What type of licence do I need in Victoria?

[5-0]

I am thinking about engraving firearms as a hobby, maybe a side business in Victoria.

What sort of licence would I need? I assume a dealers licence, but it doesn't really fall under any category under the law? While section 59AA Definition of carry on the business of being a firearms dealer includes, but is not limited to—

(a) acquiring, disposing of, hiring, lending or transferring ownership in any firearms, firearms parts or cartridge
ammunition; or
(b) exposing or offering for sale any firearms, firearms parts or cartridge ammunition; or
(c) possessing for the purpose of disposing of, acting as an agent in the transfer of ownership in or repairing any firearms, firearms parts or cartridge ammunition;
or
(d) manufacturing or repairing any firearms or possessing any firearms parts for the purpose of manufacturing or repairing firearms.

While (d) is close, engraving isn't manufacturing or repairing?

So what licence would I need if any? Clearly handguns and more restricted items would be the issue.

[Larry]

You would need a license that at least allows you to take possession of them on loan. A dealers or whatever gunsmiths get which now I think of it is usually dealers license.

[5-0]

You would need a license that at least allows you to take possession of them on loan. A dealers or whatever gunsmiths get which now I think of it is usually dealers license.

That's the tricky part, doesn't seem to fall into the dealer or gunsmith part as its not manufacturing or repairing. Its like Cerakote coatings, other states are covered by Dealer licences like NSW which covers it (possess/convert) and QLD has a Armourer's licence (modifies). But it doesn't seem to be covered in VIC that I can see.

[bladeracer]

I am thinking about engraving firearms as a hobby, maybe a side business in Victoria.

What sort of licence would I need? I assume a dealers licence, but it doesn't really fall under any category under the law? While section 59AA Definition of carry on the business of being a firearms dealer includes, but is not limited to—

(a) acquiring, disposing of, hiring, lending or transferring ownership in any firearms, firearms parts or cartridge
ammunition; or
(b) exposing or offering for sale any firearms, firearms parts or cartridge ammunition; or
(c) possessing for the purpose of disposing of, acting as an agent in the transfer of ownership in or repairing any firearms, firearms parts or cartridge ammunition;
or
(d) manufacturing or repairing any firearms or possessing any firearms parts for the purpose of manufacturing or repairing firearms.

While (d) is close, engraving isn't manufacturing or repairing?

So what licence would I need if any? Clearly handguns and more restricted items would be the issue.

You will need a licence that allows you possess whichever classes of firearms you wish to work on. A dealer licence does this but is expensive (thousands of dollars) and has conditions on it. If you just stick to CatA/B firearms and hold a CatA/B licence I can't see any issue at all. Same with CatH, though if you don't hold CatH already it might take a year to get it, and there are some minor requirements to maintain it. CatC, D and E might be problematical as there are restrictions on where you can travel with those I think, as well as move involved storage requirements.

Be aware that some firearms you might not need to take possession of unless you are engraving the actual receiver, if you were engraving shotgun barrels or a revolver cylinder for example.

And you will need to be aware of the over-15 firearm limit that requires a basic alarm system. If you need to keep a firearm for some weeks there is likely an onus on the owner to notify LRD of a temporary change of storage address.

I would also suggest some good insurance to cover you against losing a pile of other people's firearms in a fire or theft.

[bladeracer]

You would need a license that at least allows you to take possession of them on loan. A dealers or whatever gunsmiths get which now I think of it is usually dealers license.

That's the tricky part, doesn't seem to fall into the dealer or gunsmith part as its not manufacturing or repairing. Its like Cerakote coatings, other states are covered by Dealer licences like NSW which covers it (possess/convert) and QLD has a Armourer's licence (modifies). But it doesn't seem to be covered in VIC that I can see.

I would avoid a dealer licence, at least at first. You don't need any licence to work on firearms here, as long as you can have legal possession of them. Machining a receiver from scratch is probably a different matter.

[R95]

No idea but I’d be keen to get one or more of mine engraved.

Best of luck with the new venture. I think you should ring LRD.

[Oldbloke]

No idea but I’d be keen to get one or more of mine engraved.

Best of luck with the new venture. I think you should ring LRD.

Na, email, get it in writing.
Address it to OIC [email protected]

Keep it simple:
The type of work.
How many firearms you might hold of other owners.
How long you expect you will have them.
Class of firearms
Etc.

You will get an auto response.
Might take a few weeks for proper reply.

IIRC you must include:
Full name
Address
DOB
Lic No

Good luck

[5-0]

Thanks for the replies. I don’t really want to get a dealer’s license due to the cost and other requirements—it’s not really worth the hassle. I’d prefer to stick to other items for engraving that don’t come with the same complications. I guess this explains why there aren’t many gun engravers in Australia.

At most, I can only see myself working on two or three firearms at a time because of the time involved in engraving. It’s about a week or so turnaround per firearm since it’s not really a “do a little here, stop and work on another” kind of process. It’s more of a one firearm, start-to-finish, then onto the next sort of workflow. So, it’s not a high-turnover business.

I don’t have a Category H license. Can you get and hold a Cat H license without owning or intending to own a pistol? and can you hold other people's pistols for them on the short term.

[bladeracer]

Thanks for the replies. I don’t really want to get a dealer’s license due to the cost and other requirements—it’s not really worth the hassle. I’d prefer to stick to other items for engraving that don’t come with the same complications. I guess this explains why there aren’t many gun engravers in Australia.

At most, I can only see myself working on two or three firearms at a time because of the time involved in engraving. It’s about a week or so turnaround per firearm since it’s not really a “do a little here, stop and work on another” kind of process. It’s more of a one firearm, start-to-finish, then onto the next sort of workflow. So, it’s not a high-turnover business.

I don’t have a Category H license. Can you get and hold a Cat H license without owning or intending to own a pistol? and can you hold other people's pistols for them on the short term.

Yes, you can hold and maintain a CatH licence without owning any handguns, you don't even have to shoot attendances if you don't own any. It is fairly expensive to maintain club membership, maybe $500 per year. Yes, you can borrow other people's handguns.