How do you bring an antique pistol to Canada from America?

Well, if it is leaving the US and entering Canada, it is being exported then imported.
You will need to have documentation proving that the thing qualifies as antique. This will need to be clear and unequivocal.
By mailing it across, do you mean that you would go to the US, acquire the thing, then mail it to yourself?
 
Deal with someone that knows what they are doing.

I bought this Whitney revolver from Ancestry Guns in Missouri in August 2019.

I paid taxes at the post office. (See below)



 
Late spring of this year I had a Swiss 1878 shipped to my friend's house in Vermont from Simpson Ltd. I picked it up and crossed the border with it. I brought the invoice and a printout of the FRT entry. Spent about two hours at the border but it cleared after paying duty.

Your mileage may vary.
 
I recently acquired my "forever" pistol from a gentleman in the US. I'd been on hunt for a blued S&W first model in .44 Russian with a 6" barrel and found a dandy in the US. What a clusterf#@k!!! Instead of paying the 2-3 hundred to Borderview to grease the wheels, I had it shipped to me. He put "Antique S&W" on the contents declaration so of course it went to a CBSA postal check. After 2 months I contacted them to inquire as to the status of my pistol. I won't get all windy with this narrative but suffice it to say some moron in customs can't read. I got hold of a bright lady who, once she realized they'd screwed up royally, ensured the pistol came to me in short order. You can have the seller put whatever paperwork you want in with the pistol, it won't make any difference if you get an idiot. They'll do their investigation and you can only hope you're allowed to plead your case or you get the same smart cookie that I got handling your package.
 
stripperclipper said:
Does it need to be exported/imported?
Can you just declare it as an antique at the border?
Can you mail it across?
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Like other folks have mentioned it really depends on way to many variables that may be out of your control. There was a time it was pretty simple, US seller would just pop it in the mail and you might have to pay taxes on its way in. Now many US sellers are too freaked out by less than clear regulations and won't even try to ship antiques out of the country. Some are OK sending them FFL exporters as they wash their hands of any potential involvement with ICE, ATF or Homeland Security.

Somewhat related was my last bad experience with an antique revolver I had to ship to a US gunsmith for work. Easiest thing was for me to drive it across the border and mail it from there as no Canadian carriers wanted to deal with a firearm shipped internationally without major hoopla. Stopped on the Canadian side first to fill out the paperwork that I was temporarily exporting and reimporting so I didn't need to pay tax again. They were OK, wanted to see serials and verify it was unloaded and properly secured. Once I was on the US side I appropriately declared it as an antique firearm with appropriate documentation. That's when the fun started. Was held in a cell like room for over 2 hours as they ripped into my truck, critiqued my paperwork. I basically got unlucky that day and got someone with a serious attitude. It was a very unpleasant experience that seriously had me wondering if I had done something wrong, was going to jail or was going to loose my truck.

After that I have used just import/export services, its just way too much hassle.
 
It was with antique long arms from the US to Canada, not a pistol, that I used the services of Prophet River. Yes, it takes extra time and money, but it works very well, no bad surprises, and I would not hesitate to use their services again.
 
I have been importing and exporting antique handguns from / to the US and Europe for 10 years. At first, I got the run-around like some of you described above, but I learned the ropes and now get no hassle at the border, both going out and coming in. It all comes down to having your "ducks in a row". As one fine CBSA gentleman once told me, it's not up to them to prove that your import or export is antique, it's up to you. If you can't prove it to their satisfaction, they are not obliged to let you pass. End of story. If you have it mailed and you are not there at the border in person to provide proof and explanation, you are asking for trouble. Most CBSA and Homeland Security personel know very little, if anything, about antique firearms and they freak out as soon as they see a gun. You best do your homework and be sure you have all the documentation available to prove that your gun is in fact an antique. if you don't, or you rely on the vendor from the US to provide this proof, you are in for a world of hurt. If you want to spend the extra money on a broker, let them handle it in your place. It ain't cheap, but it works. Most of the time. There is a reason why most US vendors refuse to ship to Canada. We have a reputation up here...
 
I just received two antique single shot cartridge pistols, bought at Rock Island Auction. One marked 1877; the other with pre-1878 proof marks.Pre-cleared by UPS Air: four days from shipped to unwrapped. And the driver showed up in the announced time window. The planets sometime align...

Neither is in a "commonly available caliber". Hoo boy are they not available. Does anyone have 11mm French Ordnance or (I think) 11.15mmx42R Werdnl lying about??
 
According to Donnelly;
11mm French Revolver= 44mag. or Special case trimmed to 0.71". Turn rim to .491". Use .429 lead bullet seated with 44 special die.
Load; .429 180gr. lead bullet and 3.0gr Bullseye. OAL 1.18"

11.15x42R Werndl M67= .43 Spanish case (Bertram? he suggests Bell but I don't think are available) turn rim to .590". Cut case to 1.7" and trim to 1.64" and chamfer.
Load; .442 lead 313gr bullet and 18.6gr of IMR4227. OAL 2.37"

I'd be curious to know about a pistol chambered in the M67 ctg.?
 
I'm not certain of the caliber; need to do a chamber cast. 42mm from rim to start of rifling, and it seems to be a slight bottle neck. All this is by touch. I can't get a straight line into the breech, so measurements are by contact points of whatever brass I have. Bore slugs at .451 It might be 11.5x35R.
 
drm3m said:
Deal with someone that knows what they are doing.

I bought this Whitney revolver from Ancestry Guns in Missouri in August 2019.

I paid taxes at the post office. (See below)

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How is declared value $663 while the paid for value on your picture is $3762 CAD? I thought there are no personal exemptions for shipped items
 
Old Guns Canada said:
I have been importing and exporting antique handguns from / to the US and Europe for 10 years. At first, I got the run-around like some of you described above, but I learned the ropes and now get no hassle at the border, both going out and coming in. It all comes down to having your "ducks in a row". As one fine CBSA gentleman once told me, it's not up to them to prove that your import or export is antique, it's up to you. If you can't prove it to their satisfaction, they are not obliged to let you pass. End of story. If you have it mailed and you are not there at the border in person to provide proof and explanation, you are asking for trouble. Most CBSA and Homeland Security personel know very little, if anything, about antique firearms and they freak out as soon as they see a gun. You best do your homework and be sure you have all the documentation available to prove that your gun is in fact an antique. if you don't, or you rely on the vendor from the US to provide this proof, you are in for a world of hurt. If you want to spend the extra money on a broker, let them handle it in your place. It ain't cheap, but it works. Most of the time. There is a reason why most US vendors refuse to ship to Canada. We have a reputation up here...
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Is FRT print out sufficient, or do you also use citations from books including serial numbers, etc.?
 
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