a wrap up of american laws
I live in central kansas. Most police support the private ownership of guns. Our local gun show at abaline Kansas is put on by the sheriff's office. Shows run from small (100 tables or so) to massive national shows with 5,000 tables. You buy a table (20 t0 50 US$) and sell or display what you want. If you are a dealer and sell a gun, you must call it in to the Alcohol, tobacco and firearms bureau, They instantly check the buyer and, if he is not a criminal, ok the sale, you pay your money, put the gun in your pocket and go home. Private non-dealers can use the check but are under no obligation to. Buying a full automatic weapon is much more dificult and expensive (a US$200.00 tax stamp) but is probably easier than buying a rifle in the UK.
The US Army sells guns to citizens. The OGDCM now has several models of 22 rifles, m-1 Garands, 1903/A3 springfields, 1917 enfields rifle for sale. In the past couple years, I have bought an H and R M-12 22 rifle, a mossberg M144, three Mossberg M-44's, and two Garands.
Most of the US States now have concealed carry laws. Take a safety course, pay a small fee, get a police checkout, and you can carry a concealed pistol. It boils down to a difference in philosophy on whether the person or the government should run your life..
For troops wanting old guns International military arms is now selling many models of the Martini-henry rifle, Sniders, Sharps, Pattern 1853 rifled muskets, india pattern brown bess. that came out of an old armory in Nepal. These are all original and usuable.
R;E;
about black and smokeless powders. Black powder is a misture of 75% saltpeter (potassium nitrate), 15 % ground chaarcoal, and 10% sulphur. It was the only propelant from circa 1300 to 1880. smokeless powder is a nitrated cellouse, sometimes mixed with nitroglycerine (cordite). It is not really smokeless, only nearly smokeless. It is also very much more effieient and powerfull. You should never ever load a muzzle loader with smokeless power but Black powder Cartridges can be loaded with the proper type of smokeless powder.