Antique seized at Border

Although I am neither an advocate for nor in the employ of CBSA, and the clearance process in this case is unquestionably inconvenient, here are my observations based on my previous experiences at and in relation to the border:

- Border Servies Officers are tasked with knowing quite a bit of general information about dozens of different Acts and Regulations. Pharmaceuticals, plants and animals, food, wood products, whether travel documents are real or suspect, and so on. Sometimes this works in a traveller's favour, sometimes it doesn't.

- Further to the above, I'd rather there were always someone on duty at a port of entry with significant (i.e. "sufficient") practical and regulatory firearms experience, and who is an approved firearms verifier, in order to help make such determinations on-site. In practice that's likely not practical. As another member said, it's nice when someone who's "up to speed" on (whatever) is involved.

- On a positive note, at least they didn't "detain first and ask questions later" (OMFG izza unreg-is-ter-at-ed handgun!!!11!). Not that they should have reacted that way especially when given a proper declaration with paperwork at primary, but in the realm of potential mistakes, there was that (hopefully very remote) possibility.

- From what the OP has said regarding the antique revolver, it sounds as though there won't be an issue. The other positive is that upon further examination, based on what was shared about the vendor and importer having done their homework beforehand it'll likely turn out OK.

In short, processing delays and a return trip to the border aside, it appears as though their reaction was "Well OK, we aren't 100% sure but will get an answer, here's a receipt for now." That's still better than having to deal with someone who only thinks they're knowledgable, which in the case of such a 'theoretical rocket scientist' could have gone more poorly.
 
rifleman762 said:
They have the authority to ask anything they want. But they can't deny a Canadian citizen re-entry based on him declining to answer. When I'm feeling frisky I'll tell them "United States of America" when they ask where I went. "Do you want to be more specific than that?" Is their next question. "Not particularly," I reply. Sometimes they'll pull me aside for a quick vehicle search but usually they don't bother. Never have I been lectured about my non-answers. Answer the mandatory questions and they let you in.
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I suspect they don't really care what you answer, they're watching how you answer. If you seem nervous or like you're hiding something they'll take a closer look.
 
So just a bit of an update for those interested in how this is unfolding; I got in touch with the RCMP Firearms lab, provided them the information of this firearm, complete with pictures, serial number, bbl lenght, etc; I have received a confirmation the firearm is indeen an Antique status(complete with FRT # and all), with Antique letter to follow. I called the Border and they did not care, they said the firearm is on its way to the Firearms Lab in Ottawa(the same place that made the decision that the firearm is an Antique).
 
Touch base with the Lab and make sure they know the thing is on its way to them. Hopefully they will turn it around in short order. Don't suppose they could release it direct to you?
 
Grock-co said:
There play ground, there rules
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Not at all, they are there to verify that everything is up to legal standards, not guess, or make up rules as they see fit. If they don't have all the facts to substantiate their claims they shouldn't hold up the process in any way.
 
As inconvenient as it may be, they look after 100,000's of 1,000's of travelers and 1,000,000's of tons of freight for every antique that comes across. Even if they had some training in antiques, they would likely forget it for as often as they see someone crossing with one.

Hope you don't have to wait long.
 
I found that when you are talking with some of those idiot's at the border, it is best just to answer their question and keep it short, your right, you don't have to tell them anything but it just cause's a sh*t storm everytime you get to a crossing and the only way out of it to change your licence plate and they don't know you till you give them the bloody passport, only had 2 hassle's in crossing for the last 60 yrs. the last one was at Ossoyoos when I was ask the same question in 2 different way's and I asked him if he didn't understand the first time around, quess he was trying to teach a kid how to hassle people, got his attention real quick. Havent been botherd since.
 
joe-nwt said:
As inconvenient as it may be, they look after 100,000's of 1,000's of travelers and 1,000,000's of tons of freight for every antique that comes across. Even if they had some training in antiques, they would likely forget it for as often as they see someone crossing with one.

Hope you don't have to wait long.
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That's it in a nutshell..
 
joe-nwt said:
As inconvenient as it may be, they look after 100,000's of 1,000's of travelers and 1,000,000's of tons of freight for every antique that comes across. Even if they had some training in antiques, they would likely forget it for as often as they see someone crossing with one.

Hope you don't have to wait long.
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My only issue with the way they handled it, is the fact that they did not look at ANY of the documentation provided by me, ie, information provided by the seller, serial number lookup with Colt, RCMP Antique Letter letter for a nearly identical revolver (just a year newer), all the Criminal Code and Firearms Act definitions of an Antique handgun, etc.
 
cz52 said:
My only issue with the way they handled it, is the fact that they did not look at ANY of the documentation provided by me, ie, information provided by the seller, serial number lookup with Colt, RCMP Antique Letter letter for a nearly identical revolver (just a year newer), all the Criminal Code and Firearms Act definitions of an Antique handgun, etc.
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If they looked at your documentation, there may have been repercussions for themselves. This way there is plausible deniability
 
Section 337 of the criminal code is very very useful.
Write a letter demanding the return of your property immediately, copy it to your Member of Parliament and the Shadow CPC justice critic.

The barrel of the antique revolver is not relevant - it is the frame that is the part that is Antique. and if the Frame is antique, the whole gun is antique.
The law is being used to deliberately harass the law biding, not to solve or prevent crime.
 
cz52 said:
I have a friend in the US that is a dealer and he sells me the odd antique firearm that I then bring up to Canada for my collection; he is an FFL dealer and he knows what is antique and what is legal for me to purchase there and I have done this on several occasions. Well this time things were not that smooth. I showed up to the Canadian border, where I declared that I had an Antique revolver and also declared the value. I has full paperwork on this gun, receipt of what I payed, proof that this gun is an antique(Colt DA in 41LC , produced in 1893), but they were still not convinced because the barrel, was of a newer production(marked 41LC of course) and after a wait of 3 hours and talking to the RCMP firearms lab, they decided to have the gun shipped to the RCMP to have the caliber verified.
I have explained to the that it is the receiver that counts as the firearm, as often times barrels get shot out on the old antiques, specially if black powder was used and need to be replaced, but they still insisted it has to get get sent out to verify caliber(on the properlt marked .41lc barrel). I explained that they can simply measure measure, or of they do not have a tape measurer, they can drop one of their 9mm rounds in the barrel or chamber and verify that it has not been changed to 38Colt(which would make it restricted), but they were absolutelly not going to have any of it. Important to note, they were absolutelly clueless, and they willfully disregarded every piece of information I uad on had.
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One time I came across the border at Niagara falls with a buddy many years ago. the one guy working our side of the border opened a package of 55 grain hollow points and he was sticking them up his nose sniffing them . I almost wanted to smack his hand real hard so it would lodge up his snoot . his boss came buy and looked at him like are you retarded or what ? my friend and I had a talk with his boss and she was really nice and she said let them go . well he still held us up and she came back a little while later and said I said let them go !!!!!
 
Years and years ago, when my wife, Patty and I were a lusty pair we decided to cover two gun shows in one weekend. One was at LSSU in Soo Michigan, and the other at the Union Hall In Soo Ontario. On the Canadian side, we were asked "What are you going to do in Canada?" I replied "Going to a gun Show." We were immediately pulled over; mirrors under the vehicle everything opened and spread apart. I thought we were going to be strip searched. They opened our suitcase. Slammed it closed!!!!! And waved us through with red faces. There was a ladies vibrator in the suitcase!!

I don't know if I'm allowed to relate this here, but it is factual, and I think funny.

Pete
 
The hold-up that the vendor went through when trying to send a Snider out of the country and over here to UK was past incredible. Hard to believe that a rifle made in the 1860's that was plainly NOT a modern replica should engender such utter confusion. What should have taken a couple of days took six weeks to confirm that yes, it WAS an antique, and yes, it was LEAVING Canada, not arriving IN Canada.
 
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