230 Sporting
.297/.230 Morris
.298 Minex
.300 (.295) Rook
.300 Sherwood
.300/.250 Rook
.30/30 Wesson
.30-40 Wesson
.310 Cadet
.310 Greener
.310/.300 Rook (.305 or .300 Rook Special), 1 1/16 inch
.320/.230 Rook
.32 CF Long Rifle (Rook)
.32 Ideal
.32-35 Stevens
.32-40 Bullard
.32-40 Remington-Hepburn
.32-40 Winchester and Ballard
.33 BSA (.33 Belted Rimless Nitro Express)
.35-30 Maynard
.35-40 Maynard
.360 No 2 Nitro Express
.360 Gibbs No.3
.360 Gibbs No.4 (also known as .380 Gibbs No.4)
.360 Long Rifle (Rook)
.360 Westley Richards, No.3 Express
.360/.300 Fraser
.360 - 2 7/16 inch Black Powder
.360 - 2 ¾ inch Boxer
.369 Purdey
.38-35 Stevens Everlasting
.38-40 Ballard Everlasting
.38-40 Remington-Hepburn
.38-45 Bullard
.38-56 Winchester
.38-70 Winchester
.38-90 Winchester
.380 – 2 1/4 inch Rigby (Black Powder Express)
.380 Black Powder Express (also known as .360 - 2 1/4 inch)
.380 Long Rifle (Rook)
.40 BSA (.40 Belted Rimless Nitro Express)
.40-40 Maynard
.40-50 Sharps Straight
.40-60 Marlin
.40-60 Maynard
.40-60 Winchester
.40-63 Ballard
.40-65 Ballard Everlasting
.40-65 Sharps Straight
.40-65 Winchester
.40-70 Ballard
.40-70 Maynard
.40-70 Peabody What Cheer
.40-70 Sharps Necked
.40-70 Sharps Straight
.40-70 Winchester
.40-72 Winchester
.40-75 Bullard
.40-82 Winchester
.40-85 Ballard
.40-90 Bullard
.40-90 Sharps Necked
.40-90 What Cheer
.40-110 Winchester Express
.40 (.50-70 base) Caliber Reduction, Experimental
.400 – 2 1/2 inch, Kynoch
.400 – 2 3/4 inch, Westley Richards
.400 Purdey (.400 – 3 inch, Straight)
.400 – 3 1/4 inch, Boxer
.400/360 2 3/4 inch, Nitro Express
.402 Enfield-Martini, Experimental
.42 (.50-70 base) Caliber Reduction, Experimental
.425 Westley Richards Magnum
.425 Webley (.425 – 1 5/16 Webley)
.430 Long Rifle (also known as .430 Long Revolver)
.44 Dupee Rimless
.44 Evans (Short)
.44 Evans (Long)
.44 Morse Necked
.44-50 Meigs
.44-60 Creedmore
.44-77 Remington
.44-90 Sharps (Necked) 2 7/16 inch
.44-90 Sharps (Necked) 2 5/8 inch
.44-90 Remington Special (Necked)
.44-95 Peabody What Cheer
.44-100 Maynard
.442 - 1.025 inch Carbine
.45 Boxer-Henry, Long Chamber 1869
.45 Brown Standard Military Target Rifle
.45 Gardner, Gatling & Nordenfeldt
.45 New South Wales Police Carbine
.45 Turkish Peabody (also known as 11.43 x 55 mm R Turkish)
.45 US Experimental 1869
.45-50 Sporting
.45-75 Winchester
.45-85 Ward Burton, Experimental
.45-125 Winchester
.45-200-500 Winchester, Experimental
.45 (.50-70 base) Caliber Reduction, Experimental
.450 No.1, Black Powder Express, Case Length: 1 1/2 inch
.450 Black Powder Express, Case Length: 2 1/2 inch
.450 Black Powder Express, Case Length: 2 6/10 inch
.450 Black Powder Express, Case Length: 2 9/16 inch
.450 Black Powder Express, Case length: 3 inch
.450 Black Powder Express, Case Length: 3 1/16 inch
.450 Black Powder Express, Case Length: 3 1/4 inch
.450 Needham
.450 – 2 1/2 inch, Soper
.450/.350 – 2 3/8 inch
.450/.360 – 2 3/8 inch, Purdey
.450/.400 Black Powder, Case Length: 2 3/8 inch
.450/.400 Black Powder, Case Length: 2 7/8 inch
.450/.400 Black Powder, Case Length: 2 19/32 inch, T. Turner, No.2
.450/.400 Black Powder, Case Length: 2 3/4 inch, Westley Richards
.450/.400 Black Powder, Case Length: 3 1/4 inch
.450/.400, Case Length: 3 inch, Jeffery
.450 No.1 Carbine, 1 9/16 inch (.500/.450 No.1 Carbine)
.450 No.1 Musket, 2 1/4 inch (.500/.450 No.1 Musket)
.450 No.2 Musket, 2 11/32 inch (.500/.450 Westley Richards No.2 Musket)
.46 Winchester
.461 Gibbs No.1, Case length: 2 11/32 inch
.461 Gibbs No.2, Case length: 2 3/4 inch
.475 3 1/4 inch Nitro Express
.475 No 2 Jeffery Nitro Express
.475 No 2 Nitro Express
.476 Nitro Express (.476 Westley Richards)
.476 Indian Police
.48 Morse
.490 BSA (Experimental Police)
.50 Boxer 1867
.50 Daw’s Patent 1867
.50 Meigs
.50 Morse
.50 Peabody
.50 Spencer Carbine
.50 Springfield Cadet
.50-50 Maynard
.50-70 Maynard
.50-70 Springfield (US Govt)
.50-90 2.5 inch
.50-95 Winchester (Winchester Express)
.50-100-450 Winchester (Winchester Express)
.50/110 Winchester (Winchester Express)
.50-110 2.4 inch
.50-115 Bullard
.50-140 Sharps
.50-.48 Meigs
.50-.58 Morse, Sleeved
.500 – 1 1/2 inch
.500 – 2 1/4 inch
.500 – 2 1/2 inch
.500 – 3 inch
.500 – 3 1/4 inch
.500/.450 No.1 Express, 2 3/4 inch
.500/.450 Webley Carbine, 1 11/16 inch
.500/.450 – 2 1/2 inch
.500/.450 – 3 3/8 inch
.500/.450 – 3 1/2 inch
.52-70 Sharps
.54 Morse
.55 Gatling
.55 Morse
.55-100 Maynard
.56-56 US, Experimental
.577 Daw’s Patent 1867
.577 Selwyn 1865
.577 Snider
.577 – 2 1/4 inch (Black Powder & Nitro Express)
.577 – 2 1/2 inch (Black Powder & Nitro Express)
.577 – 2 3/4 inch (Black Powder & Nitro Express)
.577 – 3 inch (Black Powder & Nitro Express)
.577 – 3 1/4 inch (Black Powder & Nitro Express)
.577/.450 Martini-Henry
.577/.500 Magnum Express
.577/.500 No.2 Express
.58 Morse
.58 Remington Carbine
.58 Roberts
.58 Tibbals-Roberts 1869
.58 (Short case) US Converted Musket, 1865
.58 Berdan System, Conversion of US muzzle-loading rifles
.60 Jingal Rifle, Chinese
.65 Gatling
.69 Morse
.75 Jingal Rifle, Chinese
.75 Gatling
.80 Gatling
1 inch Nordenfeldt-Palmcranz
20 bore/.577 Alexander Henry.
2. The following descriptions of centre-fire cartridges (metric)—
5.2 mm Mondragon
5.2 x 34 mm R Kronprinz
5.6 x 33 mm Rook
5.6 x 34 R mm Francotte Carbine
6 mm Lee Navy (6 x 60 mm)
6 x 29.5 mm Stahl
6 x 58 mm Forster (rimmed and rimless)
6 x 58 mm Gewehrprufungkommission M.1897
6.5 mm Mondragon (6.5 x 53mm)
6.5 x 27 mm R
6.5 x 40 mm R
6.5 x 48 mm R Sauer
6.5 x 53mm R Mannlicher (Dutch/Romanian)
6.6 x 70 mm R
7.5 x 53 mm Schmidt Rubin M.1890, Swiss
7.5 x 53.5 mm R Rubin
7.5 x 53.5 mm Rimless Rubin
7.53 x 60 mm R Hebler
7.7 x 60 mm R
8 x 48 mm R
8 x 48 mm R Sauer
8 x 55 mm R Petit Gras
8 x 56 mm Mannlicher Schoenauer
8 x 57 mm R Petit Gras
8 x 57 mm R Experimental, Spanish
8 x 57.5 mm R Rubin
8 x 58 mm R Krag
8 x 58 mm R Petit Gras
8 x 58 mm R Sauer
8 x 60 mm R Guedes & Portuguese Kropatschek
8 x 61 mm R Rubin
8 x 72 mm R
8 x 75 mm R Pieri
8 mm Murata
8.15 mm Mauser, Experimental
8.15 x 46 mm R (Target)
8.3 x 53.5 mm R Rubin
9 x 51.5 mm R Rubin
9 x 56 mm Mannlicher Schoenauer
9 x 57 mm R Mauser
9 x 57 mm Rimless Mauser
9 x 57 mm R Rubin
9.3 x 58 mm R Koeffler
9.3 x 63.5 mm R Koeffler
9.3 x 65 mm R Collath
9.3 x 70 mm R
9.3 x 75 mm R Nimrod
9.3 x 82 mm R Nimrod
9.5 x 42 mm R (for Target or Schutzen rifles)
9.5 x 47 mm R (for Target or Schutzen rifles)
9.5 x 57 mm Mannlicher Schoenauer
9.5 x 59 mm R Gras, Experimental
9.5 x 60 mm R Mauser, Turkish
10 x 47 mm R
10.15 x 61 mm R Jarmann
10.15 x 61 mm R
10.15 x 63 mm R Mauser, Serbian
10.16 x 57 mm R, Berdan, Experimental
10.25 x 69 mm R Hunting Express
10.3 x 41 mm R
10.3 x 65 mm R Baenziger
10.35 x 47 mm R Vetterli, Italian
10.4 x 38 mm R Martini Galland
10.4 x 42 mm R Vetterli, Swiss
10.4 x 47 mm R Stahl
10.4 x 56 mm R Swiss
10.66 x 48 mm R Berdan Carbine, Russian
10.66 x 57 mm R Berdan, Russian & Bulgarian
10.7 x 57 mm R Krag Petersson
10.75 x 55 mm R
10.8 x 47 mm Martini (Target)
11 mm Manceaux
11 x 42 mm R
11 x 43 mm R Comblain, Carbine
11 x 45 mm R
11 x 46 mm R
11 x 48.5 mm R Gras, ‘Battalion Ecole’
11 x 50 mm R Remington, Egyptian
11 x 50.5 mm R Comblain
11 x 53 mm Gevelot
11 x 57 mm R Remington, Spanish
11 x 59 mm R Gras
11 x 70 mm R Mitrailleuse
11.15 x 36 mm R Werndl Carbine, Austrian
11.15 x 36 R Fruhwirth
11.15 x 37 mm R Grensaufsehr
11.15 x 42 mm R Werndl, Austrian
11.15 x 50 mm R (for Target or Schutzen rifles)
11.15 x 58 mm R
11.15 x 58 mm R Werndl, Austrian, Holub & Mannlicher
11.15 x 60 mm R Murata, Japanese
11.15 x 60 mm R Mauser
11.15 x 65 mm R
11.15 x 71 mm R
11.2 x 39.6 mm R
11.2 x 51 mm R Kropatschek-Hessig
11.25 x 44.5 mm R
11.3 x 51 mm R Beaumont, Dutch
11.4 x 44.5 mm R Gendarmerie Carbine, Dutch
11.4 x 53 mm R Comblain, Brazilian
11.4 x 57 mm R Remington, Spanish
11.43 x 41 mm R Peabody-Martini, Carbine
11.43 x 49 mm R Peabody, Romanian
11.43 x 59 mm R Peabody-Martini, Turkish
11.5 x 35 mm R Werder, Carbine
11.5 x 50 mm R Werder, Austrian
11.5 x 60 mm R
11.53 mm Albini-Braendlin
11.6 x 50 mm R Comblain, Chilean
11.7 x 41.5 mm R Remington, Danish
11.7 x 45.5 mm R Remington, Danish
11.7 x 51.6 mm R Remington, Danish
11.7 x 57 mm R Berdan, Experimental
12.2 x 70 mm R Mitrailleuse
12.5 x 60 mm R
12.7 x 48 mm R
12.7 x 70 mm R Mitrailleuse
12.8 x 45 mm R Papal Remington, Vatican Guard (also known as 12.7 x 45 mm R)
13 mm Rochaz-Lindner
13 x 87 mm R Mitrailleuse
13 x 92 mm Mauser, Tankgewehr
13.2 x 32 R
14.5 x 33 mm R Wanzl, Austrian
14.5 x 41 mm R Berdan, Spanish
14.66 x 35 mm R Peabody, Serbian
14.7 x 58 mm R Schneider
15.2 x 28 mm R
15.2 x 110 mm R Mitrailleuse
15.24 x 40 mm R Krnka, Transformed
17 x 28 mm R Snider, Danish
17.5 x 29 mm R Snider, Dutch
18 x 35 mm R Tabatiere
18.84 x 38 mm R Tabatiere
18.84 x 57 mm R Wanzl-Albini, Wall Gun.
3. The following descriptions of centre-fire cartridges (imperial)—
.22 CF experimental
.230 CF
.31 Thuer
.32 Protector
.32-44 Smith & Wesson
.340 Long Revolver
.340 Short Revolver
.360 Thuer
.430 Revolver
.44 Colt Revolver
.44 Devilliers
.44 Merwin & Hulbert, Short
.44 Merwin & Hulbert, Long
.44 Remington Revolver
.44 S&W American
.44 Thuer
.440 Revolver
.440 Long Revolver
.440 Nagant (Argentine Model)
.442 Long Revolver
.45 Mars Short
.45 Mars Long
.45 MP (Maxim Pistol)
.450 No.1 Bland
.50 Remington Army Pistol, M.1871
.50 Remington Navy Pistol, M.1867
.50 Springfield Pistol, M.1869
.500 Revolver
.577 Pistol.
4. The following descriptions of centre-fire cartridges (metric)—
2.7 mm Kolibri
3 mm Kolibri
4.25 mm Liliput
5 mm Bergmann No.2 Pistol M.94 (no extractor groove)
5 mm Bergmann No.2 Pistol M.96 (extractor groove)
5 mm Brun
5 mm Charola y Anitua
5 mm Clement
5 mm French
5 mm Pickert
5.2 mm Pickert Revolver
5.43 x 26.8 mm Revolver
5.5 mm Velo-Dog Revolver
6 mm Beaumont Revolver
6 mm Merveilleux
6 mm Protector
6.3 x 21 mm rimless
6.5 mm Bergmann No.3 M.94 Pistol (no extractor groove)
6.5 mm Bergmann No.3 M.93 Pistol (extractor groove)
6.5 mm Mannlicher Pistol M.1894
6.5 mm Ronezewsky
6.8 mm Schulhof Pistol
6.8 x 19.6 mm Revolver
7 mm Bar
7 mm Charola y Anitua
7 mm Devisme
7 mm Thick Rim, French
7 x 20 mm Target Pistol, German (46)
7 x 22 mm Target Pistol, German (47)
7 x 25 mm Target Pistol, German (48)
7 x 30 mm Target Pistol, German (49)
7 mm Galand
7 mm Revolver
7.25 mm Adler
7.65 mm Frommer M.1901
7.65 mm Roth Sauer
7.7 mm Bittner Pistol
7.8 mm Bergmann No.5
7.8 x 19 mm R Laumann
8 mm Bergmann No.1 Pistol
8 mm Bergmann No.4
8 mm Bergmann No.7
8 mm Bergmann-Schmeisser
8 mm Target Pistol, German
8 mm Gaulois Pistol
8 mm Protector
8 mm Raphael
8 mm Roth Steyr
8 mm Schonberger
8 mm Schulof
8.5 mm Mars
9 mm Nagant, Belgian
9 mm Devisme
9 mm Thick Rim, French
9 mm Mars
9 mm Moutier Rimless, Grooveless
10 mm Bergmann
10 mm Gaupillat
10 mm Mars
10 mm Mauser Short
10 mm Mauser Long
10.4 mm Swiss M.1878
10.6 mm Mauser
11 mm Devilliers
11 mm Devisme
11 mm French Ordnance Revolver M.1870 (Navy)
11.35 mm Schouboe, Rimmed
11.35 mm Schouboe, Rimless
12 mm Moutier
12 mm Pidault & Cordier
12 mm Perrin, Thick Rim
12 mm Raphael
15 mm Revolver
16.5 x 18 R mm Beringer.
5. The following descriptions of cartridges—
7 mm CF Walking Stick
9.1 x 40 mm Walking Stick
11.15 x 52 mm Walking Stick
.360 Shotgun
32 bore
24 bore
14 bore
10 bore (2 7/8 inch case length)
10 bore (2 5/8 inch case length)
8 bore
4 bore
3 bore
2 bore
1 1/8 bore
1 1/4 bore
1 1/2 bore.
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
By virtue of section 58(2) of the Firearms Act 1968 (c. 27) (“the 1968 Act”), antique firearms are exempt from most of the provisions of that Act if they are sold, transferred, purchased, acquired or possessed as a curiosity or ornament. Section 58(2A) of the 1968 Act provides that a firearm is an antique firearm for the purposes of section 58(2) if it meets a number of conditions.
These Regulations make specifications as to those conditions which are set out in section 58(2B), (2C) and (2D) of the 1968 Act.
Regulation 2 together with the Schedule provides a description of those cartridges for which the firearm’s chamber or (as the case may be) each of the firearm’s chambers is designed for use for the purposes of the condition in subsection (2B). These are cartridge types that are obsolete.
Regulation 3 provides a description of firearms’ propulsion systems for the purposes of the condition in subsection (2C).
Regulation 4 specifies as an additional condition for the purposes of subsection (2A)(b), that a firearm must be manufactured before 1 September 1939 in order to be an antique firearm.
A full impact assessment of the effect that these Regulations will have on the costs of business, the voluntary sector and the public sector is available from www.gov.uk. Hard copies can be obtained by writing to the Serious Violence Unit, Home Office, 2 Marsham Street, SW1P 4DF.
1968 c. 27. Sections 58(2B), (2C), (2D) and (2F) were inserted by section 126 of the Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3).
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