I Want to be an Arms Dealer

Soldato
Joined
16 Nov 2009
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16,030
Location
UK
Hello all!

After a health scare I'm now following my passion for bringing historical weaponry to the masses (in an interior design context) and I'd like to set up as a dealer. I already have a website and a bit of a following on Instagram, I can source products quite easily and I have a clear set of goals but, like many people trying to follow their dreams, I have no idea about the nuts and bolts side of things so I'd love a bit of advice from anyone who has set up as a shop.

Do I need to get an accountant or is it easy to get your head around the books and taxes yourself?

Lastly, you chaps are probably slap-bang in the middle of my target audience (dear God) so I'll probably be doing some market research on you in the future.
 
Tea Drinker
Don
Joined
13 Apr 2010
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Location
Sunny Sussex
Are you wanting to buy from these then mount and display for others in a LL-B type of fashion? Would you consider using your own stock plus others and maybe set up a stall to try and sell them before you fully commit?

If you look at D&B and WWA their niche is they deactivate their own under licence and controls. they source from around the world and import themselves, it's hugely complicated I assume that's not the line you want to follow?

Will you be wearing a beret, scarf and tweed jacket?
 
Soldato
Joined
28 Oct 2006
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12,456
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Sufferlandria
It'll be very difficult to set up an online shop. PayPal, SagePay, and most other payment provider won't even talk to you if you're selling weapons. Even deactivated guns and other completely harmless things will cause issues.

I know of a shop who sell small parts for guns (springs, washers, bolts, etc) and they got banned from paypal even though they dont actually sell guns - or any other weapons.
 
Soldato
Joined
27 Dec 2009
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10,555
You really do need to do some market research before wasting time and money on this. If you want to make the big bucks online then Gucci belts are where it's at.
 
Soldato
Joined
1 Apr 2014
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18,535
Location
Aberdeen
Do I need to get an accountant or is it easy to get your head around the books and taxes yourself?

Get an accountant. You don't know the laws or the rules.

Given your specialism, I take it you are aware of Matt Easton of Easton Antique Arms and Schola Gladatoria?
 
Soldato
Joined
16 Apr 2007
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UK

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Soldato
OP
Joined
16 Nov 2009
Posts
16,030
Location
UK
Are you wanting to buy from these then mount and display for others in a LL-B type of fashion? Would you consider using your own stock plus others and maybe set up a stall to try and sell them before you fully commit?

If you look at D&B and WWA their niche is they deactivate their own under licence and controls. they source from around the world and import themselves, it's hugely complicated I assume that's not the line you want to follow?

Will you be wearing a beret, scarf and tweed jacket?

LL-B?

I have a Barbour wax jacket already and a flat cap so I'm ahead of the game. I will be concentrating on antique European and Indo-Persian weaponry, no firearms as they just complicate things, and presenting them as investment-level interior design features (with framing options, proper photography, professional write-ups). Frankly, I want to move these beautiful and historical items from the musty militaria fairs and into the modern home.

It'll be very difficult to set up an online shop. PayPal, SagePay, and most other payment provider won't even talk to you if you're selling weapons. Even deactivated guns and other completely harmless things will cause issues.

I know of a shop who sell small parts for guns (springs, washers, bolts, etc) and they got banned from paypal even though they dont actually sell guns - or any other weapons.

Thanks for that. I don't plan on having a proper checkout system just yet but many other militaria dealers do have a method in place so there must be a solution.

Do you sell Mac 10s? And how fast can you get them?

No, but I plan to be the main UK source for antique boxing stances.

The Police and Crime Act 2017 forbids the sale, swap, gifting or inheritance of any firearms deactivated before April 2016 within the European Union.

Indeed. I have some deactivated examples but I won't be buying and selling them.

Get an accountant. You don't know the laws or the rules.

Given your specialism, I take it you are aware of Matt Easton of Easton Antique Arms and Schola Gladatoria?

I think an accountant might be the way to go, at least at first until I know what I'm doing. I do know Matt, yes.
 
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