The reason that the government have put muzzle-loading pistols on a restrictive licence must surely be because it is considered by them to be concealable & therefore may be used to commit a crime. However, this is not sensible thinking, because criminals will use sawn-off modern guns, not black powder muzzle-loaders. You would have to conceal a muzzle-loading pistol under a top coat or in a large coat pocket, & if that muzzle-loading pistol was a matchlock, it would set their coat on fire!!! Below is a sawn-off rifle seized by police from criminals. Far more efficient & easier to carry than a black powder muzzle-loading pistol.