100 year old Ammo legal?

tonysea

Hi, I have in my possession some live rounds that were salvaged from a 100 year old ship wreck as souveniers. Is it illegal to have them?

Half-cocked

Strictly speaking, yes. However, I can't see anyone actualy trying to prosecute you, unless you salvaged 100's of rounds? The fact that they are probably useless after 100 years in saltwater doesn't change the fact that they are ammunition.

Sparks

As half said, strictly speaking, they could be classed as ammunition. There is a provision under the Act for collecting antiques, but that applies more to firearms than ammunition and generally to firearms that took seperate components for ammunition (like muzzle-loading flintlocks and so forth).

However, I'd be more concerned myself with safety - if they were in a shipwreck exposed to salt water, you're probably safe enough but if they were in a sealed box away from the water, they might still be viable and the primers would be unstable. Without knowing more, I doubt anyone could tell you, but I'd just keep the safety aspect in mind until I was sure if I was yourself.

If they're inert, you could always get a letter from the super to say you have deactivated ammunition and keep them that way...

johnner1

Sparks wrote: »

, they might still be viable and the primers would be unstable. Without knowing more, I doubt anyone could tell you, but I'd just keep the safety aspect in mind until I was sure if I was yourself.

..

why would they dangerous?
wouldnt they have to be in a rifle chamber/barrel to give them any velocity.

Sparks

johnner1 wrote: »

why would they dangerous?
wouldnt they have to be in a rifle chamber/barrel to give them any velocity.

Yup.
But if you're holding them in your hand at the time, they don't really need that much velocity...

robertpatterson

You should report them to the reciever of wrecks as well if you want to stay legal;)

marlin vs

If you'r holding live ammunition, (which is ammunition that has not been fired) you are supposed to have a licence.You can be done for having it in you'r possession.