Love for dewats?

.22LRGUY

.22LRGUY

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
178   0   1
Location
Ontario
I had to Google "Dewat" when I joined CGN, but since then.... I've certainly seen a pile of them I'd love to fondle. Probably topping the list is a Sterling SMG, but it's hard enough finding $ for guns that go "bang"...let alone, those that don't. This brings me to a question I've been meaning to ask on here...

When I was in grade 8 (around 1982) a guy I knew brought a deactivated Colt 1911 to school one day, and believe it or not...we even played with it in a quiet corner of the field not far from the school. It was, what I think would be called a "#### and click"..the mag could be removed, etc. I remember it being nearly all dull/silver, which I now know would mean that the bluing was nearly all worn off. I'm assuming it was a dewat...have to wonder now! Anyhow, I was well into my love of guns and carried an air rifle with me all day/every day at the summer cottage in those days. I do remember wanting to own that 1911 more than anything I'd ever seen, and even tried to beg/plead him to part with it. No luck, and maybe that was a good thing in the grand scheme of things. I think I'd still love to own one of those, but what are the rules governing dewat pistols in Canada?

I've found when you're pushing 50...and know a good number of older guys also into shooting...you hear various stories about dewats, bring-backs that maybe shouldn't have been brought back, etc. I never question the authenticity of the stories...but it reminds me of Guy's Colt 1911, and how badly I wanted to own that as a kid. I can't remember what I had for breakfast yesterday...but remember what that pistol even smelled like back in 1982. Funny how that is.

I heard Guy passed away very young, not long after we parted ways after Grade 8. Illness, should have never touched a kid that age.
 
.22LRGUY said:
but what are the rules governing dewat pistols in Canada?
Click to expand...

No rules. If it has been properly de-activated and de-registered, you're good to own them, no PAL necessary. Holds true even for older dewats that wouldn't meet standards for today--they're kinda "grandfathered."

If owning gun-shaped lumps of metal is for you, go for it. But, wouldn't you find it more satisfying to get your RPAL, and own an actual, unmolested, functioning piece of history?
 
Yes, it would be great to have a functioning firearm - unfortunately, unless the proverbial unicorn comes around again, we are stuck with dewats as getting my hands on a functioning belt fed full auto is kind of impossible today.

And just to be polite, I'll even thank the various governments that have f####d us over for the last 35 or so years for this state of affairs.
 
Ironheart said:
No dewat is worth more than it's weight in scrap metal
Click to expand...


It depends what kind of collector your are… or if you're even a collector at all. (no offence to anyone here)
Now if you are primarily a shooter i can see why it wouldn't be of interest.
To me a dewat still has history and will always will.
It was there and lived through a period that i find very interesting to study and learn about.
We all heard or said that phrase… ''if only it could talk'' … they still can, imho.
I collect milsurps for the history more than for the firing range time so dewats have a place in my collection.
Both point of views and interests have their merits.
 
Ironheart said:
No dewat is worth more than it's weight in scrap metal
Click to expand...

And yet they tend to sell for more money than live guns...? I suspect its because even people who despite firearms from a (misguided) moral perspective will still have one as a prop in their study - after all, it's not a real gun and won't spontaneously kill babies any longer.
 
Claven2 said:
And yet they tend to sell for more money than live guns...? I suspect its because even people who despite firearms from a (misguided) moral perspective will still have one as a prop in their study - after all, it's not a real gun and won't spontaneously kill babies any longer.
Click to expand...

Probably more of a case of not being permitted to own the firearm at all unless it is a deactivated version.....an FN FAL comes to mind . Pretty much buy a deactivated model , or not have one at all . Just another example of how unfair Canadian Firearm laws are .
 
These are all dewats-----since been sold.
I enjoyed them for all of the years that I owned them.
Two of them had moving actions---the other two didn't.
They command very decent prices and nice examples sell quickly.
The buyer market is large as there is no licensing required.

 
Thanks for the replies guys. I'd never suggest dewats aren't worth buying, just that at this point...I personally can't justify that much money for something I can't shoot. There are times I think I'd love to own that 1911 I pined for so badly back then, but with a limited gun budget...wall hangers just aren't a priority unfortunately.

Speaking of wall hangers, I've always loved the look of the older Enfields (MK 3) and while they're a usable pc. of history, I'm not sure where they fall on the wish list. I don't know enough about them, but check the EE every few weeks looking at them, getting a sense of the asking prices, etc. I only RECENLTLY learned about the Ishapore 410 Enfields, and that some have been modified to shoot modern 410 loads. Heavy=yes. Useful caliber for me=not really. Would I have fun with it a couple of times a year instead of NOT using a 303? Absolutely. :)

So yes..."Ishapore" is something I look for on here at least a couple of times a month...hoping I don't find one. lol
 
gaff said:
Deactivated firearms are the big gray area . Not cover in the criminal code or firearms act.
Click to expand...

Not a grey area at all. Properly deactivated, they cease to be firearms, so of course are not covered by the Firearms Act. There is no criminality in owning these gun-shaped lumps of metal, so of course the Criminal Code does not apply to them.
 
its Gray in that there is no proper rules as to how to deactivate . Its only a guide . 30 years ago you could pour lead down the bbl ,it was a properly deactivated , 10 years ago it could be #### and click,
now there can be no moving parts? 30 years ago you had to cut a sten receiver tube to deactivate . now the tube is a part and the mag well is the part that needs to be cut ?
is it this or is it that ?? when your lawyer and the crown prosecutor make the deal ,your wallet will tell you.
 
gaff said:
its Gray in that there is no proper rules as to how to deactivate . Its only a guide . 30 years ago you could pour lead down the bbl ,it was a properly deactivated , 10 years ago it could be #### and click,
now there can be no moving parts? 30 years ago you had to cut a sten receiver tube to deactivate . now the tube is a part and the mag well is the part that needs to be cut ?
is it this or is it that ?? when your lawyer and the crown prosecutor make the deal ,your wallet will tell you.
Click to expand...


This is one thing that's always been a complete loss on me. Legally-speaking, only the receiver should need to be deactivated, since it's the part that's considered to be a "firearm" under the law. The rest are just unregulated parts and that holds true for any firearm under the Firearms Act. So, why is it that all those "gunsmiths" go to town with torches, grinders and welders on historical firearms, converting them into one solid piece of steel slag?

Where exactly does it say [in law] that DEWAT parts (mags, barrels, bolts, firing pins, etc) are also considered "firearms" and need to be butchered? What if you take them all off from the receiver and only want to DEWAT the receiver itself? You are able to turn in, destroy or render receivers non-functional.


Like I said, the whole legal aspect of it makes no sense, as it appears there are two standards at play, but only one law. That, plus converting a functional firearm to a "DEWAT" is too Lieberal for my liking anyway, lol! One less historical artifact in existence each time a DEWAT is created... because welded-up paperweights don't count as the genuine item anymore, regardless of demand.

:(
 
Last edited:
762mm said:
This is one thing that's always been a complete loss on me. Legally-speaking, only the receiver should need to be deactivated, since it's the part that's considered to be a "firearm" under the law. The rest are just unregulated parts and that holds true for any firearm under the Firearms Act. So, why is it that all those "gunsmiths" go to town with torches, grinders and welders on historical firearms, converting them into one solid piece of steel slag?

Where exactly does it say [in law] that DEWAT parts (mags, barrels, bolts, firing pins, etc) are also considered "firearms" and need to be butchered? What if you take them all off from the receiver and only want to DEWAT the receiver itself? You are able to turn in, destroy or render receivers non-functional.


Like I said, the whole legal aspect of it makes no sense, as it appears there are two standards at play, but only one law. That, plus converting a functional firearm to a "DEWAT" is too Lieberal for my liking anyway, lol! One less historical artifact in existence each time a DEWAT is created... because welded-up paperweights don't count as the genuine item anymore, regardless of demand.

:(
Click to expand...
There is no LAW about deactivation , only a RCMP crime lab guide line.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom