How do I prove to the Customs that a partiqular gun is antique and its calibre? There is a gun for sale, which I positively identified as a legal antique in OK calibre, but the seller has no info about the gun's age or calibre. What do I need to do to bring it in?
Importing antique revolvers from the USA
- Thread starter svt-40
- Start date
A printout from the FRT would be a start. Customs has the FRT, so supplying the FRT information which they can confirm would be useful. Any documentation that would establish manufacture prior to the cut-off date would be good. If the firearm is one that was in production before and after 1897, you will have to prove that this particular gun was made pre-98.
peckerwood
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- PalePony, Yukon
Here is an American website that also assists in detailing pre 1899 firearms
http://www.empirearms.com/pre-1899.htm
http://www.empirearms.com/pre-1899.htm
What's FRT?
And I was a bit too optimistic as to the calibre. I thought from his description that it was a .380, as he stated 'slightly larger than 9mm', but it turns out that the mouth of the cylinder chambers is .360' sharp, which is less than one of the .380 gun. What calibre can that be?
Can anything be found about the gun by the proofmark below? There is no serial number.
And I was a bit too optimistic as to the calibre. I thought from his description that it was a .380, as he stated 'slightly larger than 9mm', but it turns out that the mouth of the cylinder chambers is .360' sharp, which is less than one of the .380 gun. What calibre can that be?
Can anything be found about the gun by the proofmark below? There is no serial number.
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The crown over R, I think is a British reproof mark although there is a very similar mark for Germany post 1891 according to Wirnsberger's directory of proof marks. The star over BB I can't find listed. The german crown is slightly different from the one illustrated.
Modern .38 handgun cartridges are .357 so I would strongly suggest finding out the chamber length or cylinder length plus base diameter (from the cylinder) and comparing with numbers from Cartridges of the World.
Remember even if the gun is made before 1898, if it is chambered for one of the various named .38 cal cartridges, it becomes a modern gun in the eyes of Canada. Further if modern, the gun would probably require a US export license which requires many months to obtain.
How about posting a photo of the gun so we can see what it is.
cheers mooncoon
Modern .38 handgun cartridges are .357 so I would strongly suggest finding out the chamber length or cylinder length plus base diameter (from the cylinder) and comparing with numbers from Cartridges of the World.
Remember even if the gun is made before 1898, if it is chambered for one of the various named .38 cal cartridges, it becomes a modern gun in the eyes of Canada. Further if modern, the gun would probably require a US export license which requires many months to obtain.
How about posting a photo of the gun so we can see what it is.
cheers mooncoon
The crown over R is Belgian, not German. It's a 1871+ nitro powder proofmark.
I just found this gun in a 1899 catalogue of the manufacturer. Does this help with classification and import at all?
I just found this gun in a 1899 catalogue of the manufacturer. Does this help with classification and import at all?
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Well Belgian guns are a bit of a nightmare to date.
If its got and Oval with ELG inside the oval WITHOUT a crown over the Oval its pre 1893
if it has a Crown over the Oval Good luck trying to prove its Pre 1898 as they used that from 1893 well after 1898.
If it has a VT with a tiny lion over the VT with its tail up in the air thats a proof mark only used 1898 and forward.
That Oval pre 1893 proof mark can usally be found on the back of the cylinder.
If its got and Oval with ELG inside the oval WITHOUT a crown over the Oval its pre 1893
if it has a Crown over the Oval Good luck trying to prove its Pre 1898 as they used that from 1893 well after 1898.
If it has a VT with a tiny lion over the VT with its tail up in the air thats a proof mark only used 1898 and forward.
That Oval pre 1893 proof mark can usally be found on the back of the cylinder.
