Antique firearms merchant accounts UK
Card networks treat the category as firearms-adjacent regardless of the Section 58 exemption. Mainstream acquirers decline on category; US-based acquirers will not onboard regardless of UK legality.
Legal status (UK)
Legal in UK under the Section 58(2) exemption of the Firearms Act 1968, as amended by the Antique Firearms Regulations 2021. Specific cartridge / chambering rules determine antique status; sale of obsolete-calibre antique firearms to private individuals is permitted as curiosities.
Acquirers accepting
- Specialist firearms-friendly acquirers
- Selected ISOs with militaria-vertical programmes
Typical pricing
- Rate
- 2.5% to 4.5% blended
- Settlement reserve
- 5% to 10% rolling reserve common
Watch outs
- Antique Firearms Regulations 2021 obsolete-calibre list must be cross-checked at point of sale.
- Records of sale (purchaser name, address) must be kept for at least five years.
- Reactivation potential and deactivation-certificate handling scrutinised at onboarding.
- Card scheme rules around firearms-adjacent retail differ between Visa and Mastercard.
Last reviewed: 2026-05-18.