No, every firearm to be used or sold in the UNITED KINGDOM has to be subjected to proof on importations from ANY country that is not a member of the CIP organisation. The USA is NOT a member - it has neither official standards of gun proof, nor Federal proof houses in any state to apply the tests.
There are currently fourteen members of the CIP, including UK.
If you build a gun here in UK for your own use, you are not compelled to have it proofed, but it's a good idea. However, if you offer it for sale, it MUST be proofed at your expense before you can sell it or even give it away. This is not advisory - it is a legal requirement. Membership of the CIP is written into the law of the land in the nations who are members.
TFoley
I did a bit of reading on the CIP, Developed in Napoleonic times. In my ignorance I thought that back in the day and on your side of the pond the firearm was manufactured where it was proofed. What you described that by defarbing a firearms proof mark would get you in the UK is equivalent to removing a serial number on a modern firearm in the US. Room & board with bars on the door. Very cringeworthy. Thanks O.R.
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