Help: Bringing Antique Status Martini Henry from UK to Canada

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Thomservo

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Hey There,

My grandpa passed away in the UK, I am back for the funeral and he left me a Martini Henry rifle.

This rifle is an antique status rifle in both the Canada and UK, does anyone know if I can simply bring this rifle back via my check in luggage?

I can't quite find any information online regarding Antique status guns in the UK.

If anyone can advise what I need to bring this back, for both leaving the UK, and importing it into Canada. I would appreciate it.
Further, does anyone know if I would need any documentation to prove antique status upon arriving to Canada? I would hate to lose a heirloom rifle due to bureaucracy.

I have tried searching the forms but haven't had much luck, as it seems it's more about shipping than bringing these things back yourself.

Thanks,

-Thom
 
Well for antique rifles they don't actually issue letters, I have tried. Best you could do is just get an frt printout.

As for putting it in your checked baggage I would just call the airline and ask.

Maybe ask CBSA as well, since customs probably won't understand what an antique is, if you let them know ahead of time and show them the FRT you would probably have less headache
 
C96 1897 said:
Well for antique rifles they don't actually issue letters, I have tried. Best you could do is just get an frt printout.

As for putting it in your checked baggage I would just call the airline and ask.

Maybe ask CBSA as well, since customs probably won't understand what an antique is, if you let them know ahead of time and show them the FRT you would probably have less headache
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C96 1897 said:
Well for antique rifles they don't actually issue letters, I have tried. Best you could do is just get an frt printout.

As for putting it in your checked baggage I would just call the airline and ask.

Maybe ask CBSA as well, since customs probably won't understand what an antique is, if you let them know ahead of time and show them the FRT you would probably have less headache
Click to expand...

Thanks so much for the reply.

Does anyone know were I could get a FRT print out for a Martini Henry Mk II? Or is that only possible via phoning the RCMP?
 
first off antique really does not come into play for shipping it's a firearm
and that is how it is looked at by the the courier
forget about the antique part it has nothing to do with the shipping agency
contact a company like prohphet river and talk to them

what it will take for sure is time and money
 
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C96 1897 said:
Well for antique rifles they don't actually issue letters, I have tried. Best you could do is just get an frt printout.

As for putting it in your checked baggage I would just call the airline and ask.

Maybe ask CBSA as well, since customs probably won't understand what an antique is, if you let them know ahead of time and show them the FRT you would probably have less headache
Click to expand...

They do issue antique letters for long guns. I have one for a w.c.scott sxs in 14ga...

The good news - Martinis have a year engraved on them. So, print out to FRT, the antique regulations and point out the relevant feature at inspection on arrival. Go to armalytics.ca for a copy of the FRT.

Air Canada will let you take it in your luggage, other air lines I'm less sure about.

Condolences on the passing of your grandfather, but you are lucky to be there in person to take the gun - export out of the UK is a massive pain and expense if going with an exporter.
 
So many People travel with hunting guns as checked in luggage all the time.

I traveled and imported about 10 rifles as checked in luggage, but that's quite a while ago.

Best would be to contact the airline and get up to date with their rules, and it wouldn't hurt to contact the CBSA as well and see what they have to say about this.

When I transported my rifles on the plane, I checked them in as luggage, then when I arrived I informed the Customs agents about the rifles, showed them my PAL, they took some notes, and on my way I was.

I am sure this is still possible, and if you have a PAL it will help, even if the rifle is antique.
 
KotKotofeich said:
They do issue antique letters for long guns. I have one for a w.c.scott sxs in 14ga...
Click to expand...

How long ago was that? I asked for a letter for a martini a few years ago and they told me since rifles aren't required to be registered they wouldn't issue a letter?
 
KotKotofeich said:
They do issue antique letters for long guns. I have one for a w.c.scott sxs in 14ga...

The good news - Martinis have a year engraved on them. So, print out to FRT, the antique regulations and point out the relevant feature at inspection on arrival. Go to armalytics.ca for a copy of the FRT.

Air Canada will let you take it in your luggage, other air lines I'm less sure about.

Condolences on the passing of your grandfather, but you are lucky to be there in person to take the gun - export out of the UK is a massive pain and expense if going with an exporter.
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Thank you for the condolences. This information was all very helpful, really appreciate it.
 
I've brought a few antiques over from the UK and the one and only issue in each case was the process of exporting it from England—this is why so few British commercial sellers are willing to sell to us. The brokers that are willing to do this charge a large fee for it. I would assume you would require the same paperwork were you to fly one out yourself? The ones I bought were shipped airfreight and there was no issue at this end. The border agents I've run into were well aware of what is and isn't a legal antique. No forms or paperwork for import are required unless it's some obscure type. When I brought in an undated Montgomery-Storm, the border agent simply googled the type and was rapidly satisfied. As long as it's not a .303, a Martini should be no problem.

milsurpo
 
tiriaq said:
Is export from the UK an issue?
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There's an overlap between obsolete and modern weapons so maybe, I can't say based on the info provided and I haven't dealt with MH in the UK before.

Could be good to doible check with a UK exporter (can give you a reference to one who can work with you for the UK side and let you carry in your luggage - I've used his service, he is not perfect but best I found among the robbers over there) but you definitely don't need anyone in Canada.

C96 1897 said:
How long ago was that? I asked for a letter for a martini a few years ago and they told me since rifles aren't required to be registered they wouldn't issue a letter?
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Issued last year around November. I didn't have to but you may want to remind them that non-antiques do need to be registered in Quebec.
 
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KotKotofeich said:
There's an overlap between obsolete and modern weapons so maybe, I can't say based on the info provided and I haven't dealt with MH in the UK before.

Could be good to doible check with a UK exporter (can give you a reference to one who can work with you for the UK side and let you carry in your luggage - I've used his service, he is not perfect but best I found among the robbers over there) but you definitely don't need anyone in Canada.


Issued last year around November. I didn't have to but you may want to remind them that non-antiques do need to be registered in Quebec.
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I'll take the contact just in case it comes in handy, thanks again.
Im going to phone an exporter tomorrow morning and see what they say.

Glad to know I'm set on canadian side.
 
Here in UK ANY Martini-Henry/Enfield that shoots/shot the standard .577-450 cartridge is not only classed as an antique but also as a Section 58 [obsolete calibre] firearm. To buy one you just need to be over 18 and have the readies.

As a member of a gun club here, we CAN shoot them, providing that they have been registered on our FAC [PAL] by type and calibre.

ALL .303cal M-H are classed as modern firearms, as ammunition is readily available.
 
tacfoley said:
Here in UK ANY Martini-Henry/Enfield that shoots/shot the standard .577-450 cartridge is not only classed as an antique but also as a Section 58 [obsolete calibre] firearm. To buy one you just need to be over 18 and have the readies.

As a member of a gun club here, we CAN shoot them, providing that they have been registered on our FAC [PAL] by type and calibre.

ALL .303cal M-H are classed as modern firearms, as ammunition is readily available.
Click to expand...

Do you know if any export paperwork is needed to take the antique out of UK?
 
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Hmm, having no luck here : I was told I would need a Export Licence (Objects of Cultural Interest) from the Arts Counsel of England by the Cheshire Gun Room folks -- upon filling out the bulk of an application it told me, "no, you do not need this for object, as it's valued under 35,000 pounds".

My understanding is this piece would fall under an open export license, which should cover it, many websites say this Item needs to be registered on the SPIRE system which I created an account for, but this appears to be for business who are trading or selling these items, and not individuals simply keeping them.

It seems no courier will ship this item to Canada either (as opposed to me taking it on carry on).
Perhaps I can ship it from an airport directly myself, I'm not sure.

Basically the UK export system is not straight forward.

If anyone has any sort of advice or knowledge here, I would appreciate it. I've phoned everywhere with conflicting advice, and wrong advice, it's quite a nightmare.
 
first of all forget about the antique part it is a firearm antique has nothing to do with it
that part is only reliant in canada as far as ownership
it has nothing to do with shipping it's a gun it's fires ammunition
that's how it will be classified for shipping !!
 
struff55 said:
first of all forget about the antique part it is a firearm antique has nothing to do with it
that part is only reliant in canada as far as ownership
it has nothing to do with shipping it's a gun it's fires ammunition
that's how it will be classified for shipping !!
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I am not shipping it, I am bringing it back in person on my luggage.
I have contacted west jet who has no issue with firearms, and shipping it back via check in luggage to canada.
 
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Update in case anyone has this problem in the future:

I contacted prophet river who informed me that if I'm bringing it back in luggage from the UK, I should be able to check it in with no problems.
With the correct information printed to back up the antique status, I should simply be able to bring it back on the canada side.

(so it seems that these UK export permits only apply to sellers moving these items internationally, and not people possessing the item locally. However, It may differ with different antiques depending on the item and it's value.)

I will update when I return home next week.
 
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