I've been debating whether or not to post this, but I think I owe you guys a warning so you don't fall into the same trap I did. So i'm posting this on a new account because I don't want my main account to be labelled as the "snitch"
A few months back I bought what was described as a "380 revolver rechambered for 38 special wadcutter" webley RIC-type revolver from a fellow on #######.
When it finally arrived, it seemed like in great condition, and even fit some of the 38 special brass I had saved.
Being the responsible citizen and with all the range lockdowns, I decided to call the RCMP and ask to get an antique letter for it, because I don't want to go out on crown land and end up getting arrested for carrying a revolver without any registration.
Well after sending in about a dozen of pictures it to the tech lab and waiting 2 months, I finally get a response that they have deemed it as "restricted".
The techs were adamant that there was no way to prove the original chambering was 380 revolver and not 38 colt or 38 S&W. They said because I sent them a picture with a 38 special empty casing fitting the cylinder, that meant it could also chamber 38 long colt or 38 short colt, because 38 special is just a longer version of those cartridges. I tried to argue with them, but apparently the commonly accepted .379" diameter of 38 special isn't enough to differentiate it from the .381" diameter or 38 colt, and they even told me that modern 38 special revolvers can shoot 38 colt just fine.
Well the one bit of good news was that the barrel was just over 4.25", and I didn't have it reclassified as a prohib.
The ####ty part is I now have to register it as a restricted.
And now i'm almost $2k down the drain for some ####ty 38colt/38 special gun that I have to handload black powder bullets for just to take to the indoor range -- oh wait, never mind, all the ranges are CLOSED DUE TO COVID.
And because of how much of a pain in the ass it is to clean black powder, once my local range opens up again, I might as well just bring my taurus 66 and shoot regular factory ammo instead.
I now see that this guy has started his own website selling antique guns, and he's again listing some revolvers that are "380 revolver in 38 special wadcutter".
You should be VERY VERY careful. Since the last week I've been staying up doing a ton of research -- and I see a LOT of other guns that he's selling are mislabelled -- WATCH OUT, AND DO YOUR RESEARCH, AND STAY AWAY FROM ANYTHING THAT HE CLAIMS IS "RECHAMBERED"
I was lucky that the barrel length was long enough I didn't end up with a prohib and have to turn it over. And thankfully I had enough sense to call the RCMP to get a letter instead of being caught in the woods with a restricted by the fish cops. I don't think even a full refund would cover the legal fees if that happened. Caveat emptor.
A few months back I bought what was described as a "380 revolver rechambered for 38 special wadcutter" webley RIC-type revolver from a fellow on #######.
When it finally arrived, it seemed like in great condition, and even fit some of the 38 special brass I had saved.
Being the responsible citizen and with all the range lockdowns, I decided to call the RCMP and ask to get an antique letter for it, because I don't want to go out on crown land and end up getting arrested for carrying a revolver without any registration.
Well after sending in about a dozen of pictures it to the tech lab and waiting 2 months, I finally get a response that they have deemed it as "restricted".
The techs were adamant that there was no way to prove the original chambering was 380 revolver and not 38 colt or 38 S&W. They said because I sent them a picture with a 38 special empty casing fitting the cylinder, that meant it could also chamber 38 long colt or 38 short colt, because 38 special is just a longer version of those cartridges. I tried to argue with them, but apparently the commonly accepted .379" diameter of 38 special isn't enough to differentiate it from the .381" diameter or 38 colt, and they even told me that modern 38 special revolvers can shoot 38 colt just fine.
Well the one bit of good news was that the barrel was just over 4.25", and I didn't have it reclassified as a prohib.
The ####ty part is I now have to register it as a restricted.
And now i'm almost $2k down the drain for some ####ty 38colt/38 special gun that I have to handload black powder bullets for just to take to the indoor range -- oh wait, never mind, all the ranges are CLOSED DUE TO COVID.
And because of how much of a pain in the ass it is to clean black powder, once my local range opens up again, I might as well just bring my taurus 66 and shoot regular factory ammo instead.
I now see that this guy has started his own website selling antique guns, and he's again listing some revolvers that are "380 revolver in 38 special wadcutter".
You should be VERY VERY careful. Since the last week I've been staying up doing a ton of research -- and I see a LOT of other guns that he's selling are mislabelled -- WATCH OUT, AND DO YOUR RESEARCH, AND STAY AWAY FROM ANYTHING THAT HE CLAIMS IS "RECHAMBERED"
I was lucky that the barrel length was long enough I didn't end up with a prohib and have to turn it over. And thankfully I had enough sense to call the RCMP to get a letter instead of being caught in the woods with a restricted by the fish cops. I don't think even a full refund would cover the legal fees if that happened. Caveat emptor.
