How common are Prohibited handguns that got converted to Restricted?

Felix

Felix

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Just curious if anyone knows, how common is/was it for people to convert a prohibited handgun into a restricted handgun these days, or back when the laws changed in the 90's?

I missed out on owning guns back then because I was too young. (And my dad didn't realize that his FAC would no longer be valid)

I have my RPAL and I'm currentlyntly on a search for a tiny handgun that's been converted to Restricted. I made a purchase of an Erma Werke handgun that fell through on the seller's end, through no fault of his own, and now I would really like to get one...or something similar

I've seen a post for a Beretta model 71 that's perked my interest...but I'm wondering if anyone knows if there's anything else available that is a bit more unique or smaller that I can add to my firearm collection before October

Is it worth looking around and hoping that someone will have something to offer? Or should I just grab the mod71 and keep drooling over the cool little guns in the 12(x) EE?
 
Grab the model 71 and send it off to S&J Hardware. They'll shorten it to 107mm and change the paperwork.
https://www.sjhardware.com/product/beretta-71-barrel-reduction-service-2/
 
Would that not bring it back into the prohibited classification?

I'm looking for something that's small and fun to bring to the range legally with just a restricted license.
 
A Browning or FN 1910 in 380 ACP rebarreled with a 106mm barrel is pretty compact. They show up occasionally on the EE.
Pretty small with quite a bit of ooomph....
 
Felix said:
Would that not bring it back into the prohibited classification?

I'm looking for something that's small and fun to bring to the range legally with just a restricted license.
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No it would take the 6" barrel that's currently on the gun (I think that's what they tend to have?) and cut it back as short as legally possible while preserving the restricted status.
 
I am an avid collector of rebarrelled prohibs. During this last handgun ban scare, I have been able to score some lifetime grail pistols, all are rebarrelled ex-prohibs. My collection includes: Walther PPK/S, Sig P230, Colt 1908 Pocket Hammerless Chromed, FN 1910, among others. I am currently in the process of having a pre war Walther PP rebarrelled and reclassified by Barry at Bits Of Pieces in Delta, BC. Who knows how long that could take. Any questions just ask.
 
Suther said:
No it would take the 5" barrel that's currently on the gun (I think that's what they tend to have?) and cut it back as short as legally possible while preserving the restricted status.
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Oh, forgive my ignorance haha. I definitely didn't do the math in my head the wrong way ;)
 
And to answer your question: All rebarrelled prohibs are rare. Think about all the work that's required for a gun like that to exist. Hence when I see one for sale, I buy it immediately. You basically have what most people cannot get.
 
tonykimatpl said:
I am an avid collector of rebarrelled prohibs. During this last handgun ban scare, I have been able to score some lifetime grail pistols, all are rebarrelled ex-prohibs. My collection includes: Walther PPK/S, Sig P230, Colt 1908 Pocket Hammerless Chromed, FN 1910, among others. I am currently in the process of having a pre war Walther PP rebarrelled and reclassified by Barry at Bits Of Pieces in Delta, BC. Who knows how long that could take. Any questions just ask.
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I am very interested to see a picture of your Colt 1908. Maybe you can post up one real quick? Is it converted from .25acp to 22lr?
 
every glock 19 was converted from prohib to restricted with a new barrel in order to enter canada... so quite common to answer your question.

look at the bersa 380 if you want a small restricted without the hassle of a conversion. it was already longer barreled at the factory to import to canada.
 
Colin L said:
I am very interested to see a picture of your Colt 1908. Maybe you can post up one real quick? Is it converted from .25acp to 22lr?
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For your viewing pleasure, here's an album of all of my rebarrelled prohibs.

https://imgur.com/a/m2lX8PS

All of my rebarrelled guns came chambered in .380 ACP from the factory.

You will find gunsmiths are hesitant to convert guns that came in anything other than .380 because most of the time it requires milling of the ejector port and ejector to e.g. rebarrel a .32 ACP to .380 ACP. There are exceptions though and you can pretty much rebarrel or sleeve anything.
 
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Most are in 380. If you like a small gun and don't mind Norinco, Marstar is selling the Olympia in 22lr for $200. Pretty sweet if you ask me. Lots of videos online.
 
^^
Does anyone have any of those for sale at the moment? Or long enough before October happens to transfer it? ;)

Edit: In response to the video posted obviously
 
Browning 1922’s are pretty small. Just a slightly longer barrel and grip/magazine added to the original 1910 design. Restricted (if in .380) from the factory. So kind of converted to restricted from prohibited, but by the original manufacturer
 
fritzhanzel said:
Most are in 380. If you like a small gun and don't mind Norinco, Marstar is selling the Olympia in 22lr for $200. Pretty sweet if you ask me. Lots of videos online.
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The Olympia is not really what would be considered a 'small' gun. The barrel is 4 3/4″ and height is 5″. It also weighs just under 30 oz. so almost two pounds.
 
Before the Crown got into prohibited by barrel length
The American's were making plain barrels for them to be custom threaded for suppressor 's or flash holder's
The good part was you could buy the barrels with not much effort and be in front of the law
Then the gun could be registered as restricted
 
I have done some conversions, the problem is that the paperwork takes time, and with c21 looming there may not be enough time.

I actually have a restricted 1910 on the EE now and thinking about putting a 1922 up as well.
 
When I was looking for a small converted prohib I had no trouble getting PMs. I settled on a Beretta 950 in .22 Short. It was tons of fun but I held it like I would a normal gun and ended up with a nasty cut. The gun went off to a new home after that, though I do wish I had kept it.
 
Colin L said:
I am very interested to see a picture of your Colt 1908. Maybe you can post up one real quick? Is it converted from .25acp to 22lr?
Click to expand...

There is a little misinformation regarding the Colt "1908" in .380 ACP. It is actually a Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless but in .380ACP instead of .32ACP. The .380ACP caliber was first chambered/introduced in these guns in 1908 and so these particular guns are often referred to as a 1908 for that reason. They are in fact a 1903 model. This does get confusing when the actual Colt 1908 in .25ACP is mentioned, as that is an actual model number.
 
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