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Last time I put in for a variation my FEO suggested I include a note to the effect that I wanted the additional rifle as part of my collection which got me thinking whether 'collectors tickets' were available, (I was pretty sure not unless I opened as a museum), but subsequent internet searching led me to the idea of a condition which could be written into my licence. Whilst she didn't explicitly say the words I'm wondering if that's what she was pushing me towards?

Have looked here and I think there are a couple of folks on the forum who have this on their FAC's so was wondering what real benefit such a condition might offer and, on the presumption it's a worthwhile exercise, how exactly to go about getting one?

There is no such thing as a collectors ticket.

However collecting can be a condition on your FAC, as such it gives you good reason to hold a firearm.

Reading the HO guidance is helpful in applying for collector slots, as such you will need to demonstrate to the licensing authority that your collection is genuine.

It is down to each licensing authority to decided how to determine genuineness but there are some pointers in the guidance.

I currently have a few dozen collectors slots on my ticket, when I applied for them, which took my slots on my FAC to around 100, I submitted a proposal document outlining what I was a wanting to collect and why.

They sent out a "knowledgeable" person to "interview" me and in the fullness of time the slots were granted.

The slots have conditions around being part of a collection for research and I also have permission to shoot them for testing, target shooting and research.

Like all things so long as you can demonstrate genuine reason to the satisfaction of the licensing authority and you have security commensurate with the risk then they will have no grounds for saying no.

That's pretty much the line I was thinkng though, perhaps naively, didn't realise each slot would be so assigned.

Perhaps I'd be best dropping an email to my local force along the lines of "I have a collection of early 20th century military rifles and understand it is possible for these and potential future acquisitions to be held under a collectors condition in addition to target shooting at my approved club" and see what they say.

My little collection only amounts to a half dozen at the moment though so I guess I've got a way to go yet!

Firearms are firearms and are treated the same, collecting can be another "good reason to possess" but after that they are no different from any other firearm on your FAC.

Couldn't be easier. There's something in the legislation that states there is no limit on the number of firearms that can 'be kept or exhibited as part of a collection'. It helps if there is a theme to your collection and I was advised to join the HBSA. Only thing that limits you is the size of your cabinets and your pocket! Couple of buddies of mine have done this for Lee Enfields and my poison is the Mosin Nagant. Do it. My ticket also states that they can be 'occasionally fired' with no definition of what this means.

Warwickshire Constabulary are quite happy to have "target shooting / collecting" as good reason: indeed the FEO originally suggested it for a couple our rifles that are quite old and rare as "You probably won't want to fire them often and we won't have to check that you do".

Also it takes any pressure off you to remember to shoot all of your guns on a regular basis. I have no idea what 'occasional use' means but I'm willing to bet that it's more often than most of us use some of our rifles. Whenever I run out of slots I just put in for 3 or 4 more in the same calibre (best not to take the p*** too much) so that I can pounce when I see one that I want.

I'll drop the FEO a line then I reckon once I've had the chance to give the HO guidance another once over.

Mosins eh? Reckon you'd like my one then! (KaB)

Tommygunn wrote:
Mosins eh? Reckon you'd like my one then! (KaB)

Ok