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Help understanding gun laws...

Shmeddie
okok i am new to the board and to the site. I would also like to add this is the most profesional looking gun trading site i have seen on the net.

well my question is do you have to get an FFL to buy antigue Firearms? also do you have to be 21 to buy an antigue Revolver?


(Below is cut and paste out of the Florida Firearms rule book.)

ANTIQUES AND REPLICAS
Unless used in the commission of a crime, the term firearm shall not
include an antique firearm. An antique firearm is any firearm manufactured
in or before 1918 (including any matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap, or
similar early type of ignition system) or replicas thereof, whether actually
manufactured before or after the year 1918, and also any firearm using fixed
ammunition manufactured in or before 1918, for which ammunition is no
longer manufactured in the United States and is not readily available in the
ordinary channels of commercial trade.




Thanks for any help you can give
Eddie
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Comments

8 comments

Date Votes
  • 11b6r
    Schmeddie- I'll give this a shot (pun intended) anyone else, feel free to comment- And first- welcome to the forum. Just remember- (1) Don't feed the trolls, and (2) Don't annoy the crazy person. [:p]

    Now- to your question- there are state laws, and Federal laws. State law can be stricter than Fed, but not less strict.

    An ANTIQUE firearm is one made before 1898- and does not include REPLICAS of antiques (like the newly made Chinese version of the Winchester 1897 Pump shotgun)- OR- is a muzzleloader that uses ball and powder. Even a newly made flintlock or caplock rifle, or a newly made ball and cap revolver are in the same ANTIQUE class. ANTIQUES are not subject to most of the Federal firearm laws, and do not require a FFL. Exception- some modern muzzleloaders can be changed to a cartridge arm by swapping barrels in about 10 seconds. THOSE are treated as modern arms. HOWEVER, some states do regulate them. Being outside Fed law, no, you do not have to be 21 to buy, say, a ball and cap revolver- but again, some STATES regulate them. And some sellers, concerned about their personal liability, won't sell ANY handgun to a buyer under 21.

    Was that sufficently confusing?
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  • duckhunter
    Call your local ffl dealer to get the update on FL laws.
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  • bigtire
    Gunbroker is a great place to buy firearms. They have a page telling you how to go about it.

    http://www.gunbroker.com/User/BuyerTutorial.asp

    Antiques and blackpowder weapons bought on this site do not have to be sent to an FFL for transfer to you. As long as you are legally entitled to own them, they may be shipped directly to your door.
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  • Shmeddie
    some laws just leave me scratching my head... like for example in florida it says if your under 21 you can own a handgun. but then it also says you cant buy one. (i do have a few that my grandfather has passed on to me) but i just want to start catching some of these good deals i see on gunbroker for antigue COLT Revolvers. from the wild west days. (yes i am a western enthusiast). i do not want to actually go out and shoot them?
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  • COLT
    ...if the firearm is classified as "antique", you should not need an FFL to recieve it. As for an antique handgun, I would THINK, the same applies...but I'd ck your local law.

    For most firearms that are over 50 years old, the ATF "50 year old" rule applies, either an 01 or 03 FFL will suffice for transfer. I said "most" as not all 50 year old fire arms qualify as per ATF to be transferred with an 03 FFL,they require an 01 FFL, go figure.

    I have dealt with diferent ATF agents that have given me a different interpretation, for the SAME rule...on several occaisions...they don't even know their own rules...[^][:0][V]


    Your right about one thing, the rules/laws are mostly written in a language not spoken on this planet, so be careful...[;)]

    ani-texas-flag-1.gif
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  • Permanently deleted user
    Welcome to the forum from a fellow floridan.

    If you like western shooting, you should check out the sportsman club in hernando. Western shoots, along with skeet, trap, pistol, rifle and archery.

    Shoot me an email and I will give you directions.
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  • Spider7115
    quote:Originally posted by 11b6r
    Schmeddie- I'll give this a shot (pun intended) anyone else, feel free to comment- And first- welcome to the forum. Just remember- (1) Don't feed the trolls, and (2) Don't annoy the crazy person. [:p]

    Now- to your question- there are state laws, and Federal laws. State law can be stricter than Fed, but not less strict.

    An ANTIQUE firearm is one made before 1898- and does not include REPLICAS of antiques (like the newly made Chinese version of the Winchester 1897 Pump shotgun)- OR- is a muzzleloader that uses ball and powder. Even a newly made flintlock or caplock rifle, or a newly made ball and cap revolver are in the same ANTIQUE class. ANTIQUES are not subject to most of the Federal firearm laws, and do not require a FFL. Exception- some modern muzzleloaders can be changed to a cartridge arm by swapping barrels in about 10 seconds. THOSE are treated as modern arms. HOWEVER, some states do regulate them. Being outside Fed law, no, you do not have to be 21 to buy, say, a ball and cap revolver- but again, some STATES regulate them. And some sellers, concerned about their personal liability, won't sell ANY handgun to a buyer under 21.

    Was the sufficently confusing?

    Actually, firearms made IN 1898 (not "before 1898") are also antiques. To be categorized as an "antique", they must have been made prior to January 1, 1899.
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  • 11b6r
    Spider- you are correct. Should have said "made in 1898 or earlier"
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