Candidates in the gun and allied trades who have completed their training or apprenticeship and have successfully passed the award of Gunmakers’ Certification may be eligible to join the Freedom of the Company as Certificated Freemen.

The Gunmakers’ Company is one of the few livery companies of the City of London that still undertakes the duties for which it was formed, namely, to prove arms for the benefit of public safety. Today, as well as maintaining and running the Proof House, the Company performs charitable activity through the Gunmakers’ Company Charitable Trust and organises social events to enhance the society of gunmakers. It is governed by the Master and Wardens through the Court of Assistants, with volunteers undertaking the supporting activity of the various committees.

Members today are not exclusively gunmakers, but they all have a common interest in gunmaking, shooting or the heritage associated with guns. Applications to join the Freedom and Livery of the Company are welcomed from all backgrounds and all walks of life, of all genders and all ethnicities. Entry to the Freedom requires a proposer and seconder, with a Joining Fine being payable once the application is accepted. Candidates are then expected to progress immediately onto the Livery before they can take part in any activity. Once admitted as a Liverymen, annual Quarterage is then payable. For those in the trade who may find membership of the Livery financially difficult, the membership category Certificated Freeman, as outlined below, has been created.

Certificated Freemen

These notes apply to candidates in the gun and allied trades who have completed their training or apprenticeship and have successfully passed the award of Gunmakers’ Certification and may be eligible to join the Freedom of the Company as Certificated Freemen.

As with other methods of entry, the candidate must satisfy the following criteria:

  1. Attained the age of twenty-one
  2. Have no criminal convictions (excluding any that are spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and any that are for minor traffic offences)
  3. Must not be an undischarged bankrupt
  4. Must be recommended for the Freedom by the Certification Panel
  5. Must complete and submit the application form

Applications, once submitted, are passed firstly to the Membership Committee and then the Court for approval. If successful, the candidate is called to attend a meeting of the Court at the Proof House to be elected and to make their Declaration as a Freeman of the Company. At this point, the Master will present them with a certificate of the Freedom.

Candidates (or their employer) will have already paid to receive the award of Gunmakers’ Certification. There is no further Joining Fine (entry fee) to enter the Freedom of the Company as a Certificated Freeman, however, once elected, there is a £100 per year registration fee which is payable annually on 1 March by Direct Debit.

Membership offering for Certificated Freeman:

  • Receipt of a certificate of Freedom of the Company
  • Receive all updates and communications regarding events issued by the Clerk’s Office
  • Name listed in the Company’s the Livery List as Certificated Freemen
  • Entitled to attend the Nomination Dinner at the guest ticket price
  • With the exception of Proof House Livery Lunches, entitled to attend any Livery function at the ticketed price
  • Freemen are not entitled to vote for the Lord Mayor of the City of London, nor the Sheriffs

In due course, Certificated Freemen may, and indeed will be encouraged, to apply for full membership as a Liveryman by ‘Servitude’, provided the date of admittance to the Livery is at least 5 years from the start of apprentice training. A proposer and seconder who are members of the Livery will be required. The joining fine for the Livery is waived, but the full rate of Quarterage (annual membership fee) is payable. This then entitles the candidate the full privileges of a Liveryman.

Alternatively, the Certificated Freeman may apply for the Livery by ‘Redemption’ at any time, with a proposer and seconder, but in this instance, the full joining fine (three times Quarterage) is payable, as is full Quarterage, with the full privileges of a Liveryman.

As part of the process of becoming a full member of the Livery, all applicants have to gain the Freedom of the City of London.

For more information, visit the website at: https://www.gunmakers.org.uk/  or contact the Assistant Clerk at: assistantclerk@gunmakers.org.uk