Nope - I am 100% sure of this: air rifles that fall within the legal ft lb muzzle energy limit do not require licenses - those above the legal ft lb limit do require a license. I will dig out the legislation over the weekend, scan it in and post it for all to see - it'll be in Thai (unless I can find an english copy somewhere around - English copy does exist and I do have it but god knows where it is). If I am wrong then it is a change in legislation sometime over the last few years or so.

As for licenses in general go - yes, some areas have a relaxed issuance policy and other areas have a strict issuance policy. It really is down to the local chief copper - it is he who signs off Yes or No on the dotted line of each application - and I know one thing they always ask is "why" - so have a good reason e.g. problems with birds wil not get you your 308 or Wheatherby Magnum 456 - for one of those write "wild boar hunting"!!! - and the next question will almost certainly be "who's land and have you got a letter of permission fromt he land owner". They always look at the reason......... I wouldn;t have one would get a license for anything more than a 22 rimfire if it was problems with birds.

Failing all efforts take a drive up to Kalasin - where you still find old boys hunting birds with old barrell loading black powder guns !! .... none of them are licensed and no one bats an eyelid!!

We were given the NO NO NO when we tried the other day too; so any more info very much appreciated.

Plenty of those old long barreled guns around here too, after the rice harvest they'll be dozens running around with them, trying to shoot rats. Absolutely correct, none of these licensed. My wife tells me that if seen by police, the carrier is in trouble, however, no one seems to be bothered, I see these all the time strapped onto motorbikes on the main roads, certainly, no attempts at concealing them.

Nope - I am 100% sure of this: air rifles that fall within the legal ft lb muzzle energy limit do not require licenses - those above the legal ft lb limit do require a license. I will dig out the legislation over the weekend, scan it in and post it for all to see - it'll be in Thai (unless I can find an english copy somewhere around - English copy does exist and I do have it but god knows where it is). If I am wrong then it is a change in legislation sometime over the last few years or so.

As for licenses in general go - yes, some areas have a relaxed issuance policy and other areas have a strict issuance policy. It really is down to the local chief copper - it is he who signs off Yes or No on the dotted line of each application - and I know one thing they always ask is "why" - so have a good reason e.g. problems with birds wil not get you your 308 or Wheatherby Magnum 456 - for one of those write "wild boar hunting"!!! - and the next question will almost certainly be "who's land and have you got a letter of permission fromt he land owner". They always look at the reason......... I wouldn;t have one would get a license for anything more than a 22 rimfire if it was problems with birds.

Failing all efforts take a drive up to Kalasin - where you still find old boys hunting birds with old barrell loading black powder guns !! .... none of them are licensed and no one bats an eyelid!!

We were given the NO NO NO when we tried the other day too; so any more info very much appreciated.

Plenty of those old long barreled guns around here too, after the rice harvest they'll be dozens running around with them, trying to shoot rats. Absolutely correct, none of these licensed. My wife tells me that if seen by police, the carrier is in trouble, however, no one seems to be bothered, I see these all the time strapped onto motorbikes on the main roads, certainly, no attempts at concealing them.

...... and that I think is just the problem you're running into - namely, your own observations regards the contradiction regards the poccession (and usage) of black powder muzzle loading rifles (i.e. that a "blind eye" is turned towards them)- I think the reponse you are getting is more because the dealer couldn't be bothered.

I'm trying to touch base with someone over the weekend who can give me the name of a shop where you can purchase an airgun that is in the legal ft lbs limit.

What I did find out today is that handgun licenses in Bangkok and Phuket have come to all but a standtill since 2005 - with less than half a dozen being issued, and no rifle licenses being issued to private persons (or juristic persons as they like to call it). Government attitude has beome a lot more conservative - especialy in tourist areas.