Shopping for antique handgun. Tell me your tips please.

qcdude

qcdude

Member
Rating - 100%
6   0   0
Location
Montreal
Hello everybody,

Ideally I would like to buy some antique revolver:
- Webley, Colt or some Belgian clones, Warnant, etc ... Is there any other kind of antique handgun practical choices beside revolvers? ...no muzzle loaders please :)
- preferably double action
- .45ACP
- budget is around 1500 cad depending on mechanical and cosmetic condition, but it can be more
I need it to practice handgun shooting from time to time as well as to take it to feel safe somewhere in wilderness up north.

Questions:
Is .45 ACP most practical caliber choice? I see that it is easy to buy this kind of ammo and the prices seem to be OK. The last thing what I want to do is searching for brass, bullets, reloading dies, powder, molds, etc. Well, I can do it if there is no other choice. But I would rather to spend my spare time with my kids, fishing, hunting or motorcycling, etc.
What are other good caliber choices can you suggest? What are the most universal ones?


Where to buy.
I saw a gun which I would buy here on CGN, but wasn't very lucky to be among the first. So I can consider any other options. I know it is possible to import one from the USA. Is it possible to buy and transport it through Canadian border myself, what are possible problems? Or the only option is to ask seller to ship it?..
Is it possible to import it from Europe? There are some super nice antique guns, i.e. like this one in UK: http://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/webley-a-cased-450-six-shot-revolver-model-w-1010-c-f9448f38ea

Thank you in advance.
 
Generally speaking, .45ACP must be handloaded for use in antiques. It can be a bad idea to shoot factory ammunition in an antique.
Importation of antiques is usually not a problem. You must be able to prove that the thing qualifies as antique under the law.
 
qcdude said:
Hello everybody,

Ideally I would like to buy some antique revolver:
- Webley, Colt or some Belgian clones, Warnant, etc ... Is there any other kind of antique handgun practical choices beside revolvers? ...no muzzle loaders please :)
- preferably double action
- .45ACP
- budget is around 1500 cad depending on mechanical and cosmetic condition, but it can be more
I need it to practice handgun shooting from time to time as well as to take it to feel safe somewhere in wilderness up north.

Questions:
Is .45 ACP most practical caliber choice? I see that it is easy to buy this kind of ammo and the prices seem to be OK. The last thing what I want to do is searching for brass, bullets, reloading dies, powder, molds, etc. Well, I can do it if there is no other choice. But I would rather to spend my spare time with my kids, fishing, hunting or motorcycling, etc.
What are other good caliber choices can you suggest? What are the most universal ones?


Where to buy.
I saw a gun which I would buy here on CGN, but wasn't very lucky to be among the first. So I can consider any other options. I know it is possible to import one from the USA. Is it possible to buy and transport it through Canadian border myself, what are possible problems? Or the only option is to ask seller to ship it?..
Is it possible to import it from Europe? There are some super nice antique guns, i.e. like this one in UK: http://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/webley-a-cased-450-six-shot-revolver-model-w-1010-c-f9448f38ea

Thank you in advance.
Click to expand...

Before you decide to buy an antique handgun you'd better educate yourself on the existing regulations in Canada.

Regulations Prescribing Antique Firearms-SOR/98-464

HANDGUNS
6. A handgun manufactured before 1898 that is capable of discharging
only rim-fire cartridges, other than 22 Calibre Short, 22 Calibre
Long or 22 Calibre Long Rifle cartridges.
7. A handgun manufactured before 1898 that is capable of discharging
centre-fire cartridges, other than a handgun designed or
adapted to discharge 32 Short Colt, 32 Long Colt, 32 Smith and Wesson,
32 Smith and Wesson Long, 32-20 Winchester, 38 Smith and
Wesson, 38 Short Colt, 38 Long Colt, 38-40 Winchester, 44-40
Winchester, or 45 Colt cartridges.

IMHO you'd be much better off to get an RPAL and eventually buy a regular handgun.
 
If you want to "feel safe in wilderness up north", the best option is a "backpacker" 12 ga. Ammo is available almost everywhere, and it's capable of handling any problems you may encounter. Spare parts, or lack of, are a real concern with antiques, as crystalized parts and old springs can let you down at the most inopportune times. Things to think about.
 
tiriaq said:
Generally speaking, .45ACP must be handloaded for use in antiques. It can be a bad idea to shoot factory ammunition in an antique.
Importation of antiques is usually not a problem. You must be able to prove that the thing qualifies as antique under the law.
Click to expand...

interesting point, so factory loaded .45ACP is too powerful for an antique?
As for the importation, I suspect that there must be ways. But I asked this question because real life experience can be very different. So it would be nice to hear from those who bought an antique gun outside Canada and transported it personally through Canadian border.
 
Factory 45acp is too powerful for the old 455 webley rechambered to it. The other issue is that the old webley barrels weren't made for jacketed bullets. The steel is somewhat soft by today's standards. So using jacketed ammo in them tends to be very hard on the rifling. Soft lead is easy on the bores, and generally more accurate to boot.
 
05RAV said:
Before you decide to buy an antique handgun you'd better educate yourself on the existing regulations in Canada.

Regulations Prescribing Antique Firearms-SOR/98-464

HANDGUNS
6. A handgun manufactured before 1898 that is capable of discharging
only rim-fire cartridges, other than 22 Calibre Short, 22 Calibre
Long or 22 Calibre Long Rifle cartridges.
7. A handgun manufactured before 1898 that is capable of discharging
centre-fire cartridges, other than a handgun designed or
adapted to discharge 32 Short Colt, 32 Long Colt, 32 Smith and Wesson,
32 Smith and Wesson Long, 32-20 Winchester, 38 Smith and
Wesson, 38 Short Colt, 38 Long Colt, 38-40 Winchester, 44-40
Winchester, or 45 Colt cartridges.

IMHO you'd be much better off to get an RPAL and eventually buy a regular handgun.
Click to expand...

Yes, I've read that same RCMP web page... I do have RPAL, but at the end I don't see a point to buy a restricted handgun - these regulations are pain in the a... Maintain your club membership, go straight to your shooting club...
I used to serve for armed forces and had enough handgun shooting practice to calm this itch down. This is for reason that the antiques in most cases cost more than brand new modern and technically advanced handguns. People are willing to pay more for that small extra freedom letting them legally take the handgun elsewhere beside clubs and to practice target shooting same way like unrestricted firearms, etc.
 
Fargone4sure said:
As for ease of reloading, my favorites are 455 webley, and 44 webley. Easy to get components for both of those.
Click to expand...
thanks for your input, Sir.
Is it easy to find/buy 455 webley, and 44 webley brass? ...In the past I've read that there are some calibers which can be almost universal, so same gun can chamber several other calibers, i.e. I saw Webley Pryse #4 .476 Cal - the description said that cylinder will chamber 450 Webley, 455, 476 and 45 Colt caliber. To my understanding this is very practical and can save time and money too. I have no experience with old guns, hence all these questions.
... What can you tell about Webley WG Army Model with .455/476 caliber marking?
 
Remac said:
If you want to "feel safe in wilderness up north", the best option is a "backpacker" 12 ga. Ammo is available almost everywhere, and it's capable of handling any problems you may encounter. Spare parts, or lack of, are a real concern with antiques, as crystalized parts and old springs can let you down at the most inopportune times. Things to think about.
Click to expand...
I see, but I like more to have a nice and handy piece of iron on my belt. There is already enough survival tools in my backpack, i.e. Fiskars Hatchet, etc, etc ... I'm mechanically and technically minded enough to be able to check, service or fix these simple mechanisms myself.
 
I would suggest a 44 russian cal. For ease of reloading & components availability,44 sp. or mag. brass cut down and
.429 bullets, 44 sp. dies.
 
snurge said:
I would suggest a 44 russian cal. For ease of reloading & components availability,44 sp. or mag. brass cut down and
.429 bullets, 44 sp. dies.
Click to expand...

btw I like the .44 S&W Russian - it used to be one of fastest and most accurate shooting ammo in the past. And, good news, it is still available in Canada at $35...45 per Box of 50 (factory loaded and lead bullets).
Good point, Mr snurge :) Thanks
 
For any antique gun you plan on buying check if factory ammo is available, and if said gun could handle that ammo.. If the ammo is not available or your gun needs tailored low pressure loads, then you will have to reload. If you are going to reloading route, make sure you can actually get all the components to make cartridges in the calibre before you buy the gun. No point in buying something you want to shoot but cant.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom