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moletta

Member

• Sep 11, 2020

• #1

  Does anyone know what the rules were about storing /using explosives between the wars? I know war service led

  to some cavers having a working knowledge, but was it legal to use it?

 

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mikem

Well-known member

• Sep 11, 2020

• #2

Perfectly (1875 & 1883):
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/38-39/17/contents
https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/explosives

 

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dmcfarlane

New member

• Sep 11, 2020

• #3

As late as 1978, as a student, I was able to get a license for several pounds of Gelignite (Hampshire police - but to use in Yorkshire!).  Probably not anymore...

 

The Old Ruminator

Well-known member

• Sep 12, 2020

• #4

In the 70's I seem to remember that an immediate use licence let you have a maximum of eight pounds of either stick or plaster. We always went for the eight pounds.

 

tony from suffolk

Well-known member

• Sep 12, 2020

• #5

Pretty easy to get a bit of bang in the 60s/70s. IIRC, you were even allowed to carry your 8lbs on public transport! We used to buy ours from Casswells - pretty cheap, again IIRC.

 

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moletta

Member

• Sep 21, 2020

• #6

Thanks all. Does make you wonder how some people survived!

I've seen the Acts but was hoping someone knew how people got hold of explosives after WW1.

 

AR

Well-known member

• Sep 21, 2020

• #7

The short answer is "bought it from a shop" -  from what I've been told it wasn't uncommon for hardware stores in mining/quarrying areas to sell it; presumably you'd have to show your licence at least once to get it but prior to the IRA bombing campaigns of the 1970s controls on getting bang were pretty relaxed!