SPORTING ANSWERS
Firing a percussion musket
ANTIQUE GUNS
Q I own several shotguns and have a small collection of antique firearms, which includes a percussion musket from the 1840s. I would like to fire this once or twice to see how it works. I read on an online forum that you can do this a few times a year without breaking the law. Is this right?
A The best piece of general advice I can give anyone is never to believe anything you read on an online forum. If you need legal advice, join an association with properly trained staff rather than chancing your arm with some ill-informed forum dweller.
If you want to fire your musket, it needs to be put on your shotgun certificate and the police need to be informed. The legal exemption for antique firearms only allows their free possession if they are held as ‘curiosities or ornaments’. It has never been tested at law, but I doubt it includes firing.
If you don’t want the bother of applying for an explosives
