Lettered Antique, converted from no go caliber

Shooting Bastard

Shooting Bastard

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I’ve heard that regulations have changed in the years since I was a regular here.

If one has a Colt SAA, converted long ago, from 45LC, to 38SP, and applied for, and received, a RCMP status letter around 8 years ago, is that Colt still antique status, even if such letters aren’t being issued anymore?

Asking for a friend...
 
The regulations have not changed.
The policy has.
The CFP will no longer reclassify a restricted firearm to antique if the caliber is changed, if the thing was registered as restricted.
If you want to find out if your revolver is still considered to be antique, call the CFP and ask. Before you do, ask yourself if you really want the answer.
 
tiriaq said:
The regulations have not changed.
The policy has.
The CFP will no longer reclassify a restricted firearm to antique if the caliber is changed, if the thing was registered as restricted.
If you want to find out if your revolver is still considered to be antique, call the CFP and ask. Before you do, ask yourself if you really want the answer.
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Yep, i agree and do prefer not to know.:)
 
They will reissue those letters if you ask for a new copy. This may be a sneaky way to get a confirmation.

I would expect that it still is. The law has not changed, it's just that they refuse to de-register such guns any more. But if it has been declared antique it should remain so.
 
Template letters are a good option to have, they are self explanatory.

EX: Webley 455 MK1, MK2, MK1* MK2* MK1** MK2** all those are recognized as prescribed antiques, no serial number necessairy, the template letter is clear and not confusing.

I have showned to an LEO the letter and the pistol and he told me that if he were presented with this letters he would just confirme the antique status.

For the Webley MK3 it's more confusing since only a small% are prescribed antiques so a personalized letter would be in order to possess.
 
Shooting Bastard said:
As it was converted over a half century ago, and in the US, I’m pretty sure that it has never been registered.
All of this advice is excellent, and much appreciated !!
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If you have the RCMP letter then it _was_ registered - that's what they do to issue such letters. So there is a registration in their database for the gun, but it's marked with the 'antique' flag and just the info of the person who the letter was issued to.
 
caramel said:
Template letters are a good option to have, they are self explanatory.

EX: Webley 455 MK1, MK2, MK1* MK2* MK1** MK2** all those are recognized as prescribed antiques, no serial number necessairy, the template letter is clear and not confusing.

I have showned to an LEO the letter and the pistol and he told me that if he were presented with this letters he would just confirme the antique status.

For the Webley MK3 it's more confusing since only a small% are prescribed antiques so a personalized letter would be in order to possess.
Click to expand...

Are these "Template Letters" something that needs to be directly asked from the RCMP firearms lab, or is it just a print out of the FRT?
 
appleorangefish said:
Are these "Template Letters" something that needs to be directly asked from the RCMP firearms lab, or is it just a print out of the FRT?
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No, Caramel is most likely talking about the antique "standard template" sheet that a user created and posted to the site several years ago. It was essentially like an RCMP letter where you filled in a series of blanks about your specific gun, but written much simpler and in clear, laymans terms. I believe it used to be posted in one of the forum stickys but has been lost to time and the photobucket void
 
Milspectacles said:
No, Caramel is most likely talking about the antique "standard template" sheet that a user created and posted to the site several years ago. It was essentially like an RCMP letter where you filled in a series of blanks about your specific gun, but written much simpler and in clear, laymans terms. I believe it used to be posted in one of the forum stickys but has been lost to time and the photobucket void
Click to expand...

Agree, they are simple and non confusing.
 
caramel said:
Agree, they are simple and non confusing.
Click to expand...

Sure but they actually mean nothing and when the LEO is dealing with what they perceive to be a "handgun" a home made letter explaining the law likely isn't going to convince them. When they call the lab to search the literally hundreds of different FRT numbers for the Colt SAA good luck that they will find the correct one that says your gun is antique. The sad truth is what needs to happen is someone without a lettered "converted" one needs to be charged with possession of an un registered restricted firearm and then go to court and parade out all the witnesses that received letters before the RCMP changed its policy (when the law itself hasn't changed). If the law hasn't changed but there internal policy has, then what they allowed you to do before is still legal now and should stand up in court. But who in their right mind wants to go through that storm?
 
gutinater said:
Sure but they actually mean nothing and when the LEO is dealing with what they perceive to be a "handgun" a home made letter explaining the law likely isn't going to convince them. When they call the lab to search the literally hundreds of different FRT numbers for the Colt SAA good luck that they will find the correct one that says your gun is antique. The sad truth is what needs to happen is someone without a lettered "converted" one needs to be charged with possession of an un registered restricted firearm and then go to court and parade out all the witnesses that received letters before the RCMP changed its policy (when the law itself hasn't changed). If the law hasn't changed but there internal policy has, then what they allowed you to do before is still legal now and should stand up in court. But who in their right mind wants to go through that storm?
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I know I am at a loss with so much advice going around. I have a Colt SAA made in 1893. It is re-barreled and re-cylindered to 38Spc by Colt in the 50's. Actually the Barrel says 38 Special but the cylinders chamber 357. Don't worry it just sees gentle 38 handloads. I have no letter and honestly a bit confused by all the advice on CGN as to how to go about getting a letter. I got a verifier to look at a Webley RIC a few years ago for me and he sent in a form to get the RCMP letter. Years later and I have not got the letter. I guess I am losing faith that I would get one for the Colt. I also have a few others but have FRT printouts that state the guns are antiques. That is all the venders provided and hope that flies. I do carry a printout from Colt's serial number lookup to help defuse things is stopped. It at least shows the gun was made in 1893. I have no Idea what the original caliber was. I have a genuine fear that if I call I will get screwed over.

Cheers
Moe
 
@Moe, start with getting a letter from Colt. If it says it was manufactured in 45, then you won't be able to get the RCMP letter under the current regulations. If it says anything not on the list of no go calibers (like 455 for instance) then you can apply for a letter with relative safety.
 
Milspectacles said:
No, Caramel is most likely talking about the antique "standard template" sheet that a user created and posted to the site several years ago. It was essentially like an RCMP letter where you filled in a series of blanks about your specific gun, but written much simpler and in clear, laymans terms. I believe it used to be posted in one of the forum stickys but has been lost to time and the photobucket void
Click to expand...

caramel said:
Agree, they are simple and non confusing.
Click to expand...

Ah i see, so it's not an RCMP issued letter, but looks like one, and I assume cites all the relevant legistlation to make it easy to understand. Is there a copy of it floating around? Looking through the stickies I can't find anything directly about it.
 
appleorangefish said:
Ah i see, so it's not an RCMP issued letter, but looks like one, and I assume cites all the relevant legistlation to make it easy to understand. Is there a copy of it floating around? Looking through the stickies I can't find anything directly about it.
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My PB is acting badly, as soon i will put a picture. Sorry for the wait.
 
KotKotofeich said:
@Moe, start with getting a letter from Colt. If it says it was manufactured in 45, then you won't be able to get the RCMP letter under the current regulations. If it says anything not on the list of no go calibers (like 455 for instance) then you can apply for a letter with relative safety.
Click to expand...

Ok thanks. I will get on that. I believe a fee of about $75USD is what that Colt charges. Worth it if it all works out. Otherwise I will have to shred and burn it LOL.

Cheers
Moe
 
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