De-register Antique Questions - How To Know Original Calibre?

D

Derv

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
6   0   0
Location
Alberta
I am looking at buying a Colt 1892 in 41 Long Colt that is registered as restricted, but has a serial number that would qualify as an antique. Based on that, there should be no problem de-registering it to antique status. The problem is that it is not all numbers matching. The crane number is different than the frame. I can't tell if the barrel is original to the frame or not. With this bouncing around in my head, I'm thinking that it is possible that it could have started out as a 38 and was converted to 41. Is there a way to tell (without a Colt letter) what the original calibre was? With the way the law is, if it was ever registered as a 38, it would be a no-go for antique, correct? Can you get a history of the registration to see if it was ever registered in a different calibre?

I've seen lots of antique colts that aren't numbers matching, but I haven't heard of de-registering one that is mismatched (at least since they re-wrote the law). If you're going by the serial number, the frame wasn't designed for only one specific calibre, but I guess the law would go by how the complete gun left the factory?
 
If your revolver was registered at some point as a no no caliber then you might have trouble. If it was never registered as anything but 41, the only "firearm" that is being deregistered is the frame. The matching serial numbers of other components are not relevant to the registration of a frame. Give them a call, start the process and you'll find out if it'll got through or not.
 
BlackPowderBurner said:
If your revolver was registered at some point as a no no caliber then you might have trouble. If it was never registered as anything but 41, the only "firearm" that is being deregistered is the frame. The matching serial numbers of other components are not relevant to the registration of a frame. Give them a call, start the process and you'll find out if it'll got through or not.
Click to expand...

Thanks BlackPowderBurner. If it were already mine, I would definitely do that. I'm trying to figure out if there is any way to know before I buy it. De-registering it to an antique would be the main reason for buying it as I have a couple restricted 1892's already registered. I wouldn't want to buy this one, then start the process only to find out that it wasn't eligible for antique status. I guess it's probably a gamble on my end. The current owner doesn't have any more info. If it was all production number matching, I wouldn't think twice. The crane and cylinder change just make me question a possible calibre change.
 
I guess another question that I could ask is, if a revolver has had a calibre change on the registration, is the calibre change documented and the previous calibre still visible somewhere...or is the current registered calibre all that is attached to the firearm?
 
Last edited:
The obvious thing would be for the owner to apply to have it reclassified. If he is successful, its good for him - the thing is worth a lot more as an antique than as a registered mixmaster.
Of course that would not be a good thing for you...

I very much doubt that the CFP is going to help you with the history of the piece in any way whatsoever.

I suspect that you might have to chance it. Buy it registered as restricted and try to get it reclassified.
 
tiriaq said:
The obvious thing would be for the owner to apply to have it reclassified. If he is successful, its good for him - the thing is worth a lot more as an antique than as a registered mixmaster.
Of course that would not be a good thing for you...

I very much doubt that the CFP is going to help you with the history of the piece in any way whatsoever.

I suspect that you might have to chance it. Buy it registered as restricted and try to get it reclassified.
Click to expand...

Yep, that’s the situation. He has no interest in going though the legwork to de-register it himself, and if he did, he would want full antique value. It’s priced higher than a regular restricted version because of its “possibility to be classified as an antique”. If I buy it and am successful, I’d get an antique at a fraction of the cost. If not, I would just be overpaying.

The one thing I honestly don’t know is if there is a record of previous registered calibres. For example, if you had a .45 1911 and converted it to 9mm and changed the registration to 9mm, does the original caliber of .45 still show up anywhere? If so, I’d be taking a gamble on this revolver. If not, I’d jump on it!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom