Did I do a bad thing?

[perry owens]

Bought this 1873 in 38-40 when I was living in the USA

The chamber had been Bubba'd so bad it split cases and the bore was pitted but it shot and I figured to work on it when I got it back to the UK.
BUT:
Because of the chamber it would not pass UK proof, so I could not legally sell it or even give it away.
Nobody in the US would ship me a liner because of the export restrictions.
The nearest gunsmith who would do a reline was in Switzerland and courier costs were over £1000 plus the reline.
I couldn't hang it on the wall because licenced firearms have to be stored in locked cabinets.
SO:
After much agonising I deactivated it and sold it to a guy who wanted to make a western display.

Filled with remorse over what I had done I bought this with the money I made

Now I just need to get that awful varnish off and finish the wood with Tru-oil, fit a Marbles tang sight and a Beeches on the front and I can be happy again.

Perry Owens

[piller]

We will decide after you post the pics of the rifle you bought showing the shiny finish removed.

[Leverluver]

That's sad that a tube with rifling in it is that restricted. Doubly sad that UK used to be the masters of the world for gun work and there is no one left in the UK to do it. Nice 76 anyway. What cartridge?

Be sure to help out the guy using the 73 for display to get it right. I was in a pub outside of Stoke once and they had a cartridge display board and 80% of them were marked wrong.

[AJMD429]

Score one for 'tough gun laws' - I feel safer already, and I live ten thousand or so miles away...

I suppose you did all you could, short of rechambering it in some home-brew wildcat, or maybe 44-40, if you could find someone to re-bore it. (Dunno if the 44-40 case would have been big enough to ream out the bubbary).

[Griff]

Given the condition of your original rifle, the state of regulations you're forced to adhere to... the availability of a suitable alternate... and the "good use" the purchaser will put it to... no.

[Blaine]

Did what had to be done. ....

[claybob86]

The picture is very small and hard to see. Why does the front of the receiver on the Marlin look that way?

[gamekeeper]

My local gun dealer has just started deactivating firearms and has asked me to become what the police recognize as a servant of the company, this means I can legally have in my possession prohibited weapons, anything from pistols to rocket launchers. This is so I can carry weapons that are for deactivation or to the proof house etc.
Now, like Perry, I hate seeing firearms deactivated but with our UK gun laws it is the only way collectors can have firearms for display or reenactment without jumping though countless hoops.
The plus side for me is that I can now shoot all kinds of firearms again before they get butchered, the other week I was using a PPK and full auto Scorpion...Still feel bad about it though..

[perry owens]

That's sad that a tube with rifling in it is that restricted. Doubly sad that UK used to be the masters of the world for gun work and there is no one left in the UK to do it. Nice 76 anyway. What cartridge?

Be sure to help out the guy using the 73 for display to get it right. I was in a pub outside of Stoke once and they had a cartridge display board and 80% of them were marked wrong.

45-60. Brass for the alternative calibres is unobtainable over here but I can make 45-60 brass by cutting down 45-70 brass. The guy I sold the Winchester to is a reenactor. He is so particular that he buys genuine 1870s buttons for his waistcoats. I gave him some 38WCF inert rounds too.

Perry Owens

[bdhold]

your of course to do as you choose - but that carbine is such a beauty, I couldn't part with it.