RCMP Requiring Registration of Antiques

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sellbor

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I just had an Antique revolver confirmed as "Antique" status by CFR Firearms Technical Division. They told me, in writing, that I am required to "Register" the revolver to obtain a RCMP letter to confirm its Antique status.

I checked the link the RCMP provided to Register it as suggested. The Registration site clearly states it is to "Register Restricted and Prohibited Firearms" and Antiques are exempt from Registration. They confirmed, this is "Antique Status" and therefore Registration should not apply. As they confirmed the revolver as Antique what is it that I would be Registering? My understanding of the Firearms Act is that nowhere in the act is an Antique Gun defined as a "Firearm" (Restricted, Prohibited or otherwise). As it is not a "Firearm" under the Firearms Act why would I need to Register it to obtain letter to confirm its Antique Status?

Does anyone have the RCMP letter? Did you have to Register your Antique?
 
sellbor said:
I just had an Antique revolver confirmed as "Antique" status by CFR Firearms Technical Division. They told me, in writing, that I am required to "Register" the revolver to obtain a RCMP letter to confirm its Antique status.

I checked the link the RCMP provided to Register it as suggested. The Registration site clearly states it is to "Register Restricted and Prohibited Firearms" and Antiques are exempt from Registration. They confirmed, this is "Antique Status" and therefore Registration should not apply. As they confirmed the revolver as Antique what is it that I would be Registering? My understanding of the Firearms Act is that nowhere in the act is an Antique Gun defined as a "Firearm" (Restricted, Prohibited or otherwise). As it is not a "Firearm" under the Firearms Act why would I need to Register it to obtain letter to confirm its Antique Status?

Does anyone have the RCMP letter? Did you have to Register your Antique?
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This is new policy and not the law. It's not required to have a RCMP status letter in order to legally own your antique, if you want a letter then fill out and print the antique status letter by 41colt.

Once you start in the registration system if found that it's "not antique" then it will stay registered until you can provide documented proof of antiquity. There have been stories here where they even did this to a members Colt SAA which is one of the easiest antiques to prove date of manufacture.

If you choose to continue with the registration the system should register then remove your antique from the registry, then a status letter will be issued. How the antique is removed from the regsitry and the usefulness of the information that still exists on it is open to debate (feel free to do a FOI request on yourself, it's eye opening). Also the RCMP status letter hasn't been proven as useful as of yet and might not be worth more than toilet paper in court.

Print the letter by 41colt and enjoy your legally owned antique. Don't justify their job any more than it has to be.
 
Loki_81 is spot on. I have antique and no need for nothing else. I do have a copy of the RCMP letter confirming the status. I do keep a copy with me wherever the antique goes.
 
I had an old Webley RIC that I bought as a registered restricted. It was old enough so I applied and had its status changed to antique, even got an RCMP letter.

I sold the gun a while later. About a year after I had sold it, I got a phone call from the OPP asking if I had sold this revolver to a third party (seems he got into trouble with his storage). So, yes it was antique status, but obviously, some info (my info) was still in the registry.
 
I needed a letter on my .38sp SAA, before my gunsmith would sign it into has shop. I got my sister to call for the letter, as she has no PAL. Thus, a avoiding any registration.
 
41 colt, I already gave you credit for the work you put into the letter, I really like it :cool: the problem I see is acceptance of it unless it has RCMP :rolleyes: or other BS stamped all over it. Here is one little problem I see. As locki says it is new policy of the CFC to make you register and not law to get an antique letter to own one and I agree your letter might certainly help you out in the boonies when Joe CO stops you with your antique pistol on your hip. BUT will customs accept this letter:confused: when you import a supposedly antique pistol. and further more most of the antique pistol sellers in the US that will even ship to Canada, require a RCMP letter be sent to them before they will ship to you on account of the documentation they have to send with the pistol to customs. That is the problem I have run into- so it is back to registration. and deregistration , and hope the CFC will confirm it as antique and get you your RCMP letter. This is no big deal on a 1840,s percussion pistol but on the iffy broom handle,s Belgium bull dogs 1887 huskys and many more it could create problems, you need verification and CFC verification. What if they decide it,s not antique :rolleyes: you just registered bought and paid big money for a pistol you can,t legally import. Shooting bastard says he has it figured out just get your sister to get a letter, well we all can,t do that and in a way I have a bit of a problem with every no PAL tom ,#### or susie calling the CFC asking for antique letters anyway. At what point of time would they say-- Whoa whats going on here. -- Am I all screwed up here, it,s early in the morning, not enough coffee, and just a dumb old rancher anyway---straighten me out.:) And yes I have a real problem with what happens to that registration info, course at my age :) I can,t remember what I did with my guns anymore so I,m ok.
 
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I have imported quite a few antiques and none with a letter in advance. I have faxed 41 Colt's letter a couple times to ship, and if you tell the shipper what to put on the customs docs, things seem to go through smoothly. At least the last 40 or so. But you never know, the next one could be the one. But as BSA Jack mentioned, some guns are going to put up the red flag.
I don't travel with or use antiques in the bush, just bang around the yard, not everyone has that option. If I did travel with a questionable antique, I would want the real letter.
 
I have imported antiques without a letter, only had one seller request the RCMP letter, all others I had state the make model serial# etc. If a seller specifically wants an RCMP letter then you will just have to go that route.

I don't like that you have to register them now, when I was getting my RPAL renewed last year there was a bit of trouble and many phone calls to the CFC and at one point I was asked if I own any handguns, I said "no", and she said "I only see one here but it's an antique", refering to a Colt DA Navy I bought as restricted and deregistered in 2011. My antiques are none of the CFC's business.
 
I think a verifiers report should be just as good as a RCMP letter, if no better. At least with a verifiers report somebody has has the gun in hand.
 
oldiron said:
I have imported quite a few antiques and none with a letter in advance. I have faxed 41 Colt's letter a couple times to ship, and if you tell the shipper what to put on the customs docs, things seem to go through smoothly. At least the last 40 or so. But you never know, the next one could be the one. But as BSA Jack mentioned, some guns are going to put up the red flag.
I don't travel with or use antiques in the bush, just bang around the yard, not everyone has that option. If I did travel with a questionable antique, I would want the real letter.
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Well that answers my question I guess , sorry for bringing that little concern up, I don,t plan on importing 40 or more antique pistols just have been looking at one that may be iffy antique and it,s an auction so no fooling around. but if customs acccepts 41 colt,s letter as verification it,s all good and seller will take it --no problem -- so shooting bastard does your sister rent out her services, if I do need a letter. :)
 
BSA Jack said:
... if customs accepts 41 colt,s letter as verification it,s all good and seller will take it --no problem --
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41 Colt's letter might not be exactly what Customs is accepting. Rather, 41 Colt's letter gives the model and serial number so that Customs can verify it is an antique. One of the antique pistols I brought across had an RCMP letter with it, but I still saw Canada Customs get a big thick book and find something in it to verify something, and then they gave me a green light. The other nice thing about 41 Colt's letter is that it quotes or references the appropriate sections of the law so that a LEO or customs agent can see exactly what to verify and that you are not merely talking out of the back of your pants. It is one thing to say, 'it's alright, I'm legal' and quite another to say, 'Here is are the relevant sections of the law, itemized here, and I am in full compliance with the law'. 41 Colt's letter supplies the law, chapter and verse, to anyone interested.
 
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