Good morning folks.
I am a Canadian with a valid PAL who has been living and working in the US as an ex-pat for a little over fiver years. I will be moving back to Canada later this year. Part of my household goods are some firearms and associated ammunition. I have already spoken with Customs on the phone, and what they have told me is exactly what their web site says - as a valid PAL holder, I am able to enter the country with legally possessed non-restricted firearms (along with a specific quantity of ammunition and components). In an effort to make life easy for all concerned, I have already drafted an itemized list of firearms, calibers, and serial numbers to present to Customs when making my declaration (I will be driving from Montana in to Alberta at a major border crossing). I will also be doing the same with all of my ammunition - and even the once-fired brass for my .376 Steyr.
The vast majority of my firearms are "garden variety" - bolt action or lever action rifles chambered for hunting or milsurp cartridges, as well a single-shot 12 gauge and a 10/22. I do own one firearm which I believe may cause questions to be raised, and I'm looking for a bit of assistance on that front. It's a "Century Arms VZ2008 Sporter" - and is stamped as such on the side of the receiver, right above the serial number. It's actually a US built receiver with a Czech parts kit installed, and enough US made parts to be 922(r) compliant. I have measured both the overall length with the stock folded (667mm) and the barrel length (470mm) to make sure that I won't have any issues on that front.
My concern is that even though what I've gleaned here is that the Century VZ2008 is non-restricted in Canada, I don't want to show up at the border with a semi-auto that "looks" scary and set off alarm bells. Ideally, I'd like to have some reference material (a copy of an FRT entry, an FRT number, a link, an RCMP phone number for customs to call...you get the picture). Part of that desire is to demonstrate due diligence on my part in adhering to the letter of the law - my intention here is to stay 100% legal, and for Customs to see me making a significant, consistent effort to understand and obey the law.
I checked the RCMP site, and the FRT does not seem to be available to the general public. Does anyone have any suggestions about the best way to obtain a copy of the pertinent FRT entry, or a reference to that entry that would be useful to customs in order to verify that this rifle is in fact classified as non-restricted?
Thanks!
I am a Canadian with a valid PAL who has been living and working in the US as an ex-pat for a little over fiver years. I will be moving back to Canada later this year. Part of my household goods are some firearms and associated ammunition. I have already spoken with Customs on the phone, and what they have told me is exactly what their web site says - as a valid PAL holder, I am able to enter the country with legally possessed non-restricted firearms (along with a specific quantity of ammunition and components). In an effort to make life easy for all concerned, I have already drafted an itemized list of firearms, calibers, and serial numbers to present to Customs when making my declaration (I will be driving from Montana in to Alberta at a major border crossing). I will also be doing the same with all of my ammunition - and even the once-fired brass for my .376 Steyr.
The vast majority of my firearms are "garden variety" - bolt action or lever action rifles chambered for hunting or milsurp cartridges, as well a single-shot 12 gauge and a 10/22. I do own one firearm which I believe may cause questions to be raised, and I'm looking for a bit of assistance on that front. It's a "Century Arms VZ2008 Sporter" - and is stamped as such on the side of the receiver, right above the serial number. It's actually a US built receiver with a Czech parts kit installed, and enough US made parts to be 922(r) compliant. I have measured both the overall length with the stock folded (667mm) and the barrel length (470mm) to make sure that I won't have any issues on that front.
My concern is that even though what I've gleaned here is that the Century VZ2008 is non-restricted in Canada, I don't want to show up at the border with a semi-auto that "looks" scary and set off alarm bells. Ideally, I'd like to have some reference material (a copy of an FRT entry, an FRT number, a link, an RCMP phone number for customs to call...you get the picture). Part of that desire is to demonstrate due diligence on my part in adhering to the letter of the law - my intention here is to stay 100% legal, and for Customs to see me making a significant, consistent effort to understand and obey the law.
I checked the RCMP site, and the FRT does not seem to be available to the general public. Does anyone have any suggestions about the best way to obtain a copy of the pertinent FRT entry, or a reference to that entry that would be useful to customs in order to verify that this rifle is in fact classified as non-restricted?
Thanks!
