Section 7 Conversion not to affect classification.

England, Wales and Scotland

(1)

Any weapon which—

F1(a)

has at any time (whether before or after the passing of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997) been a weapon of a kind described in section 5(1) or (1A) of the principal Act (including any amendments to section 5(1) made under section 1(4) of this Act);

(b)

is not a self-loading or pump-action smooth-bore gun which has at any such time been such a weapon by reason only of having had a barrel less than 24 inches in length,

shall be treated as a prohibited weapon notwithstanding anything done for the purpose of converting it into a weapon of a different kind.

(2)

Any weapon which—

(a)

has at any time since the coming into force of section 2 above been a weapon to which section 1 of the principal Act applies; or

(b)

would at any previous time have been such a weapon if those sections had then been in force,

shall, if it has, or at any time has had, a rifled barrel less than 24 inches in length, be treated as a weapon to which section 1 of the principal Act applies notwithstanding anything done for the purpose of converting it into a shot gun or an air weapon.

(3)

For the purposes of subsection (2) above there shall be disregarded the shortening of a barrel by a registered firearms dealer for the sole purpose of replacing part of it so as to produce a barrel not less than 24 inches in length.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: S. 7(1)(a) substituted (1.7.1997) by 1997 c. 5, s. 52(1), Sch. 2 para. 16; S.I. 1997/1535, art. 3(b), Sch. Pt. I