Does a 7x57 Boer Mauser qualify as an antique firearm?

S

sfx

Regular
Rating - 100%
8   0   0
Location
GTA
Anyone know? It's a 7x57 Mauser Model 1896 that was used in the Boer War.

From the criminal code:

Rifles:
• 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 (whether with a smooth or rifled bore), have a bore diameter of 8.3 mm or greater, measured from land to land in the case of a rifled bore, with the exception of a repeating firearm fed by any type of cartridge magazine

It obviously meets the before 1898 requirement, but I'm doubtful about the bore diameter as it shoots a 7mm round. I don't have the rifle here at the moment to measure it.

I'm definitely going to call the CFC and ask, but thought I'd try the knowledge folks here first. Thanks!
 
No, you just answered your own question. Basically, any centrefire repeating rifle is not legally classified as an antique.

The most absurd example of this I can think of are the Mauser 71 and 71/84. The 71 is a single shot, and is therefore classified as an antique, but the 71/84 is the same rifle with a tube magazine, and in therefore legally a modern firearm. All of these rifles were made well before 1898.
 
Oh well. Thanks for the confirmation.

I believe it is considered one in the US which is why I was curious about up here.
 
US and Canadian regulations are different.
You quoted the regulations - its a centrefire repeater; and, even if it were a single shot it still wouldn't qualify because it is less than 8.3mm bore.
 
The question in my mind is; if you pin or remove a magazine on an antique rifle, does it become a non magazine rifle and therefore legally an antique. I am thinking in particular of something like a Winchester 86 or a Mauser 71/84 where the magazine is not quickly removeable. My point is that a firearm is only partially defined by its frame. A section 12(6) revolver is defined by its barrel and cylinder and in the case of a luger, by its barrel only. A double rifle is defined by the barrels on the frame not the frame because they can have both a set of rifle barrels and a set of shotgun barrels. Handguns capable of accepting a overcapacity magazine become legal as long as the magazine is pinned to 10 shots or less.
It seems reasonable that at least some magazine rifles altered to become non magazine would become antique if age and caliber were conforming.

cheers mooncoon
 
Here's one:

the Swiss Vetterli is an antique as its bore is greater than 8.3mm, and while it's a repeater, it's a rimfire. Many people have converted their bolt to centrefire and can use it in any Vetterli they have on hand. So what's to be registered - the gun(s)? the bolt?
 
Curious. I thought the "antique" designation was if it was over 100yrs old. I was told this by a gunshop. I have a 110 yr old Winchester 1895 in 38-55 but standard tube mag. Registered anyways as it was got at an auction and they seemed to register everything anyways. Not much of a deal to me anyways but nice to have the clarification.
 
You'd be surprised at how many antiques are being used in the big cities by criminal gangs, they are looking for ways around the Registry too!
 
Andy said:
the Swiss Vetterli is an antique as its bore is greater than 8.3mm, and while it's a repeater, it's a rimfire. Many people have converted their bolt to centrefire and can use it in any Vetterli they have on hand. So what's to be registered - the gun(s)? the bolt?
Click to expand...

The bolt is a "spare part" legally and does not have to be registered. The gun is an antique with a rimfire bolt installed and a modern rifle with the centerfire bolt in place and would need to be registered until the rimfire bolt was replaced. Unless I am mistaken the bolt can be center drilled and simply have the firing pin switched back and forth and its status would depend on which pin was in place.

cheers mooncoon
 
Technically you have a certain period of time to notify the firearms center of any change which affects a firearms status...... So if you only leave the centerfire bolt in for a little while and there is an amnesty in place is it still legal?
 
tactical870 said:
Technically you have a certain period of time to notify the firearms center of any change which affects a firearms status...... So if you only leave the centerfire bolt in for a little while and there is an amnesty in place is it still legal?
Click to expand...

That is sort of like how often do you re register a TC Contender if you keep changing barrels. Best answer is you would probably be charged or not charged on the basis of what it was at the time you were inspected, assuming that you told the inspecting officer that it was centerfire, if that were the case at the time of inspection. Would you get caught --- probably not. Would you be completely legal --- probably not. Would it cost you a bundle if challenged --- probably yes

cheers mooncoon
 
"...if it was over 100yrs old..." Nope. The CC defines an antique as:
"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 (whether with a smooth or rifled bore), have a bore diameter of 8.3 mm or greater, measured from land to land in the case of a rifled bore, with the exception of a repeating firearm fed by any type of cartridge magazine."
 
What you do is buy and extra bolt body, convert the new bolt body to center fire and do the switch out at the range. You have 30 days to report a modification to the rifle (or sometime frame like that). So switch back after…
 
ben hunchak said:
You'd be surprised at how many antiques are being used in the big cities by criminal gangs, they are looking for ways around the Registry too!
Click to expand...

I don't recall seeing a lot of news stories regarding criminal use of antique guns. What is your source for this information?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom