Or, 'Legaly Deactivated' with a copy of the cert then held with the Dealers records to back up his Forearms register. It is Deleiberately written into the Firearms act for Legally Registered Firearms dealers to hold previously unlicenced weapons on their books. As soon as it is handed in, it can entered into the register. then, a previously unknown about weapon, is traceable from then onwards. It can then be proof tested & marked. & then sold on as a live weapon to the appropriate Licence holder. OR, deactivated & certified as such. & sold without restriction. & struck off the register as a live weapon from then on. I know MANY Firearms Dealers who do this a matter of Legal Routine. If you think about it, it's simple really. A Potentially dangerous, unknown about deadly firearm. That was unlicenced, & therefore unknown about to the authorities. Is then bought into a controlled system, where full traceability is available for the rest of it's legal life. Otherwise, MIGHT eventually find it's way into the hands of a person who is of a Criminal nature. & possibly end up taking some poor souls life in a Criminal act. Kind of makes sense, dosent it? Even Deactivation, saves the weapon for a collector in a way. rather then handed in to the Police for destruction & possibly a rare example of whatever the item might be. lost forever!..........