Antique calibre rules?

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starw24

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Hi everyone, looking to buy an antique and just want to get some confirmation. I’m going to go through the states and import to save a couple grand even though it takes a few months. I’ve been seeing some colt 1892s on there that fire 38 long colt, is that an allowed calibre? Under Regulations Prescribing Antique Firearms, SOR/98-464, it says for handguns they’re antique other than handguns that shoot or are adapted to shoot 38 long colt and other cartridges.

If anyone can clarify this or provide a good calibre to get a colt in, id appreciate it. Thanks!
 
LawrenceN said:
There is a list of calibers that make any pistol produced in those calibers as '"prohibited". Your .38 long Colt is on that list.
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Almost. 38 will be restricted. It's the barrel length that would make it prohib if under 106 mm.

It's the 32 related calibers (but not even all 32!) that could make it prohibited regardless of anything else...
 
Lots of great info here, thanks to everyone explaining it to me! After this OIC nonsense my gun budget has nowhere to go and I may become a lever slinging, antique shooting cowboy in da woods. Cheers!
 
KotKotofeich said:
Almost. 38 will be restricted. It's the barrel length that would make it prohib if under 106 mm.

It's the 32 related calibers (but not even all 32!) that could make it prohibited regardless of anything else...
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Prohibited = 4 inches or shorter = 101.6 mm . or shorter. You've got the 6 in the wrong place.
 
When the law was made 4 inches was the number. Inches and feet were the standard and the metric system was coming into being. The time was when Chretien was Prime Minister. The law said then that he wanted to prohibited the Saturday night specials which primarily were 4 inch barrels ,and that was the law.
If the metric system came in and lengthened the required 4 inches then the law was changed secretly and therefore may be an illegal law . It wouldn't be difficult to find the original documents but I don't work on Sunday.
 
(shrug) makes no difference to the discussion of antique centrefire handguns as antiques can be any barrel length if they are old enough and the right caliber

The SI system (metric) is the official measuring system in Canada since 1971. While this is not enforced in day-to-day life, the acts use the metric system. So the firearms act as published has always (at least since 2003) had mm in it even if someone half mouthed off 4 inches in a speech :)

Pretty sure the law as published stated 105 mm but if you find one that says 4" I'd be _very_ interested. The earliest version of the firearms act I have access to is from Jan 1 2003 and uses 105mm

Hope you didn't miss out on 12.6 because of a handgun you had thought was restricted with a 102 mm barrel :)

And I work irregular hours which include Sundays :)
 
The 105 mm ,as I recall ,having lived through that particular time period of transitional change going back all the way to the FAC , was generated from what at that time was generally referred to by everyone involved , as 4 inches. At that time I recall noticing upon the introduction of 105 mm metric system into the as yet incompleted firearms writings and eventual laws ,that it was slightly longer than 4 inches . No one having made issue of it at the time it has become a different uncontested number.
 
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theeasterner said:
The 105 mm ,as I recall ,having lived through that particular time period of transitional change going back all the way to the FAC , was generated from what at that time was generally referred to by everyone involved , as 4 inches. At that time I recall noticing upon the introduction of 105 mm metric system into the as yet incompleted firearms writings and eventual laws ,that it was slightly longer than 4 inches . No one having made issue of it at the time it has become a different uncontested number.
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The difference between 4 inches and 106 mm prohibited significantly more guns.
 
theeasterner said:
When the law was made 4 inches was the number. Inches and feet were the standard and the metric system was coming into being. The time was when Chretien was Prime Minister. The law said then that he wanted to prohibited the Saturday night specials which primarily were 4 inch barrels ,and that was the law.
If the metric system came in and lengthened the required 4 inches then the law was changed secretly and therefore may be an illegal law . It wouldn't be difficult to find the original documents but I don't work on Sunday.
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I suspect the 4" was more to prevent 50,000 LE issue revolvers from being sold. Same time frame as the switch to semi-autos for police.
 
I hate to admit it ,but even I make mistakes. In looking back at the original old registration certificates from as far back as the late 70's ,early 80 's era the barrel lengths are all in metric . Handguns though have had to be registered since the 1930's . The 12(6) came in at the end of 1998.
 
As KotK pointed out in post #12, barrel length is not a concern with a proper antique handgun so the discussion of metric vs 4” isn’t an issue. My snub nose Webly RIC is a prime example of a legal antique despite the short barrel length.

The chart that Stepp posted in post #6 is very good in determining what’s good to go as an antique in this country.
 
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