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barrel proofing - that old chestnut!

Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2019 7:23 pm
by mag41uk
If I buy and supply a barrel blank and get a smith to fit it does it have to be proofed?

Where does the onus lie if at all?

If its my rifle and blank surely it would be up to me to have it proofed if I were to sell it?

Grey area?

Re: barrel proofing - that old chestnut!

Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2019 7:34 pm
by ovenpaa
Not really, your 'smith cannot gift, lend or sell a firearm without Proof.

Re: barrel proofing - that old chestnut!

Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2019 9:18 pm
by mag41uk
I appreciate that the smith is chambering a barrel blank which makes it a component part hence licensable.
In this instance he is machining my supplied blank and fitting it to my rifle.
But he isn't gifting lending or selling it to me as its already mine.
However if I went to a smith and asked him to supply and fit a barrel then he would indeed be selling me the barrel and proof needed.
I am probably missing something here!

Re: barrel proofing - that old chestnut!

Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2019 7:06 am
by ovenpaa
..and he is not charging you for the work?

Re: barrel proofing - that old chestnut!

Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2019 7:57 am
by Blackstuff
When does a barrel become a barrel? I think most agree its when the chamber is cut, therefore you're handing the smith a metal rod and he's handing you back a barrel?

Re: barrel proofing - that old chestnut!

Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2019 8:23 am
by rox
Blackstuff wrote:When does a barrel become a barrel? I think most agree its when the chamber is cut, therefore you're handing the smith a metal rod and he's handing you back a barrel?
or, you hand him a rifle (and a non-licensed part). He hands you back a rifle.

Either way, as I understand it, it is that 'transfer' of a rifle (or barrel) from him to you that brings about the requirement to proof. Liability insurers might have something to say about it too.

Re: barrel proofing - that old chestnut!

Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2019 8:37 am
by Andy632
I suppose one could join a men's shed that has a lathe, buy the necessary reamers & do the job one's self???

Re: barrel proofing - that old chestnut!

Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2019 10:18 am
by waterford103
Andy632 wrote:I suppose one could join a men's shed that has a lathe, buy the necessary reamers & do the job one's self???
Yes and so long as the firearm stayed in his possession it would be fine , if however he were to sell it it would need to be proofed . At that point it would have be either handed to an RFD to send to proof or the firearm taken physically to the proof house for examination and proof.

Re: barrel proofing - that old chestnut!

Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2019 11:02 am
by bradaz11
rox wrote:
Blackstuff wrote:When does a barrel become a barrel? I think most agree its when the chamber is cut, therefore you're handing the smith a metal rod and he's handing you back a barrel?
or, you hand him a rifle (and a non-licensed part). He hands you back a rifle.

Either way, as I understand it, it is that 'transfer' of a rifle (or barrel) from him to you that brings about the requirement to proof. Liability insurers might have something to say about it too.
If I give an RFD a non proofed arm to replace a trigger spring say, would it then need to be proofed before it is handed back?

Re: barrel proofing - that old chestnut!

Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2019 11:14 am
by waterford103
bradaz11 wrote:
rox wrote:
Blackstuff wrote:When does a barrel become a barrel? I think most agree its when the chamber is cut, therefore you're handing the smith a metal rod and he's handing you back a barrel?
or, you hand him a rifle (and a non-licensed part). He hands you back a rifle.

Either way, as I understand it, it is that 'transfer' of a rifle (or barrel) from him to you that brings about the requirement to proof. Liability insurers might have something to say about it too.
If I give an RFD a non proofed arm to replace a trigger spring say, would it then need to be proofed before it is handed back?
Only if he charges you . If for instance someone took a shotgun to an rfd for examination and it was declared unsafe or barrels out of proof he could hand it back to you , he might want you to sign a disclaimer stating that you know it's condition . The gun is legally yours but if he accepts payment for work done then ha accepts responsibility for it. I wouldn't like to fight the point in court and neither should he.