• The Old Royal Military College
  • Remnantz
  • Marlow
  • Buckinghamshire
  • SL7 2BS
  • Tel: 01628 488188
  • Email : sales@bosleys.co.uk

Bosleys News

De-Activated Weapons Back in the Marlows Auction Catalogue.

Marlows our sister auction rooms in Stafford are once again able to sell de-activated weapons.

Following several years of uncertainty with the law regarding de-activated weapons, which has not only baffled specialist dealers but also collectors, the law was finally clarified in July 2018 and during our November sale Marlows  re-established itself as the UK’s leading auction houses specialising in this field.

We at both Bosleys and Marlows think it is important that collectors and their families are aware of the currant law and their position when selling such items.

Firstly it is not illegal to own a de-activated weapon, as long as that weapon is accompanied by an original certificate issued by either the Birmingham or London Proof Houses. It does not at present matter when that certificate was issued.

However it is ILLEGAL to sell or exchange a weapon unless it is accompanied by a European Union Certificate issued after July 2018. There are no exceptions to this rule.

This means for many collectors, families or beneficiaries of deceased estates are left in some cases with thousands of pounds assets that can not be sold but only, to be surrendered to the police for destruction. Marlows is the only UK Auction House that understands this problem and offers sellers an alternative.

When out of date certificated weapons are consigned to auction, Marlows offers a service where they will organise an upgrade of de-activation and arrange certification to current EU regulations, thus allowing the weapons to be sold. This is done as cost price and will be retrieved after the weapon is sold.

In our November auction a number of weapons had a last minute reprieve from destruction when consigned and upgraded by Marlows, one being a Vickers Machine Gun which hammered £2,000.

If you have any questions on this subject or seek advise or wish to arrange collection of your weapons,  please call Bosleys (01628 488188) or telephone Kevin King at our Marlows (07789 628030) saleroom, with close on 50 years experience with the gun trade Kevin is bound to know the answer.