.38 short colt, does it qualify as an antique?

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LomondK

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I've got an opportunity to buy a Belgian made pistol in .38 short colt from a dealer in the U.S. as I am just wanting to get into antique pistols I am wondering if this is a caliber that would qualify as an antique here in Canada? How does one go about getting the R.C.M.P. letter of antique status for an imported pistol?


Thanks for looking
 
Are you sure it's a 38 colt
If it's Belgian made it may be a 380 revolver which would be a
legal antique. I see a lot of American websites list 380s as 38 colt
or .320s as 32 colts basically the same thing one is legal one is not.
 
I'm not to sure about the regs..... I'm pretty new to this as well but it does seem a little confusing, antique is supposed to be ammunition that is no longer commercially available but I see Webly's that fire .45 ACP that still have their status so I would imagine if you had a pistol that had it's antique letter and then was later converted to fire .38 special it would be the same......No?
 
Start here:

http://www.nfa.ca/node/130

What matters is what calibers the Act indicates "doesn't" make a firearm an antique. The caliber .45ACP nor .44 Special are on the list. So if you have a revolver that was made before 1898 that fires either of these calibers, it passes both criteria:

1. It's made before 1898 - check.

2. It's caliber is not on the list that would deem the firearm NOT an antique - check.

So yes if you had a Webley .455 that shoots .45 ACP, it's still an antique even though it shoots .45ACP. Why? Because the Firearms Act says so.

If your revolver was made before 1898 but can shoot a .38SC, it's NOT an antique.

* 7. A handgun manufactured before 1898 that is capable of discharging centre-fire cartridges, other than a handgun designed or adapted to discharge 32 Short Colt, 32 Long Colt, 32 Smith and Wesson, 32 Smith and Wesson Long, 32-20 Winchester, 38 Smith and Wesson, 38 Short Colt, 38 Long Colt, 38-40 Winchester, 44-40 Winchester, or 45 Colt cartridges.

Note: This includes any pre-1898 Colt Single Action or Double Action revolver in .41 calibre, plus any Smith and Wesson or other revolver in any .44 calibre other than .44-40 Winchester. If a Colt revolver, manufactured in 1882 is re-barreled and re-cylindered to fire .44 Special cartridges is still an "antique firearm" because .44 Special is not on the cartridge list.
Click to expand...

Keeping this entire section of the Act handy in your gearbag along with your antiques is a good idea as well.
 
He said there is no actual caliber markings on the revolver, but if it is a belgian .380 then a .38 short colt will fit in the chamber how does that affect the status?

Quote:
* 7. A handgun manufactured before 1898 that is capable of discharging centre-fire cartridges, other than a handgun designed or adapted to discharge 32 Short Colt, 32 Long Colt, 32 Smith and Wesson, 32 Smith and Wesson Long, 32-20 Winchester, 38 Smith and Wesson, 38 Short Colt, 38 Long Colt, 38-40 Winchester, 44-40 Winchester, or 45 Colt cartridges.

Note: This includes any pre-1898 Colt Single Action or Double Action revolver in .41 calibre, plus any Smith and Wesson or other revolver in any .44 calibre other than .44-40 Winchester. If a Colt revolver, manufactured in 1882 is re-barreled and re-cylindered to fire .44 Special cartridges is still an "antique firearm" because .44 Special is not on the cartridge list.

Even if it was not designed or adapted to fire the .38 short colt it is capable of doing so is this a factor that is going to give me grief in trying to get my letter?
 
This part of the regs is confuseing.
Theres more to it than what just happens to fit tho.
The gun would need to be marked 380 or be a model thats known thats in a book listing it as being chambered in 380 and not 38 sc.

Its like a WG Armys some WGs that are 455/476 chambered can chamber and shoot a 45 long colt but there still considered perscribed antiques cause they were never orignally chambered in 45 LC.
they are marked 455/476 and theres lotsa info in books that show they were never chambered in 45 Colt but the fact 45 LC happens to fit well thats fine its still antique.
but if you alter one to shoot 45 LC then its no longer antique.

With the 380 id only buy a gun if its listed in a book as being 380 or marked 380 and made before 1898
If its in the USA you need to get it into Canada so haveing something to back up its really 380 is a good idea + the pre 1893 Belgian proofmark so you know its made before 1898 if it dont have the pre 1893 proofmark its gona be hard to prove when it was made.
 
What would be the best source for finding information like this? The seller is Adams Guns in New Mexico, He has said he will provide all the information he has and the documentation proving it's antique status in the U.S. but without the caliber marking's on the gun or the proof marks is there a way to search the serial number and provide the verifiers with enough information that they will issue the letter?
 
LomondK said:
What would be the best source for finding information like this? The seller is Adams Guns in New Mexico, He has said he will provide all the information he has and the documentation proving it's antique status in the U.S. but without the caliber marking's on the gun or the proof marks is there a way to search the serial number and provide the verifiers with enough information that they will issue the letter?
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Well get the makers name or markings any info off the gun and check out that Belgian little guns web site there very well might be info there saying its 380 and made before 1898 then your set.
I dont have a link or web site address but some guys on here know the one i meen maby can post a link for you.
normally under the grips there will be marks from the makers of some kind.
If not its gona be very hard to Prove and you would be better putting your money into a Antique that you can prove is antique like a french 1892 with the barrel dateing ect.
your picking about the hardest gun to date and figger out caliber wise.
 
So it's a .380 british, and the seller says the date stamp under the handle puts it in the late 1870's early 80's for production and is putting in the shipping letter that it is a black powder cartridge pistol not compatible with any modern smokeless ammunition should this be enough to get it through customs?
 
LomondK said:
So it's a .380 british, and the seller says the date stamp under the handle puts it in the late 1870's early 80's for production and is putting in the shipping letter that it is a black powder cartridge pistol not compatible with any modern smokeless ammunition should this be enough to get it through customs?
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yes
I have never got a antique status letter when i bought a gun from the U.S. myself.
 
where do you find information like this? I'd really like to be able to find this stuff so I don't always have to come on here and ask questions like I know absolutely nothing :confused:
 
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