Gun grabbed by customs

jetrefueller

jetrefueller

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I was trying to import a Colt thunderer 1877 I believe it is a sherrifs model or
might be a storekeepers model. Iv'e just been informed by the customs that it's a prohibited weapon because it has a two and a half inch barrel. Going by the serial number the gun was made in 1883 and therefore an antique.When did they start making antiques prohibited. I always thought it didn't matter how long the barrel was on an antique. Now they are saying it's defined in provision 84 of the criminal code section 136. Can anyone sugest what to do now? I havent had a chance to call them yet as I was out of town 4 days.
 
If the serial number confirms 1883 as the date of manufacture, they're wrong, assuming that the revolver is a .41, and not a .38. Barrel length is irrelevant for antiques.
Get hold of a tech. at the registry in Ottawa to confirm antique status.
 
They don't know what they're talking about.

Print off the statute shown here:
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=217529&page=2

And send it to them. The part stating "Antique firearms.... are thus exempt from licensing, registration, border requirements, and other regulatory controls....".

I had a similar run in with Customs recently - they honestly have no clue when it comes to guns. I had to explain to them what the FRT was. :rolleyes:
 
Good luck. They destroyed the non-firing replicas we ordered from the US, because they are prohibited in Canada. We challenged on the basis that my hubby has a prohib license, but to no avail. It pisses me off that I can buy the real thing with my restricted, but the non- firing replicas are crushed. I seriously hope you have better luck.
 
If you have serial # photos etc . you need to get hold of a tech at the CFC any problems with this PM me and I will see what I can do . The Customs people move to the beat of there own drum .I CAN'T stress enough get a letter of antique status first have this put in with the gun or on the out side of the box in an envelope marked Canada customs this takes more time but its worth it the verifiers at CFC have a E-mail address for the public . I'll see if I can find this and post it . The people at customs have only the FRT disk and because thunderers antique status goes to serial # all are listed as Restricted or prohib on the disk . Guns like webley MKI etc are listed as antiques because they all are . And are easily found on the disk . The border services people are not Verifiers or Techs. they just follow the disks just because you say it is Antique means nothing to them and if they Just call the registry and not a tech. chances are a the person on the phone there will just look it up on the disk and will say its a no go as well.
 
In the FRT under the "Serial Numbering" section it says "Revolvers using a cartridge of 41 Long Colt and within the range of 1 to 107,499 are considered antiques", so if they have access to the FRT, that clears it up.
 
Killer Kanuck said:
In the FRT under the "Serial Numbering" section it says "Revolvers using a cartridge of 41 Long Colt and within the range of 1 to 107,499 are considered antiques", so if they have access to the FRT, that clears it up.
Click to expand...

Only if they know were to look . This customs agent may have got it into his head that all pistols with short barrels are prohib and does not realize that antique status over rides this. :runaway:
 
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I agree with Dez.
Get the CFC Antique RCMP letter frist.
Might take a week or three but if the sellers paid they will wait for it.
Unless you have a FRT disc to check you would be guessing what it says.

Never had a gun seized or held with a CFC RCMP letter in there.

Tho the FRT disc is getting better its a work in progress still.

I had Two S&W DA 44 Russian model Revolvers Seized by Vancouver customs about 4 Years ago cause of that FRT disc.
I got both guns back but fun it was not :(

Tho i recently imported a Cheep little Gun (without that CFC letter) that was listed on the FRT Disc as all Antique.
In that ONE case i had the FRT # listed with some info from books showing all that model of gun in that Caliber are Antique.

Funny cause that one was never opened LOL
 
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Thanks guys I'll be calling them first thing Monday morning. I already sent an e-mail to the RCMP to get the letter. It's obvious the monkeys at customs dont know enough about antiques. Thanks for all your advice you are a great bunch of guys and gals. Cheers.
 
Hey guys its not the barrel length they are worried about it's the caliber.They
are saying the .41 is a modern caliber. I tried telling him it was a blackpowder
gun but he said I have to appeal the decision in writing. Since when does it say on there FRT that the .41cal is prohibited?
 
Get the letter from the techs in Ottawa. You obviously got someone that knows absolutely nothing about what they speak. I imagine that will happen more and more over the next little while, while Customs starts filling all those new positions they've been advertising over the past year or 2.
 
Of course .41 Colt is not on the 'No-no' list. It would seem like your Customs agent has confused it with .41 mag, or he is using the old bill C17 definitions of antique. You know -the old 'available ammo' rules.
Too bad these guys don't have to face any concequences when they make a final desicion based on false assumption.
Jetrefueler should bill them for his time to educate the Customs guys.
I have a few antiques on the way, I hope they don't pass through this guy's hands!
 
jetrefueller said:
Hey guys its not the barrel length they are worried about it's the caliber.They
are saying the .41 is a modern caliber. I tried telling him it was a blackpowder
gun but he said I have to appeal the decision in writing. Since when does it say on there FRT that the .41cal is prohibited?
Click to expand...


Is the twit too lazy or too stupid to read the list of calibres which negate antique status? .41LC is certainly not on the list.
 
jetrefueller said:
Hey guys its not the barrel length they are worried about it's the caliber.They
are saying the .41 is a modern caliber. I tried telling him it was a blackpowder
gun but he said I have to appeal the decision in writing. Since when does it say on there FRT that the .41cal is prohibited?
Click to expand...

Oh Boy that dont sound good.
Appeal the Decision in Writeing usally meens hes gone ahead and just Seized the gun.
Tho theres a 30 Day period that there Cheif of customs can change that!

Get on the phone NOW and start Squeeking! the Squeeky wheel gets the Grease.
I know i done Plenty of Squeeking to Customs when my two like new S&W DAs were seized by that Customs Witch!

The Cheif of the Vancouver Customs Overturned her Desision on one gun BUT 30 days had gone by on the other so i had to go thru the Appeal system which took 4 Months and was a Nightmare.
 
Just curious was this an upper canadian customs house?

Very surprised this happened. My experience with the weapons branch has been very pleasant.

I am sure you will get it sorted out.
 
jetrefueller said:
Thanks guys I'll be calling them first thing Monday morning. I already sent an e-mail to the RCMP to get the letter.obvio It's us the monkeys at customs dont know enough about antiques. Thanks for all your advice you are a great bunch of guys and gals. Cheers.
Click to expand...

I am shocked that you would not already know this, plus they don't care
 
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