Question about modified antiques....

[Davegelinas]

Hi guys, I have a question, if someone takes an antique, let's say a reich revolver in 44 russian and rechamber and sleeve it to shoot 22lr or 22 mag, does it remain a legal antique or does it become an unregistered restricted.
There is a revolver in the antique section that really interest me, but since it is modified to accept 22 mag I am a bit concern and don't want to end up buying an illegal revolver.
Thanks

 

[KePet]

You need to follow the chart that is “Stickied” in the black powder/ antique forum. It should answer all your questions. 22LR is a no-go, but 22 magnum would probably be okay. Somebody much more knowledgeable than me should be along shortly to quote chapter and verse.

 

[Brutus]

You need to follow the chart that is “Stickied” in the black powder/ antique forum. It should answer all your questions. 22LR is a no-go, but 22 magnum would probably be okay. Somebody much more knowledgeable than me should be along shortly to quote chapter and verse.

This. And remember Dave it's in the Blackpodwer and Antiques sub forum. Not the Equipment Exchange. It's the very first sticky top on the page. Follow the handgun information balloons on the antique determination flowchart.

 

[KotKotofeich]

Generally 22 mag is not excepted from the antique regs (https://www.canlii.org/en/ca/laws/regu/sor-98-464/latest/sor-98-464.html - just search for 22 it's pretty easy to see)

Personally I wouldn't touch it. Ask yourself, can you prove it is in 22mag and not 22lr? (It _may_ be possible with how the chambers were reamed but none of that info has been provided). Any FRT printout will not have 22mag on it so it's not going to be very useful. If the seller were willing to get a letter for it, he could get a better price, so why isn't he doing that? So, more trouble than it's worth, esp at that price and with it's stated mechanical issues.

Also, remember, well priced guns do not stay on EE to be bumped - lots of knowledgeable members here - if everything was good it would be marked SPF by now.

 

[tiriaq]

A .22Magnum chamber is demonstrably different from a .22S, L, LR one. An ordinary .22 will fire in a Magnum chamber, but it puffs out and can split. Bad idea, probably worse than firing .32 S&W in a 7.5 Swiss revolver.

.22Mag isn't on the no go list, so the conversion should be OK, but if push comes to shove, who wants to get to argue the case?
The value of such a revolver is in its shootability; any antique collector value is long gone.

 

[KotKotofeich]

A .22Magnum chamber is demonstrably different from a .22S, L, LR one. An ordinary .22 will fire in a Magnum chamber, but it puffs out and can split.

Visibly enough that a chambered .22lr will be loose in it? I obviously don't have much 22mag experience and if so I withdraw my comment. Would still prefer to have it lettered. Davegelinas, if you really-really like this gun, then you can get that letter and have some peace of mind...

Bad idea, probably worse than firing .32 S&W in a 7.5 Swiss revolver.