What does a Luger cost?

JohnF · 04-04-2003, 06:03 PM

Hi Norm,
Tacfoley may correct me on this but I'm fairly sure that your dealer was wrong. There are specifications governing the deactivation of pistols and a clear part of that spec is that the barrel must be blocked by a pin or similar object, which is welded into place. A deactivated firearm must have a certificate of deactivation issued by either the Birmingham or London Proof House. To get the certificate, the pistol must be inspected and stamped. If the barrel isn't blocked then it won't get a certificate and is therefore considered to be a live pistol. Live pistols are illegal in the hands of private citizens here with two exceptions:

1) Pistols appearing on the government list of obsolete calibres such as Reichsrevolvers.
2) Historic pistols made before 1919 but of current calibres such as Imperial Lugers. These may be owned on a section 7 permit but only under strict conditions and may only be kept in a designated secure location - of which there are very few.

No licence of any kind is required to keep deactivated pistols although they must have their certificates.
In short, the law requires most pistols to be deactivated other than the above exceptions. Barrel blocking is part of the spec therefore it is a legal requirement.
I can't comment on the section 5 dealer requirements other than to say that I recently visited a dealer who had an awful lot more than 20 live pistols in his armoury. It is a well respected company and I very much doubt if they would risk their good name and their licence by lawbreaking.
I hope that this helps,
Best regards from the UK,
John
(Collector of finely engineered German 9mm paperweights)

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04-04-2003, 06:03 PM	#7
JohnF User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: UK Posts: 167 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Hi Norm, Tacfoley may correct me on this but I'm fairly sure that your dealer was wrong. There are specifications governing the deactivation of pistols and a clear part of that spec is that the barrel must be blocked by a pin or similar object, which is welded into place. A deactivated firearm must have a certificate of deactivation issued by either the Birmingham or London Proof House. To get the certificate, the pistol must be inspected and stamped. If the barrel isn't blocked then it won't get a certificate and is therefore considered to be a live pistol. Live pistols are illegal in the hands of private citizens here with two exceptions: 1) Pistols appearing on the government list of obsolete calibres such as Reichsrevolvers. 2) Historic pistols made before 1919 but of current calibres such as Imperial Lugers. These may be owned on a section 7 permit but only under strict conditions and may only be kept in a designated secure location - of which there are very few. No licence of any kind is required to keep deactivated pistols although they must have their certificates. In short, the law requires most pistols to be deactivated other than the above exceptions. Barrel blocking is part of the spec therefore it is a legal requirement. I can't comment on the section 5 dealer requirements other than to say that I recently visited a dealer who had an awful lot more than 20 live pistols in his armoury. It is a well respected company and I very much doubt if they would risk their good name and their licence by lawbreaking. I hope that this helps, Best regards from the UK, John (Collector of finely engineered German 9mm paperweights)