antique hand guns law

[lone.gunman]

I am reading the RCMP website

it says

The Criminal Code defines an antique firearm as:

Any firearm manufactured before 1898 that was not designed to discharge rim-fire or centre-fire ammunition, and that has not been re-designed to discharge such ammunition, or
Any firearm prescribed to be an antique firearm.



Whats that even mean???

 

[lone.gunman]

that makes no sense ... why are they excluding firearms NOT DESIGNED TO FIRE rim fire or centrefire ammo?

then it says

Handguns:

manufactured before 1898 that can discharge only rim-fire cartridges, other than .22 Calibre Short, .22 Calibre Long or .22 Calibre Long Rifle cartridges;
manufactured before 1898 that can discharge 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.



this makes sense to me.... you cant fire those calibers..





was there a change in the law?

 

[vagrantviking]

There's a couple sticky threads at the top of the antique forums that should help you work out the details.

 

[mooncoon]

Your first statement regarding guns not designed is under cc 84 (1a) and boils down to pre 1898 muzzle loaders. The second part is under cc 84 (1b) and designates pre 1898 cartridge guns except those on the no-go list the actual wording is in SOR 98-464 or statement of regulation
I don't believe there has been any change in the laws re definition but in the last couple of years the police have been enforcing more restrictive policies on how they interpret the law. I also don't recall any court cases which have revolved exclusively around the legal definition of antiques. There was a chase quite a few years ago where a person who was prohibited from owning either "firearms" or "guns" was successfully prosecuted for possessing antique firearms. The charge did not deal with possessing without a license but rather with possessing firearms of any category while prohibited.

there is also a thread going on a person charged with carrying a loaded 32 rimfire in a city plus other associated indiscretions and again that is a case of a concealed weapon rather than simple possession in a house or at a range etc.

cheers mooncoon