“Auction houses send us both second-hand guns for reproof and deactivated firearms to be checked,” said Miles. “The problem we often encounter with older deactivated firearms is that they were deactivated to an outdated standard. The auction houses send them to us to check whether they comply with the 2018 deactivation standard, because they cannot be sold if they were done to an earlier one.”
According to Miles, the Proof House frequently advises auctioneers on what further work is needed to bring such firearms up to standard. “We often suggest the additional work that should be carried out, or we put the auction house in touch with a deactivation company that can complete it,” he said. “Typically, this involves welding the gun closed so it can’t be stripped, which is often the main step needed to comply. Once that’s done, the auctioneer can sell the gun with a new deactivation certificate.”
Reproofing older firearms before sale is equally important. “Auctioneers have a legal duty under the Gun Barrel Proof Act of 1868 to make sure every gun they sell is in proof with legal proof marks,” explained Miles. “When they inspect their lots, they often find that some guns are out of proof. Sometimes it’s as simple as sending them to us for reproof, but in many cases they need work first. We recommend they go to one of our approved outworkers, who are Certified Gunmakers, to repair and prepare them for submission. That gives the auctioneer confidence that the work is being done properly.”
The reasons a firearm might need reproof are varied. “Sometimes it’s old foreign proof marks that aren’t legally recognised,” said Miles. “Other times it’s dents, bulges, barrels being off the face, rifles that are out of headspace tolerance, or barrels that have been threaded for a sound moderator without being reproved. Another common one is rifles with unproven sound moderators attached – to legally sell them together, both need to be proof tested.”
Shotguns present their own challenges. “We often see barrels that have been lengthened without reproof,” Miles continued. “That makes them out of proof because the barrels have been materially weakened. When we reproof them, we add new marks and stamp the correct chamber lengths. We also see barrels that have become more than 0.2mm wider than the bore diameter stamped on them, which again makes them out of proof. Once they pass reproof, we mark the correct bore size.”
Whatever the cause, recent proof marks are a powerful indicator of safety. “Reproof is highly recommended,” said Miles. “New proof marks give the buyer real confidence that the old gun is still safe to fire.”
Beyond safety, the presence of current London proof marks can also enhance a firearm’s desirability. “Many of the guns that auction houses sell were originally tested by the London Proof House, sometimes more than 100 years ago,” said Miles. “When we reproof those guns, we’re putting current London marks on them. That helps preserve their history and value. Buyers like to see London-made guns with London proof marks – it’s part of the appeal. The fact that it’s passed proof again adds another layer of assurance that it’s safe to use.”
Miles believes the Proof House’s role goes beyond compliance, serving as a safeguard for the trade as a whole. “Reproof of older firearms is a critical reason why old guns are still used, auctioned and desirable to buy,” he said. “Without it, there would be no safety standard and no minimum legal state of repair before a gun could be sold. That would lead to unsafe guns on the market and would damage confidence in the second-hand trade.”
Feedback from auctioneers and buyers reflects that same sentiment. “The most important part of any condition report is the dimensions and level of wear and tear,” said Miles. “If a gun has recent reproof stamps, it’s a clear sign that it’s at least safe to use. It doesn’t guarantee everything else works perfectly – the ejectors or the wood might still need attention – but it shows that the pressure-bearing parts are sound.”
Looking ahead, Miles expects the Proof House’s partnership with auction houses to grow as the demand for transparency and provenance increases. “I’ve heard it said that it’s difficult to get insurance for selling older guns, especially pre-1954 shotguns, unless they’ve had recent reproof,” he said. “The auction houses that use the London Proof House are very conscientious. They often send us guns just for us to have a look at when they’re unsure if they’re in proof or not.”
Miles is full of praise for the auctioneers who take that extra care. “They really deserve credit for how careful they are,” he said. “By checking their lots so thoroughly, they help maintain the reputation of the second-hand market and ensure that the guns they sell don’t cause any harm further down the line.”
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