the laws on gun smithing in nsw

[fergal]

I have recently got my a/b license and I was wondering what are my options if I wanted to try gun smithing as a bit of a hobby I am a mechanic by trade so I love taking things apart to see how they work.
Obviously I know I can take my rifle apart and put it back together for cleaning etc but what else can I do without a license can I re barrel a rifle for example
can I do a course to get a license?
(Without having to do an apprenticeship)

[Jack V]

It's not illegal to fix your own personal gun but you can't work on anyone else's unless you are a licenced smith or club armourer .
There is nothing in the law that I have seen that limits what you can do to your own gun other than illegal modifications . As long as it stays legal conformation and correctly registered Police don't seem concerned. The onus is on you to make sure you take any changes to a dealer or gunsmith for any registration adjustments that may be required like a cartridge / calibre change . If you change a barrel then make sure you destroy the old worn out barrel or hand it in to the smith . Keeping them laying around will get you in trouble .

[bigfellascott]

It's not illegal to fix your own personal gun but you can't work on anyone else's unless you are a licenced smith or club armourer .
There is nothing in the law that I have seen that limits what you can do to your own gun other than illegal modifications . As long as it stays legal conformation and correctly registered Police don't seem concerned. The onus is on you to make sure you take any changes to a dealer or gunsmith for any registration adjustments that may be required like a cartridge / calibre change . If you change a barrel then make sure you destroy the old worn out barrel or hand it in to the smith . Keeping them laying around will get you in trouble .

Why do you have to destroy old barrels?

[1290]

Why do you have to destroy old barrels?

Because in New Soviet Wales; Barrels are treated as a firearm and need to be registered a spare barrel, say the old one you screwed of would need to be registered.....else youre committing an offence - so if you're not a lic dealer, to change the barrel yourself, to avoid registering the new barrel, I guess you'll need to screw off the old one, destroy/dispose then acquire new one.

You can even send a barrel by post......

As long as you're tinkering with your own rifle that should be cool, if you are manufacturing then I hear they get kind of antsie of you do it in your garage without the necessary dealer licence.

[bigfellascott]

Because in New Soviet Wales; Barrels are treated as a firearm and need to be registered a spare barrel, say the old one you screwed of would need to be registered.....else youre committing an offence - so if you're not a lic dealer, to change the barrel yourself, to avoid registering the new barrel, I guess you'll need to screw off the old one, destroy/dispose then acquire new one.

You can even send a barrel by post......

As long as you're tinkering with your own rifle that should be cool, if you are manufacturing then I hear they get kind of antsie of you do it in your garage without the necessary dealer licence.

How do you register a barrel with no serial no.? any links to the legislation that says barrels have to be registered?

[Jack V]

The key word is "spare " barrel . Once you replace a barrel and have the old one laying about it becomes technically a "spare " barrel and needing separate registration on each barrel . The one on the gun and the one that is spare . If you destroy the old barrel there is no spare barrel so the one on the gun does not need to be separately identified . When you register a spare barrel for an action you get numbers to put on both barrels . If a barrel is not screwed and chambered yet it's not classed as a spare barrel .

[bigfellascott]

The key word is "spare " barrel . Once you replace a barrel and have the old one laying about it becomes technically a "spare " barrel and needing separate registration on each barrel . The one on the gun and the one that is spare . If you destroy the old barrel there is no spare barrel so the one on the gun does not need to be separately identified . When you register a spare barrel for an action you get numbers to put on both barrels . If a barrel is not screwed and chambered yet it's not classed as a spare barrel .

Any links to the legislation that states its required to be registered Jack?

[Jack V]

No mate not off hand but the numbers on my switch barrels and the recording of each barrel on the rego certificate for the gun indicates it is the law .
Confirmed by two Police inspections also and both times they wanted to see the extra barrels and check the numbers .

[bigfellascott]

No mate not off hand but the numbers on my switch barrels and the recording of each barrel on the rego certificate for the gun indicates it is the law .
Confirmed by two Police inspections also and both times they wanted to see the extra barrels and check the numbers .

Thanks for that Jack, I asked over on AHN and it appears to be the case mate, I'd never heard of it before (all my barrels are attached to actions) It sounds like you get a serial No. etched onto the spare barrel (as you said only if it chambered etc) and capable of being used.

Cheers mate

[Jack V]

They require a number on all barrels for a certain action when there is more than one barrel that fits and is useable .

[Warrigul]

Barrels are considered a spare part in TAS and don't need to be registered or serialised.

[RealNick]

Because in New Soviet Wales; Barrels are treated as a firearm

Same in Victoria.

[Norton]

Barrels are considered a spare part in TAS and don't need to be registered or serialised.

Some common sense down your way apparently.

So who were these knobs that cancelled the amnesty you had

[1290]

Because in New Soviet Wales; Barrels are treated as a firearm

Same in Victoria.

No way Jose! Not in Vic

[RealNick]

I was speaking to a cop at the shot show about firearm amnesties and that's what he told me at the time.

[Xerox]

can I do a course to get a license?

There is no recognized course for gunsmithing in Australia AFAIK.

Nothing like a Cert 4 in Gunsmithing at your local Tafe.

Closest thing would be a course that teaches appropriate skills like a fitting and turning course.

Separately you would apply for a dealers license which includes the purpose of repairing firearms to 'become a gunsmith'.