
1 

(1) This Act may be cited as the Gun Barrel Proof Act 1950.
(2) The Gun Barrel Proof Act 1868 and this Act may be cited together as the Gun Barrel Proof Acts 1868 and 1950.
(3) This Act shall come into operation on the first day of October nineteen hundred and fifty.
2 
In this Act unless the context otherwise requires—
 “The Act of 1868” means the Gun Barrel Proof Act 1868;
 “The Gunmakers Company” means the Master Wardens and Society of the Mystery of Gunmakers of the City of London;
 “The Guardians” means the Guardians of the Birmingham Proof House;
 “The two companies” means the Gunmakers Company and the Guardians;
 “The Minister” means the Secretary of State;
 Other words and expressions to which meanings are assigned by section 4 of the Act of 1868 have the same respective meanings.
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4 
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5 
Section 94 (Application of monies by Guardians) of the Act of 1868 is hereby amended as follows:—
(a) the words “and whenever such fund exceeds ten thousand pounds the Guardians shall” shall be omitted; and
(b) the words “
                reduce the prices
              ” shall be substituted for the words “reduce the charges”.
6 
All the costs charges and expenses of and incident to the obtaining and passing of this Act or otherwise in relation thereto shall be paid by the Gunmakers Company and the Guardians respectively in equal shares and any moneys from time to time belonging to the Gunmakers Company or the Guardians may be applied in payment of the share of the said costs charges and expenses payable by that body.
SCHEDULE
Part I
No. of gauge (See Note B below)  First Class (Single barrelled muzzle-loading arms of smooth bore) 
Second Class (Double barrelled muzzle-loading arms of smooth bore) Third Class (Muzzle-loading rifled arms) Fourth Class(Breach-loading arms of smooth bore)
  Provisional proof Definitive proof
 s. d. s. d. s. d.
A to 3 50 0 50 0 50 0
4 to 6 11 6 10 6 10 6
7 to 9 11 6 3 0 7 0
10 to 50 5 0 1 6 4 0
Smaller than 50 As for Class V of similar bore 1 6 4 0
Part II
  
Fifth Class
(Breech-loading rifled arms (including express rifles) declared for use with black powder only) (excluding pistols)  
Diameter of bore of breech-loading arms (inches) 
Eighth Class
(Breech-loading rifled arms specially constructed for use with shot and bullet having the whole or a portion only of their bore rifled and not being of the Fifth Class) 
Sixth Class
(Breech-loading rifles declared for use with nitro powders not being of the Seventh Eighth or Tenth Class) Pistols of Fifth Class and automatic pistols of Ninth Class 
Ninth Class
(Revolving pistols) (up to six shots) (see Note C below)
  
Seventh Class
(Breech-loading rifled arms chambered to take a military small arm cartridge and not being the Tenth Class)  
  
Tenth Class
(Breech-loading rifled military arms)  
 s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d.
over ·450 8 6 5 0 2 6 3 6
·450–·370 8 6 4 0 2 0 3 0
·369–·310 8 6 3 0 1 9 3 0
·309–·230 8 6 3 0 1 9 2 6
·229 or smaller diameter 8 6 2 3 1 9 2 0
Part III
Cattle killers—  
 s. d.
·310 bulleted ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 0
·220 and captive bolt ... ... ... ... ... 1 6
Signal pistols and alarm guns—  
1 inch diameter or less ... ... ... ... ... 2 0
1½ inch diameter or more ... ... ... ... 3 0
Note A. The above prices are per barrel. The price for the proof of a barrel or tube which does not fall within any of the above classes shall be per proof shot fired per barrel or tube respectively such sum as the two companies shall from time to time deem reasonable having regard to the cost and labour and in any case not more than one shilling and sixpence or twice the cost of materials used in such proof shot (whichever is the greater).Where no price is provided for provisional proof the price which may be demanded and taken for such provisional proof shall not exceed the price provided in respect of the definitive proof of a barrel or tube of similar gauage.

Note B. The letter A and the numbers in the first column of Part I of this schedule refer to the same letters and numbers as appearing in the first column of the table headed “Scale for proof of small arms of every description except rifled small arms” contained in Schedule B to the Act of 1868.

Note C. A further sum not exceeding one-sixth of the respective price for the respective gauge may be demanded and taken for each additional shot over six in respect of revolving pistols exceeding six shots.

SCHEDULE
Part I
(see Notes A and B below)

 Maximum price per barrel
Nominal Bore Provisional Proof Definitive Proof Special Definitive Proof
4........................... £8·70 £8·70 £13·5
8........................... £5·55 £6·60 £9·90
Smaller than 8......... £3·30 £6·60 £9·90
 Arms of the Second and Third Classes

(see Notes A, B, D, below)

 Maximum price per barrel
  Third Class
Nominal Calibre (in inches) Second Class Revolvers See Note C below  OtherArms
Over . 449............... £5·70 £5·40 £3·15
·449 –370................. £4·35 £4·70 £2·25
·369–310................. £3·30 £3·85 £1·95
·309–230 £3·30 £3·30 £1·95
·229 or smaller diameter........... £3·15 £2·80 £1·95
Certain Arms of the Fourth Class

(see Notes A and B below)

 Maximumprice
Cattle killers—  perbarrel
·310 bulleted.................................................... £2·25
·220 and captive bolt.......................................... £1·65
Signal pistols and alarm guns:
1 inch diameter or less........................................ £2·25
1½ inch diameter or more.................................... £3·30
Part II
(see Notes A and B below)

The maximum price shall be per proof shot fired per barrel and shall not exceed the sum of thirty-seven pounds fifty pence or twenty times the cost of materials used in such proof shot whichever may be the greater.

Note A The classification of arms used in this Schedule is that contained in the Rules, Regulations and Scales applicable to the Proof of Small Arms made in the month of October 1954 under authority of the Act of 1868.

Note B Where no maximum price is provided for provisional proof the maximum price which may be demanded and taken for such provisional proof shall be the same as the maximum price provided in respect of the definitive proof of a barrel of same nominal bore or calibre.

Note C Where the capacity of the cylinder of a revolver exceeds six rounds a further sum, not exceeding one-sixth of the respective maximum price for the nominal calibre, may be demanded and taken for each round exceeding six.

Note D A further sum, not exceeding one-half of the respective maximum price for the nominal calibre, may be demanded and taken for the proof of an arm of the Second or Third Class in respect of which the length or capacity of the case of the Service Cartridge exceeds, by at least one-fifth, that of other Service Cartridges used in arms of the same Class and nominal calibre.
