Defining Antique.
This may be a stupid kind of question, but how many years does a firearm, pistol or otherwise, have to be before it can be rightly classified as an antique? Like in auotmobiles are there different classifiactions, early, classic, etc...)?
Thank you
Revbear[:I]
The only fences we need to worry about are those we put in our minds
Thank you
Revbear[:I]
The only fences we need to worry about are those we put in our minds
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The Gun Control Act of 1968 definition of antique is made in 1898 or earlier. Antiques, as defined in this act, are not subject to the sales records requirement as are the later guns. In general, I think "antique" has no specific age requirement. 0 -
revbear...
Federal regulations are clear on this... it must have been made prior to 1 January 1899.
Bert H.
Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!0 -
Yes, but......
....USPS doesn't necessarily allow the shipment of "antique" handguns by nonlicensees: see Pub 52 for THEIR definition.
Also, some states/localities still legally consider antique firearms to be covered under the same laws as modern firearms. State/local law take precedence over federal law.
Neal0 -
The definition of "antique" is complicated. According to U.S. Customs regulations, items more than 100 years old and can be brought into the country duty free. So, anything made before 1901 is now an antique. The dictionary says an antique is one of the oldest of its type. That explains how an antique automobile or computer can be much less than 100 years old. We often say in our writing that an antique is anything that is sold in an antiques shop, including items such as arts and crafts furniture, Tiffany lamps, and art deco bronzes.
Most people use the words "vintage" and "collectible" to describe anything made in the past that is collected. This includes most of the items bought at flea markets, house sales, and shops, such as toys, sheet music, radios, folk art, comic character and TV show memorabilia and almost anything that relates to the years from 1900 to 1999.
By the strictest definition, everything gets to be an antique if it exists for 100 years. But not every antique is collectible.
[^]
It's not what you know that gets you in trouble, it's what you know that just ain't so!
Resident Pyrrhonist0 -
quote:Originally posted by nmyers
Yes, but......
....USPS doesn't necessarily allow the shipment of "antique" handguns by nonlicensees: see Pub 52 for THEIR definition.
Also, some states/localities still legally consider antique firearms to be covered under the same laws as modern firearms. State/local law take precedence over federal law.
Neal
The USPS uses the same definition as the BATF and defers to 27CFR for the definition. Pub 52 is only a guide and is not complete. You have to go to the Domestic Mail Manual, Section C024, for the complete postal regulation.0 -
i may be wrong, but i believe part of the way a gun is defined antique is if the ammo designed for it is discontinued or absolete or if its in an unfiring condition. since blackpowder arms of civil war era can still be loaded and fired, they dont fall under antique rules, (or do they?,) yet a gun that has been found on a wreck off the carolina coast with barnicles on it...is. i do believe there is a scale that goes something like this..modern(working), antique(outdated but works with stipulations), 1. curio(non-working/obsolete), 2. relic(one step shy of returning to an earthen ore.) correct me on this if im warm or cold, so all can see. i dont want to give out hear-say. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by bobski
i may be wrong, but i believe part of the way a gun is defined antique is if the ammo designed for it is discontinued or absolete or if its in an unfiring condition. since blackpowder arms of civil war era can still be loaded and fired, they dont fall under antique rules, (or do they?,) yet a gun that has been found on a wreck off the carolina coast with barnicles on it...is. i do believe there is a scale that goes something like this..modern(working), antique(outdated but works with stipulations), 1. curio(non-working/obsolete), 2. relic(one step shy of returning to an earthen ore.) correct me on this if im warm or cold, so all can see. i dont want to give out hear-say.
Hopefully this will help explain the current BATFE regulations...
A Winchester Model 1894 chambered for 30 W.C.F. (30-30) that Letters as being made on 31 December 1898 (or earlier) - federal status - Antique firearm. Same exact firearm that letters as being made on or after 1 January 1899 - federal status - Modern firearm, and subject to all current transfer requirements.
Any Civil War era firearm... regardless of the type of ammo it uses (whether fixed cartridge or percussion) is an "Antique".
The "obselete" ammo section of the statute is intended for modern made replicas of firearms that were made for ammo that is not currently available... example; a Commemorative Winchester Model 1866 (or replica Henry) that is made for the .44 Henry rimfire cartridge, or a replica Spencer Carbine chambered for any of the original Spencer rimfire cartridges. Another example is a reproduction Sharps rifle in any of the the original Sharps centerfire cartridges. Each of these examples is considered to be the same as a pre-1899 firearm.
Hope that made things a little clearer for you.
Bert H.
Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!0 -
Bert H is right. The question of whether it shoots fixed metallic cartridges applies only to modern replicas.
So, if you have a replica of a Civil War Zouave .58 that takes powder poured down the barrel, it is not considered a modern firearm.0 -
thanks guys for clearing some of the fog!!
"The only fences we need to worry about are those we put in our minds"0 -
UPS will accept antique handguns shipped ground instead of 2nd day air.
Even though some say you cannot ship firearms through them, I've found you can. In fact, I just today mailed a firearm to the factory through them.
Just stay within regs. as to WHOM you ship.0
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