Thoughts on importing a 4.14" revolver

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johnnycanuck

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Looking for ideas on the advisability of importing a 4.14-4.18" smith and wesson mountain gun into Canada. I have found a few on gunbroker that have been caliper-measured to be over the 4.134" cutoff. And, the prices, even with paying Questar's import fee, are quite desireable. I have heard that really close barrel length firearms are sometimes sent to Ottawa for verifying to ensure they are over the limit, and I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with this.

Heck, the cost and wait time might be worth it, as part of my duty to help overload the system... ;-)
 
johnnycanuck said:
Looking for ideas on the advisability of importing a 4.14-4.18" smith and wesson mountain gun into Canada. I have found a few on gunbroker that have been caliper-measured to be over the 4.134" cutoff. And, the prices, even with paying Questar's import fee, are quite desireable. I have heard that really close barrel length firearms are sometimes sent to Ottawa for verifying to ensure they are over the limit, and I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with this.

Heck, the cost and wait time might be worth it, as part of my duty to help overload the system... ;-)
Click to expand...

Why don't you buy a nice stainless 6" 686 on CGN EE and have Gunnar at Armco or someone with a good reputation chop it down to 4.5". A couple I've seen are really beautiful plus you don't have to deal with all the waiting and worry of importing etc.
 
More guns brought into Canada is a good idea. Go for it! :cool:

Yes if the barrel is close then they will want to confirm the measure.
 
BC Mike said:
Why don't you buy a nice stainless 6" 686 on CGN EE and have Gunnar at Armco or someone with a good reputation chop it down to 4.5". A couple I've seen are really beautiful plus you don't have to deal with all the waiting and worry of importing etc.
Click to expand...

Now don't get me wrong here but wouldn't .357 shells rattle around and kinda fall out of the .44 Mags charge hole? Never heard of S&W specifically calling a model of the .357 a Mountain Gun but if I am wrong, educate me. Maybe chop down a 629 instead? :)
 
rick357 said:
Now don't get me wrong here but wouldn't .357 shells rattle around and kinda fall out of the .44 Mags charge hole? Never heard of S&W specifically calling a model of the .357 a Mountain Gun but if I am wrong, educate me. Maybe chop down a 629 instead? :)
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OOPS! Didn't notice the "Mountain" part. 629 it is.
Mike
 
I'd ask questar, they should be able to tell you. Either way, the 105mm limit is a hard number, and if the revolver meets restricted criteria, they will let it in, though I have also heard of them being sent to Ottawa for verification.

Or if you can wait a few weeks, as soon as my 106mm 629 is completed, I will have a 106mm M-29-2 for sale.
 
do your homework ,i think Mark(Questar) won't try to import anything under 105.5mm ,just check with him,you may end up owning a pistol that you can never get into Canada .
 
Forget it. They go by the manufacturer's advertised barrel length. How long it actually is doesn't matter. The Model 29 Mountain Gun is advertised at 4". Smith does make a 5" Model 629 though.
 
This is off a form for businesses to register firearms dated 2007/01/01, it looks like actual measurements can be used. So it sounds like a revolver barrel is measured from the muzzle to the front face of the cylinder.

http://www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca/online-en_ligne/form-assistance/pdfs/678_e.pdf

m) Barrel length
For firearms other than revolvers, the barrel length is the
distance from the muzzle of the barrel to and including the
chamber, but does not include the length of any attachments.
The barrel length of a revolver does not include the cylinder.
Measure from the muzzle up to and including the chamber
(for example, by measuring how much of the cleaning rod fits
in the barrel when the action is closed). Put an "X" in the
appropriate box to indicate the units of measurement (inches
or millimetres).
 
sunray said:
Forget it. They go by the manufacturer's advertised barrel length. How long it actually is doesn't matter. The Model 29 Mountain Gun is advertised at 4". Smith does make a 5" Model 629 though.
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Please elaborate on this. Who is "they"? And are you saying that a restricted cant be registered as a restricted if it has a different barrel length than the origional manufacturer states?
 
BC Mike said:
Why don't you buy a nice stainless 6" 686 on CGN EE and have Gunnar at Armco or someone with a good reputation chop it down to 4.5". A couple I've seen are really beautiful plus you don't have to deal with all the waiting and worry of importing etc.
Click to expand...
For one thing, chopping the barrel would probably obliterate the gun's resale value. Also, how do you relocate the front sight? The 686 has a small "hump" on top of the barrel (covering about 1.5" closest to the muzzle) to which the front sight post is pinned. If you cut off the humped portion of the barrel, where are you going to attach the sight? While I'm sure it's doable, the end result would look nothing like a stock 686.
 
sunray said:
Forget it. They go by the manufacturer's advertised barrel length. How long it actually is doesn't matter. The Model 29 Mountain Gun is advertised at 4". Smith does make a 5" Model 629 though.
Click to expand...
Taurus 24/7 is advertised as 4" on Taurus' website and yet it's available in Canada. The same is true of several other handguns. It seems that as long as the measurements exceed the magic number, it's okay for import.
 
capp325 said:
For one thing, chopping the barrel would probably obliterate the gun's resale value. Also, how do you relocate the front sight? The 686 has a small "hump" on top of the barrel (covering about 1.5" closest to the muzzle) to which the front sight post is pinned. If you cut off the humped portion of the barrel, where are you going to attach the sight? While I'm sure it's doable, the end result would look nothing like a stock 686.
Click to expand...

The reason I suggested chopping a 6" down was because I had seen an example of how it can be done keeping the best aspects of form and function without compromise. This one was modified from a 6" by Armco and the picture speaks for itself.

ArmcoChopped6865.jpg


ArmcoChopped6866.jpg
 
BC Mike said:
The reason I suggested chopping a 6" down was because I had seen an example of how it can be done keeping the best aspects of form and function without compromise. This one was modified from a 6" by Armco and the picture speaks for itself.

ArmcoChopped6865.jpg


ArmcoChopped6866.jpg
Click to expand...

It may not look stock but there is nothing wrong with the look of that cut down 686. I would buy one if I didn't already have a 4" 686.:D
 
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