I had posted about getting a NV sight last week but decided against it because of all the paperwork. Word has it that the requirement that they are registered as firearms might be changed in the not so distant future?

Most big brand NV scopes will have a serial number that can be found from the menu / about options in the interface.

So in fact ,no real need to physically engrave it on the case. Usually there is a data plate, like on most electronic equipment that has that serial number somewhere. The number is anyway embedded in the microchips and circutry and is impossible to to alter or remove, unless you are working in the factory and can change out all the circut boards.

You could purchase from a business, but you will probably need to get them to transfer it to an Irish RFD and then pick it up from there.

As it is a "restricted firearm" over here and possibly a restricted export outside the UK,it might be classified as a Home Office pre approval sale on listed equipment.

Depending on type and make and power of the device.Some UK companies will do this,others wont touch it with a barge pole.Esp if it involves "Ireland"[Nth& Sth]Better bet is get them to send it to a dealer in NI,and collect it at the border with your import cert.

The fact that our lot insist on NV/T being classified as " restricted firearms" complicates this no end.As a restricted firearm is under UK legislation FIK a Cat 5 firearm or item, that can only be dealt with or licensed by the Home office for use or export.

Thinking a thought about this.

Suppose you [as in us gun owners generally]were to buy a NV/T that is a spotting scope with the capability of being added onto a day scope via a clip on attachment?

Spotting handheld devices are legally possesible and importable minus any sort of paperwork and firearms licsense from the UK or EU.But can be "dual used" in certain models as NV/T attachments to a day scope

At a later stage you apply for the restricted firearms lic and import the clip on attachment for the scope once granted.That is again a free part with no import cert required in the UK/EU.Even if it was,you are entitled to posses and import it as it is a" component part for a restricted firearm"

You do this of course once your former spotting scope has become a "restricted firearm" and is duely licsensed as such.

No need for it being sent to a dealer or import certs as in this state it is not a firearm.So where you got it from is simple on the application." Previously owned hand held scope that I wish to use as "Weapons mountable" NV scope."You have some NV/T capability in a spotter and that even lets you decide depending on the NV/T quality and pic if it is worth going another step and making it into a restricted firearm.

Just an idea.