I did not mean to imply that there were no "no-go" calibers. I just meant that there are not two classifications, an "official" one - those listed in law - and an "unofficial" one, which is discretionary. There are only the official, listed in law, exceptions. 38 S&W is not the same as .38 Special. It all comes down to the ORIGINAL caliber of the antique. If you can establish that your antique would qualify as such, you can make any modifications you want, except convert it to one of the exempt calibers listed in the regulations. I once bought a Colt SAA which had been converted to 44 Special and the frame was definitely pre-1898. The vendor swore up-and-down that it was originally a 41 Long Colt, so I thought it would be fine. The RCMP would not take my word for it and made me get the factory letter. Turns out the original gun was 44-40 and therefore could not be accepted as an antique. I ended up having to sell it back into the US at a huge loss. Another time I (almost) bought a 38 S&W which had been converted to 38 rim fire. I asked the RCMP first though, and was told the same thing. You can't convert a exempt caliber into an acceptable caliber and vis-versa. If you had a 38 rim fire and converted it to 38 S&W, you would lose the antique status. The chief technician once told me that a gun cannot gain or lose antique status except if you try to convert it into one of the exempted calibers. That would be a "no-go".
Colt saa question about antique status
- Thread starter 45C
- Start date
I did not mean to imply that there were no "no-go" calibers. I just meant that there are not two classifications, an "official" one - those listed in law - and an "unofficial" one, which is discretionary. There are only the official, listed in law, exceptions. 38 S&W is not the same as .38 Special. It all comes down to the ORIGINAL caliber of the antique. If you can establish that your antique would qualify as such, you can make any modifications you want, except convert it to one of the exempt calibers listed in the regulations. I once bought a Colt SAA which had been converted to 44 Special and the frame was definitely pre-1898. The vendor swore up-and-down that it was originally a 41 Long Colt, so I thought it would be fine. The RCMP would not take my word for it and made me get the factory letter. Turns out the original gun was 44-40 and therefore could not be accepted as an antique. I ended up having to sell it back into the US at a huge loss. Another time I (almost) bought a 38 S&W which had been converted to 38 rim fire. I asked the RCMP first though, and was told the same thing. You can't convert a exempt caliber into an acceptable caliber and vis-versa. If you had a 38 rim fire and converted it to 38 S&W, you would lose the antique status. The chief technician once told me that a gun cannot gain or lose antique status except if you try to convert it into one of the exempted calibers. That would be a "no-go".
Those are the centerfire cartridges that negate antique status. If the thing is centerfire, pre-98, and was not made or altered to accept a cartridge on that list, it qualifies as antique. Whether the cartridge is pre or post '98 is irrelevant.
I concur. That is why 45 Schofield, 44 Russian and 44 Special are still valid calibers for an antique.
I would tend to be leary on 38 Special...they missed it, but as we so well know...they do claw back on their own schedule.
