age verifying antique-no serial

such as?
it "looks" period correct like an antique should and it's chambered for an old round but I don't think "lookin old" will help if it gets stopped at the border.I would like something to back it up...
I don't feel like tossin a handful of cash out the window on hope. ;)
 
It sounds like you are talking about a theoretical situation. In general you are going to have to do your homework; be able to correctly identify what the gun is plus what proof marks are appropriate for it and what its dates of production were. That means lots of reading and remembering and keeping the references handy. If you are looking for some specifics about some vague old cartridge pistol, you are not going to get them. If it is one that you have good photos and an accurate reporting of any writing on it, we may be able to help you out. Finally, they have been posted several times here and I think are in the stickys, you need to know the excluded calibers and would be wise to carry a copy of the appropriate sections of the statutes of Canada with you.

cheers mooncoon
 
thanks moncoon,but this isn't theoretical.
I found an old revolver I'm interested in on an auction site.you know how that goes,if I post pictures and info I'll likely lose out.
I carry a copy of the regs in a pouch on the rig I built for my Remington so I know them well.
the revolver is chambered in 44(not 44-40) so no problems there.
the trouble is that there are no proof marks or serial on the revolver just the name of an obscure maker who didn't use his name on his own work.
his name was used as a tradename by,I'm guessing a relative,with the same last name who is even more obscure...
I've done hours of research and can find nothing concrete.
the iron is listed as an antique and I'm sure it is,but how do I prove it without proof.
I don't want to lose it at the border to Canadian customs because I don't have any paperwork.

does everyone get letters before they import,or do you get them once the iron has landed?

hehe...I'm new at this ;)
 
-This is a quote from CBSA memorandum D19-13-2 dated July 17, 2002:

"Antiques
62. Antique firearms are deemed not to be firearms under
the Firearms Act. However, they are subject to the
transportation and storage requirements of the Act and its
Regulations.
63. Individuals who wish to import antique firearms must
provide proof of the antique status of the firearm. This proof
should be in the form of a certificate of authenticity issued
by an antique dealer."

-Personally I have never had a problem with pointing out a date marked on the receiver of a firearm to a CBSA officer where applicable, or providing them an FRT print-out confirming the status of a firearm. For any further importation details check the CBSA website.
 
My impression is that in the past, Canada Customs accepted a letter from any antique dealer as adequate proof of antiquity and did not require the dealer to be knowledgeable in firearms or whatever was being certified. However I think for the most part in the past I think this had to do with muzzle loaders and given the differences between US and Canadian law on antiquity of firearms, it is hard to say what current policy is as applies to cartridge guns. This is compounded by I believe a continuing confusion/ignorance of the firearms act by individual Customs people. Worst comes to worst, as long as you have an RPAL and the gun is not a prohib, you have to register it once it gets here.

cheers mooncoon
 
Good point Mooncoon. I neglected to remind of the obvious flaw to the CBSA's regs: U.S. Antique definitions and Canadian ones aren't the same. A fair number of firearms qualify as Antique in the U.S. that don't here.

BrotherR: you might want to make sure that the U.S. dealer writing the letter makes it clear that he is certifying the authenticity in accordance with Canadian Laws/Regs.
The following is taken from "Regulations Prescribing Antique Firearms (SOR/98-464)", which can be found at:
"http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/showdoc/cr/SOR-98-464/bo-ga:s_1::bo-ga:s_2?page=2" (Okay, so I don't know how to add hot-links).

It might not hurt to include this description in his letter, or at least refer to it. I've brought several Antiques over into Canada in the past, and it always seemed to me that as soon as CBSA staff saw that I had done my homework & was on top of the laws/regs, they were really cool to deal with. I've spent far longer in lines waiting to be served (and back at the vehicle chatting with two young officers who really liked my Sharps carbine) than ever getting 'hassled' in any way.


"HANDGUNS


6. A handgun manufactured before 1898 that is capable of discharging only rim-fire cartridges, other than 22 Calibre Short, 22 Calibre Long or 22 Calibre Long Rifle cartridges.


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."
 
smoothbore75 said:
I've brought several Antiques over into Canada in the past, and it always seemed to me that as soon as CBSA staff saw that I had done my homework & was on top of the laws/regs, they were really cool to deal with.
Click to expand...

You have been luckier than I in that regard. I brought a antique flintlock pistol across by hand (as opposed to by mail) and had a xerox copy of the regs with me. The customs agents I first spoke to were extremely skeptical and eventually went to a supervisor for advice. They ultimately said they would let it through because they thought that it could not be made to fire. Basically they had never heard of CC 84 1(a) and cc 84 3 and probably thought that the xerox copy was a scam. Apparently did not have access to the written word.
I had a somewhat similar experience with local RCMP who were holding a flintlock pistol for a friend. Gave them the xerox copy including the title page (Statutes of Canada) and after 20 or 30 minutes of searching, they were unable to find an official copy. Friend did get the gun back several days later.

cheers mooncoon
 
I had already forwarded a copy of our legislation to the seller to verify our caliber restrictions.
I have a verifier there that will vouch for the antique status of the iron and will be sure to have him state "in accordance with Canadian law" as suggested.
all paperwork will be included when shipped.
thanks to both of you for taking the time.
If all works out I'll post some pics of my new iron.
 
turns out the fellas on the other end are well versed in international shipping as well as our antique laws.
Iron will be shipped with letter of compliance.

My Grandaddy always said "a broke horse helps a green rider"...and vice versa ;)
 
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