OWNERS of certain firearms previously regarded as antique are being reminded they will be required to obtain a licence following a change in the law.

The changes, which come fully into effect on Wednesday (September 22), are aimed at protecting the public by making it harder for criminals to get their hands on these types of weapons.

Earlier this year, the government changed the law to introduce for the first time a legal definition of antique firearms.

From Wednesday, owners will require a licence to own any firearm not meeting the criteria.

Due to their use in crime, seven cartridges which previously appeared in the Home Office’s guidance were not included in the new legal definition.

This means all firearms chambered for use with these cartridges will require a licence from 22 September.

North Wales Police reminded the public of the forthcoming changes via social media on Monday.

Kit Malthouse, Minister for Policing and Crime, said: "Criminals have been exploiting a grey area in the law to get their hands on these firearms, so this change will make our streets safer and ensure these potentially deadly weapons do not end up in the wrong hands.

"There are of course legitimate reasons for owning a firearm that is an antique or was previously regarded as an antique, and their owners are not involved in any wrongdoing.

"They may be owned by a collector or as a family heirloom, for example.

"I would urge anyone who owns one of these weapons to check what is required and either licence them or legally dispose of them to ensure they do not fall foul of the law."

National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for firearms licensing, Deputy Chief Constable Dave Orford, said: "We welcome the changes to legislation around antique firearms.

"These measures will help officers to seize more dangerous weapons and deal with those intent on using them to cause harm and suffering.

"I urge anyone who owns a firearm that they have previously believed to be antique and exempt from licensing to check whether it now needs to be licensed, and if so, to contact their local police force to facilitate this.

"Anyone wishing to dispose of a firearm can hand it in to their nearest police station. If people suspect others of keeping an illegal firearm, they can report it via 101 or Crimestoppers."

The 7 cartridges which previously appeared in the Home Office guidance but which have been omitted from the equivalent list in the 2021 Regulations and which will therefore require a licence to be legally held from 22 September 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
  • 11mm French Ordnance Revolver M1873 (Army)

The law on antique firearms changed on 22 March but owners were given 6 months to decide whether to apply for a firearms certificate if they wanted to keep their firearm, or to otherwise dispose of it (for example, surrendering them to the police or selling them).

Section 58 of the Firearms Act 1968 and the Antique Firearms Regulations 2021 set out in law which firearms can be regarded as antique, and therefore are exempt from licensing.

The definition closely follows the model used previously in Home Office guidance and will therefore be familiar to collectors, dealers and museums.

To be regarded as an antique, a firearm must have been manufactured before 1 September 1939, and:

  • either have a propulsion system of a type specified in the 2021 Regulations (for example, muzzle loaders, pin-fire or needle-fire) or the chamber(s) are those that the firearm had when it was manufactured (or a replacement that is identical in all material respects) and it is chambered for use with a cartridge specified in the 2021 Regulations, and
  • be sold, transferred, purchased, acquired or possessed as a curiosity or ornament

People who possess such firearms can apply to their local police firearms licensing department to retain them on a firearms certificate.

More information about the changes can be found here.