Antique 9mm Gasser revolver can take 38 special wadcutters? Would this still count as antique in Canada?

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mearkat32

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I ran into this posting on an american website, they have an 9mm Gasser Kropatchek revolver that has an ELG no-crown proof mark so it's made before 1893.

https://www.legacy-collectibles.com...er-s-revolver-officer-s-private-purchase.html

They said the owner has shot 38 special wadcutters from it before. Dimensionally it looks the 38 case should at least perfectly fit. Does anyone know if this would still count as antique in Canada if you imported one and used it to shoot 38 special wadcutters?












 
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The key is whether modification is required to accept an exempt cartridge.

Since no modifications are required to make a gun in 9mm gasser take 38swc then it is still antique. Had it been modified (i.e. normally 38swc would not fit) then it would no longer be antique.

A good example to illustrate that is revolvers in 320rev. They are antique and 32sw and 32acp do not fit normally. But often they would be reamed out for 32sw. 320rev still works but 32sw also starts working. Such guns are no longer antique in Canada.
 
If it can take a 38 special, it would still be antique. Even if you modify it for 38 special, it would not lose its antique status because 38 special is not on the list of exempt calibers. You just can't modify it to one of the exempt calibers. .320 European is an antique caliber, and so is .32 Merwin. Either of those will take a .32 S&W or .32 Short Colt (most times), but if you do not modify it to these exempt calibers, the gun remains antique. .38 special is not on the list of exempt calibers, so you can do whatever you want with it. There are lots of Webleys out there which have been modified to .45 Autorim or .45ACP. This modification does not change their antique status because neither of these calibers is on the exempted list. (provided of course that it was antique to begin with.)
 
^ You are right in fact about 38sp not being on the list. It is 38sw that is. So as long as 38sw doesn't fit (and it shouldn't as it's just a bit larger), it's good.

320rev will not accommodate 32sw unless modified. Many European guns were modified to accept 32sw and 32acp so that's why you may see that frequently on guns marked 320. The lab will not accept (in my experience) guns that will accept 32sw as antique so anyone with a gun that will better keep this in mind. I expect the same for 380rev or 38sp vs 38sw
 
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