Homemade cannon - is it legal???

Hello again. Just to explain my earlier post, and knowing the definitions posted above, I have always hung my hopes on the section that reads:

"What is not a firearm? For the purposes of the Firearms Act and the Criminal Code, the following devices are generally not considered firearms (unless they're used in a criminal or negligent manner):

- antique firearms, etc, etc"

Therefore, I am hoping a cannon is not considered a "firearm," not impacted by the OIC etc. Especially as I own two and fire them regularly with my police neighbours present. Thanks for the discussion,
 
stencollector said:
Not specific to cannons, but more to the over 20mm: If you look at the armalytics FRT copy, it lists mortars above 60mm as prohibited, yet the various 2 inch or 52mm mortars are listed as not meeting the threshold of a firearm, likely because their muzzle velocity is too low. I believe the 60mm mortar is listed as having a muzzle velocity of 565 fps, although a quick look on Wikopedia shows 520fps.

This may be a matter of the FRT guys or the lab being uncertain what the new rules exactly encompass.

I see the 7.58 cm Minenwerfer is also listed as exempted on the armalytics....it has a muzzle velocity of 259fps.
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In reference to the Armalytics FRT, there are cannon listed that are matchlock (antique status) and under 20mm cartridge (non-restricted), not classed as prohibited. Maybe touch hole guns are not prohibited.
As I mentioned above, I unsuccessfully tried to find out.
Pending a formal ruling, I would not be in a hurry to destroy a ml cannon. Even if it turns out to be prohibited under the OIC, the current amnesty would apply.
 
If it is prohib, it has to be stored as prohib. Antiques are firearms, regardless of what the ill-informed RCMP website says:
Antique Firearms
  • 14 (1) An individual may store, display or transport an antique firearm only if it is unloaded.
  • (2) An individual may transport an antique firearm in an unattended vehicle only if
    • (a) when the vehicle is equipped with a trunk or similar compartment that can be securely locked, the antique firearm is in that trunk or compartment and the trunk or compartment is securely locked; and
    • (b) when the vehicle is not equipped with a trunk or similar compartment that can be securely locked, the antique firearm is not visible from outside the vehicle and the vehicle, or the part that contains the antique firearm, is securely locked.
  • (3) An individual may transport an antique firearm that is a handgun only if it is in a locked container that is made of an opaque material and is of such strength, construction and nature that it cannot readily be broken open or into or accidentally opened during transportation.
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Juster said:
If it is prohib, it has to be stored as prohib. Antiques are firearms, regardless of what the ill-informed RCMP website says:
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Not true. If it had a classification change as a result of the OIC, part of the OIC is that they may continue to be stored in the same manner they were before the prohibition. A non-restricted which is, by OIC, now prohibited, can still be stored as a non-restricted. And items that were not considered firearms but are now prohibited by the OIC can still be stored as a non-firearm.

Owners of firearms and devices that were prohibited on May 1, 2020 are to keep them securely stored in accordance with their previous classification. The Display, Storage, Transportation and Handling of Firearms by Individuals Regulations (the Regulations) are available on the Department of Justice website.
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stencollector said:
Not true. If it had a classification change as a result of the OIC, part of the OIC is that they may continue to be stored in the same manner they were before the prohibition. A non-restricted which is, by OIC, now prohibited, can still be stored as a non-restricted. And items that were not considered firearms but are now prohibited by the OIC can still be stored as a non-firearm.
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That is correct, I was wrong there sorry.
 
bmartin909 said:
Hi. I have a friend who wants to sell his homemade cannon. It currently fires a 1.5" ball but he plans to weld it up prior to selling.

My question is, is it currently legal to have and sell, and is it even legal to sell once rendered inoperable.

Does anyone know the value of such a thing? Chrome lined barrel, heavy wall pipe, etc.

Thanks

View attachment 631738
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Perfectly legal. We shoot US Civil War howitzers at events and on private property.314EE01B-4498-4B5A-ADA9-C1228D77090F.jpg
 

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Jon9021 said:
Perfectly legal. We shoot US Civil War howitzers at events and on private property.View attachment 632144
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The fact you shoot them doesn't in itself make them legal... it just means you haven't gotten in trouble yet...

Seems to me that it would be impossible to say for certain one way or the other. Cannons tend to exceed both the diameter and joules limits set in the OiC, there isn't a specific exemption for cannons in the oic, and when directly asked about it tiriaq didn't get a response...

Based on the above listed factors I think they probably banned cannons without meaning to but aren't willing to admit they rushed the OiC and thus wrote it in such a way that it applies to more things than they wanted it to...
 
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Jon9021 said:
Perfectly legal. We shoot US Civil War howitzers at events and on private property.View attachment 632144
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Perfectly wrong...all this proves is that a bunch of well dressed gentlemen can just as easily break the law as any hooded gangbanger on a dark street...sort of the same as millions of drivers every day break the speed limit by 5 or 10 k and dont get charged from lack of enforcement...still doesnt make it legal as you say.

But please please prove me wrong...I plead with you to do that...I have 3 finished tubes of from 1.625 inch to 2.625 inch caliber that were perfectly legal to transport around and fire before May1st/20 and i still have 3 unfinished tubes ( one a 4inch ID bruiser that i would love to touch a round out of) so I do have a dog in this fight .
 
Suther said:
The fact you shoot them doesn't in itself make them legal... it just means you haven't gotten in trouble yet...

Seems to me that it would be impossible to say for certain one way or the other. Cannons tend to exceed both the diameter and joules limits set in the OiC, there isn't a specific exemption for cannons in the oic, and when directly asked about it tiriaq didn't get a response...

Based on the above listed factors I think they probably banned cannons without meaning to but aren't willing to admit they rushed the OiC and thus wrote it in such a way that it applies to more things than they wanted it to...
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I doubt they rushed the order in council, they most likely had it pre-written, just waiting for the right tragedy to enact it. More likely, it's poorly written because they're ideologues who don't know near as much as they think they do about guns.
Kristian
 
turbo_bird said:
I doubt they rushed the order in council, they most likely had it pre-written, just waiting for the right tragedy to enact it. More likely, it's poorly written because they're ideologues who don't know near as much as they think they do about guns.
Kristian
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Rushed or not, it's poorly written and far from clear on what is vs isn't supposed to be banned.

At least with shotguns they were willing to go on record saying 12ga shotguns aren't banned because they measure barrel diameter before the choke, and also because they follow industry specs that say 12ga is 18.xx mm or whatever it is. I haven't seen anything like that for cannons, or 8/6/4/2 bore rifles.
 
The DND carefully controls the use of obsolete weapons, including field guns within units and it's museums. As a result, a few units and groups circumvented this by forming associates or affiliates to a unit (or "Friends of the regiment") so that they could operate and display the guns outside or on the periphery of DND. By operation, I mean firing blanks for things like ceremonies or salutes. I suspect this OIC will have closed that avenue, we'll see.
 
fingers284 said:
Perfectly wrong...all this proves is that a bunch of well dressed gentlemen can just as easily break the law as any hooded gangbanger on a dark street...sort of the same as millions of drivers every day break the speed limit by 5 or 10 k and dont get charged from lack of enforcement...still doesnt make it legal as you say.

But please please prove me wrong...I plead with you to do that...I have 3 finished tubes of from 1.625 inch to 2.625 inch caliber that were perfectly legal to transport around and fire before May1st/20 and i still have 3 unfinished tubes ( one a 4inch ID bruiser that i would love to touch a round out of) so I do have a dog in this fight .
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Cannons are being used in re-enactments all over the country and this is perfectly legal. Our event insurance (NFA) covers all our events. When was the last time you saw the police swarm an historical event firing cannons??5A4A5652-7C00-494C-88AE-C5310806172F.jpg
 

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Jon9021 said:
Cannons are being used in re-enactments all over the country and this is perfectly legal. Our event insurance (NFA) covers all our events. When was the last time you saw the police swarm an historical event firing cannons??View attachment 632212
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So by that logic all the people shooting ARs at the range still are doing it legally because they didn't get arrested?
 
Jon9021 said:
Cannons are being used in re-enactments all over the country and this is perfectly legal. Our event insurance (NFA) covers all our events. When was the last time you saw the police swarm an historical event firing cannons??View attachment 632212
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Unless there is a war on the Calgary Flames I am unaware of you appear to be having a fire inside of a cannon as opposed to firing a cannon (ball), (smoke) signaling devices are exempted. Have you consulted the NFA since May 2020 about the specifics of this device? The amnesty is still in effect.
 
Suther said:
You're saying you haven't gotten in trouble, thus its clearly OK. Thats not how things work though...

I didn't get pulled over for speeding last night. Doesn't mean I wasn't speeding, just means I didn't get caught...
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Righty oh, super dooper, top ultra, expert in everything GNR. Sigh….
 
Sigh…yes, some of us don’t pretend to know everything, so we check.

Now your next question: “who did you speak too??, they are wrong, and I am right!”

Wish I could know everything like you super, dooper, top scoring GNS.

Insults about me starting in: 1, 2, 3….GO!
 
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