The deactivated and military collectables sector occupies a space that has long sat between established definitions, in both legislation and trade representation. For more than a decade the Deactivated Weapons Association (DWA) has worked to bridge those gaps, providing a link between law enforcement, government, collectors, historical reenactors, and a specialist group of dealers whose businesses often fall outside the remit of traditional organisations.
The DWA was founded eleven years ago by Johnson and industry colleague Harvey Woodall. At the time Johnson was already attending meetings with the Home Office through other professional roles. It became clear that the needs of dealers specialising in deactivated firearms were not being represented in any structured way. Bodies such as the GTA and BASC operate firmly within their respective remits, but deactivated weapons sat in an area of interest and expertise not covered to any depth by existing organisations. A deactivated firearm is not a firearm under UK law, yet it still resembles one, and this created uncertainty for dealers, the police, and the public.
As Johnson recalls, the association came about almost at the encouragement of those already around the table. Officials recognised there was a gap in communication between the trade, law enforcement and policy makers. The DWA’s purpose therefore became clear early on: to act as a conduit between all parties involved. That mission remains unchanged. “What frustrated me for years was that these groups were not speaking to each other,” he explains. “It would be so much easier if they did.” The DWA’s council has since positioned itself as that missing connection, stepping in where clarity or technical interpretation is needed.
Membership of the British Shooting Sports Council has significantly strengthened that reach. Being part of the BSSC has enabled the DWA to attend high-level meetings, gain face-to-face time with ministers and contribute directly to discussions on legislation and enforcement. Johnson is clear that this affiliation gives the association access and influence it could not previously have achieved alone. In the early months after the DWA’s formation, that reach proved critical.
Seven months after the DWA began operating, the Paris attacks took place, triggering sweeping changes to European firearms law. The EU’s proposed reforms were complex and often poorly proposed. The DWA found itself working alongside the Birmingham and London Proof Houses, NABIS, NCA and the Home Office, helping to interpret the new rules and produce wording and working physical examples of deactivation for different weapon types that could be understood by the trade, the police and the wider public. It also became a first point of reference for frontline officers and Police forensic teams entering homes and encountering unfamiliar items. That advisory role continues today.
More recently the association contributed directly to the College of Policing’s national training programme for firearms enquiry officers. The DWA was heavily involved in creating the module covering deactivated firearms and related items. Its inclusion reflects a growing recognition that specialist knowledge is required to police these markets effectively.
As the association evolved it soon became clear that members’ interests extended well beyond deactivated firearms. Many dealers handle bayonets, swords, medals, pointed tools, and other military collectables, each bringing its own legislative considerations. The DWA therefore broadened its remit, including working with the National Crime Agency on the regulation of top-venting blank-firers from Turkey and Italy, and following developments relating to the Offensive Weapons Act and so-called zombie knives.
Johnson regularly advises members to maintain membership of organisations such as the GTA or BASC, recognising that each covers distinct areas of the trade. The DWA itself is entirely voluntary. Council members receive no salary and all hold day jobs within the wider industry.
Trade membership numbers stand at a steady forty-five, though Johnson notes that a surprising proportion do not trade in deactivated firearms at all. Some are large section 5 dealers, attracted to the association because of its understanding of the movement of military-grade equipment across international borders, and its understanding of military, police, and security procurement. Others are film, TV, and theatre armourers and auction houses, who have their own unique set of requirements. Johnson’s own professional experience involves sourcing surplus firearms from overseas, and navigating the associated permits, transit licences and export requirements. He also has four decades of experience as a collector himself, and his technical knowledge of military firearms of all types is often sought after by UK law enforcement and the film industry. Those working within this field understand the value of direct, practical experience. It is that applied knowledge that makes the DWA’s advice particularly sought after.
While the association operates as a trade body, it did experiment with public membership in its early years. The administrative burden proved impractical for a volunteer organisation. Instead, it now permits re-enactment groups to join as trade members. This approach enables the DWA to reach a wide range of individuals in the various groups through a single point of contact, ensuring timely updates on changes in law relevant to blank-firers, replicas, and related equipment.
Johnson stresses that the DWA is not a nine-to-five organisation, but its response rate and engagement are well regarded. He notes that law enforcement, government, and the trade all recognise the association as punching well above its weight. A reputation earned through a willingness to attend meetings, present professional, experienced viewpoints, and a proven ability to scrutinise legislative proposals.
One example he highlights is the DWA’s involvement in the early stages of the Online Safety Act. While attending the National Crime Agency’s criminal use of firearms panel, Johnson identified potential risks in the wording drafted by Ofcom. These risks had significant implications for deactivated firearms, replicas, and the wider gun trade as a whole. Because he already had a seat at the NCA table, he used the connection to raise concerns directly with Ofcom. The engagement led to changes in the wording of the Act and an improved understanding of how the wider trade operates. Dialogue with Ofcom is ongoing and the DWA remains an active participant.
The association’s value lies in its specialist focus and its readiness to bridge gaps between parties that often operate in isolation. As Johnson remarks, the DWA has evolved by stepping into spaces where no guidance previously existed, and that evolution continues as the trade’s needs develop.
GET IN TOUCH
www.ukdwa.org