Are blunderbusses non-restricted?

P

ProudPhoenician

Regular
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Location
Montreal, Quebec
So I was watching some old pirate movies and that got me thinking about flintlock firearms. I know that flintlock muskets are unregulated, meaning you don't need a PAL or anything to buy and own one (and I assume they're also exempt from storage regulation as well), and I also know that flintlock pistols are restricted firearms (a fact that I just can't get over. It's ridicules that such a thing is treated like a modern handgun). But what about blunderbusses? I've seen some that can be fairly small, almost like a sawn-off shotgun. What class do they fall under?
 
If it is 26" overall length you are fine.

I think if it is antique status then there are no requirements since it would not be considered a fire arm. Don't hold me to that though
 
Gnome75 said:
If it is 26" overall length you are fine.

I think if it is antique status then there are no requirements since it would not be considered a fire arm. Don't hold me to that though
Click to expand...

I'll dig in a little further. Also I'm pretty confident that firearms made prior to 1899 are antiques with no restrictions. The flintlocks I'm looking at modern replicas.

hxxp://www.militaryheritage.com/musket9.htm

Specifically, I was looking at this little beauty.
 
It's a flintlock and therefore antique. They're a ton of fun and kick like a mule if you double charge them and toss several handfuls of whatever musket balls and lead shot you can find inside.
The bruise lasted a couple weeks.
 
ProudPhoenician said:
I'll dig in a little further. Also I'm pretty confident that firearms made prior to 1899 are antiques with no restrictions. The flintlocks I'm looking at modern replicas.

hxxp://www.militaryheritage.com/musket9.htm

Specifically, I was looking at this little beauty.
Click to expand...


That look's beautiful!
 
i got thinking of this about three years ago watching a show were they made a blunderbusse from a kit...now you kinda sparked it again...yup i think I'm getting one now...
 
BlackPowderBurner said:
It's a flintlock and therefore antique. They're a ton of fun and kick like a mule if you double charge them and toss several handfuls of whatever musket balls and lead shot you can find inside.
The bruise lasted a couple weeks.
Click to expand...

What if it's a flintlock that isn't antique because it was made last week and only looks like an antique? And what if that flintlock meets the velocity requirements to make it a firearm and the length requirements to put it in the restricted category?
 
bogusiii said:
What if it's a flintlock that isn't antique because it was made last week and only looks like an antique? And what if that flintlock meets the velocity requirements to make it a firearm and the length requirements to put it in the restricted category?
Click to expand...

"Regulations Prescribing Antique Firearms (SOR/98-464)

1 A reproduction of a flintlock, wheel-lock or matchlock firearm, other than a handgun, manufactured after 1897."

"The blunderbuss is very manoeuvrable in the melée of battle with its 15-inch barrel and 30 1/2 inch length overall (.69 calibre)."

*EDIT* I should add for the benefit of the OP:

"Safety Regulations

Under the Firearms Act and corresponding regulations, antique firearms must be stored, displayed and transported unloaded.

If an individual is transporting antique firearms by vehicle and needs to leave them unattended*, they should be left in the vehicle’s locked trunk or similar compartment. If the vehicle does not have a trunk or compartment, the vehicle must be locked with the antique firearms inside and out of sight.

Antique handguns must be transported in a locked, non-transparent container that cannot readily be broken open or into or accidentally opened during transportation."
 
BlackPowderBurner said:
"Regulations Prescribing Antique Firearms (SOR/98-464)

1 A reproduction of a flintlock, wheel-lock or matchlock firearm, other than a handgun, manufactured after 1897."

"The blunderbuss is very manoeuvrable in the melée of battle with its 15-inch barrel and 30 1/2 inch length overall (.69 calibre)."

*EDIT* I should add for the benefit of the OP:

"Safety Regulations

Under the Firearms Act and corresponding regulations, antique firearms must be stored, displayed and transported unloaded.

If an individual is transporting antique firearms by vehicle and needs to leave them unattended*, they should be left in the vehicle’s locked trunk or similar compartment. If the vehicle does not have a trunk or compartment, the vehicle must be locked with the antique firearms inside and out of sight.

Antique handguns must be transported in a locked, non-transparent container that cannot readily be broken open or into or accidentally opened during transportation."
Click to expand...

Alright, so no permit is required, but all other regulations still apply.
 
Gnome75 said:
If it is 26" overall length you are fine.

I think if it is antique status then there are no requirements since it would not be considered a fire arm. Don't hold me to that though
Click to expand...

I don't believe there are any overall length or barrel length restrictions that apply to antiques.
 
promac said:
I don't believe there are any overall length or barrel length restrictions that apply to antiques.
Click to expand...

There's a difference between antique and prescribed antque. A modern reproduction flintlock is of the latter category thus falling subject to overall length and barrel length restrictions. An actual original antique has no such restrictions.
 
BlackPowderBurner said:
There's a difference between antique and prescribed antque. A modern reproduction flintlock is of the latter category thus falling subject to overall length and barrel length restrictions. An actual original antique has no such restrictions.
Click to expand...

I think the simplest answer is that if the RCMP considered modern flintlock blunderbuss to be a restricted gun, it would be registered. The majority of modern blunderbuss' in Canada have been imported via the US. That means they had to go through the scrutiny of Canada Customs and for that reason would be registered if the RCMP required it. With short barrels they are not handguns because handguns are defined as being designed to be shot with one hand

cheers mooncoon
 
mooncoon said:
I think the simplest answer is that if the RCMP considered modern flintlock blunderbuss to be a restricted gun, it would be registered. The majority of modern blunderbuss' in Canada have been imported via the US. That means they had to go through the scrutiny of Canada Customs and for that reason would be registered if the RCMP required it. With short barrels they are not handguns because handguns are defined as being designed to be shot with one hand

cheers mooncoon
Click to expand...

I'll have to call the RCMP then to get an answer to that. I'm positively intent on buying flintlocks yet, but I guess maybe sometime in the future having a few of those seems like fun.

Ha! It seems I have already fallen victim to wanting more guns than I originally planned on, and I haven't bought any yet despite having my license for more than a year! :D
 
There is a very useful sticky at the top of the antiques page, which clearly explains whether or not a thing qualifies as antique.
 
ProudPhoenician said:
I'll dig in a little further. Also I'm pretty confident that firearms made prior to 1899 are antiques with no restrictions. The flintlocks I'm looking at modern replicas.

hxxp://www.militaryheritage.com/musket9.htm

Specifically, I was looking at this little beauty.
Click to expand...

If you do some research, you will find a wide variety of opinions about the quality of these Indian made muzzleloaders.
 
ProudPhoenician said:
I'll dig in a little further. Also I'm pretty confident that firearms made prior to 1899 are antiques with no restrictions. The flintlocks I'm looking at modern replicas.

hxxp://www.militaryheritage.com/musket9.htm

Specifically, I was looking at this little beauty.
Click to expand...

December 1898 actually, is the cutoff for antique non firearms.
 
A modern reproduction flintlock rifle does not need a PAL to acquire, while a modern reproduction flintlock pistol has to be registered as a restricted firearm. As long as the blunderbuss meets the requirements of a flintlock long gun,with barrel length and overall length it should be good to go without any requirement for a licence.
 
mr.e moose said:
A modern reproduction flintlock rifle does not need a PAL to acquire, while a modern reproduction flintlock pistol has to be registered as a restricted firearm. As long as the blunderbuss meets the requirements of a flintlock long gun,with barrel length and overall length it should be good to go without any requirement for a licence.
Click to expand...

It is my impression that at least some of the modern replica blunderfuss (blunderbi ? ) have barrels shorter than 18". My guess is that they fall under the same rule as the very short barreled shotguns and "trapper model" lever action carbines which I believe says that if they were manufactured with a short barrel they are non restricted (I think). There seems to be a cutoff of around 12" barrels for such guns. That is where the definition of a handgun being a gun designed to be shot with one hand comes into play; modern reproduction blunderbusses are designed to be shot with 2 hands and are therefore not long barreled handguns (in my opinion)

cheers mooncoon
 
Loyalist Arms is one source of blunderbluss.

<http://www.loyalistarms.freeservers.com/dogblund.html>

<http://www.loyalistarms.freeservers.com/Frenchblunderbuss.html>
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom