Requirement for RCMP Letter

CMichaud

CMichaud

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Don't meant o open up a hornet's nest here but has anyone heard that a US seller must have an RCMP letter in order to export an antique to Canada?

I was looking at bringing in an antique revolver from the US and the seller insists that this is required by law. I have imported in the past but have never heard this one (nor did the sellers demand a letter before they would ship) - maybe there are some new laws in effect on the US side?

Here is a cut and paste of what the guy sent me when I enquired as to the requirement for an RCMP letter...


The requirement for a RCMP “Antique Status Letter” is standard procedure for importation of an antique firearm into Canada. I have done this several times and it is not difficult. The other Canadian buyers never voiced any concern at all about contacting the RCMP. I have talked to them myself, on several occasions, and they are very nice people to deal with. If you call them they will go over the complete procedure with you. The other Canadian buyers had imported many antique guns in the past with no repercussions. These guys bought the guns from me first, then, contacted the RCMP and requested a letter. They then sent me payment and when the letter arrived they emailed me a copy and I shipped the guns. A few days after their payment arrived here they received the letter so it doesn’t take that long. I don’t know about any other people exporting guns to Canada from the US but I know that if they don’t obtain a RCMP Antique Status letter they are breaking the law and could suffer severe penalties.
Tom Baugher
Attorney at Law

To be clear, Mr Baugher is also the seller of the revolver I was looking at. His feedback on a third party site rates him as a reliable dealer/chap.

Thanks
 
not a requirement ,and not against the law .

but if your bringing a gun that might be somewhat questionable , the rcmp letter will make things much easier to prove it is a antique .
otherwise you will need a other 3rd party authority to confirm it is an actual antique .

the last gun I had brought up from the states ,I had the seller put "antique " on the declaration and had him ship it by usps . nothing else .


if the seller wants you to get a rcmp letter , it probably isn't a big deal to humor him .
 
CMichaud said:
Don't meant o open up a hornet's nest here but has anyone heard that a US seller must have an RCMP letter in order to export an antique to Canada?

I was looking at bringing in an antique revolver from the US and the seller insists that this is required by law. I have imported in the past but have never heard this one (nor did the sellers demand a letter before they would ship) - maybe there are some new laws in effect on the US side?

Here is a cut and paste of what the guy sent me when I enquired as to the requirement for an RCMP letter...


The requirement for a RCMP “Antique Status Letter” is standard procedure for importation of an antique firearm into Canada. I have done this several times and it is not difficult. The other Canadian buyers never voiced any concern at all about contacting the RCMP. I have talked to them myself, on several occasions, and they are very nice people to deal with. If you call them they will go over the complete procedure with you. The other Canadian buyers had imported many antique guns in the past with no repercussions. These guys bought the guns from me first, then, contacted the RCMP and requested a letter. They then sent me payment and when the letter arrived they emailed me a copy and I shipped the guns. A few days after their payment arrived here they received the letter so it doesn’t take that long. I don’t know about any other people exporting guns to Canada from the US but I know that if they don’t obtain a RCMP Antique Status letter they are breaking the law and could suffer severe penalties.
Tom Baugher
Attorney at Law

To be clear, Mr Baugher is also the seller of the revolver I was looking at. His feedback on a third party site rates him as a reliable dealer/chap.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Not a requirement of law, but it could be very convenient to have if the status of the firearm is called into question by the authorities.
 
The antique letter is not a legal requirement for export/import. Since the seller is a lawyer, ask him to provide a reference to the applicable law that he is referring to. He won't be able to because there is no such law or regulation on the books. The RCMP will encourage you to do so, because once you have the letter then they hacve effectively registered that handgun to you. It is on your record forever.

You don't need the letter. I have imported dozens with my own letter which simply states that the gun is antique, and lists the barrel length, cartridge, number of shots, date of manufacture, and make, model.

Here is how it actually works when you import a firearm:
Canada Post / CBSA station receives the antique. If the paperwork says it is antique then they may approve and forward it to the receiver immediately. Or they may consult with the RCMP in Ottawa to confirm legality, in which case there may be a week or so delay. Either way, having a declaration of antique status in the package with the gun is a good idea.

Having the information on hand makes it easier for the CBSA to do his job correctly and steers him in the right direction. If you want to get an RCMP letter it doesn't actually hurt anything and if the seller demands it then he is within his right to do so - but let him know he's full of horse shat for telling you that it is a legal requirement. Lawyers should know better than to pass of BS as fact, or maybe that's the definition of a lawyer. :)
 
Roger - essentially as I suspected based on my previous experiences.

I sent him the sticky PDF form from this site (the equivalent to the RCMP letter).

The gun is a Colt (easy to confirm DOM) and the frame is stamped clearly with the calibre.

If he doesn't know his sh*t then I won't purchase based on principle nor will I waste time getting into a pissing match with him. It's his right to demand it and mine to take my cash elsewhere.

There is always another toy around the corner for me to will spend my 2k plus on!

Thanks !
 
I imported an antique recently. No letter, no paperwork except the bill of sale. Seller only stated on it that it was in fact an antique. CBSA opened the package. It sat there at the border for a month. Then they sealed it and sent it on its way. Done. Guy says he is a lawyer. Then I can say I'm a doctor hehehe. Tell him ignorance of the law on his side is no excuse. Sad really sad.
 
It's part of dealing across the border and a lot of why people don't like to - you've got to deal with two country's federal laws as well as whatever particular state laws that're applicable, AND the particular feelings of the seller and are mostly at his mercy, as you'll have slightly less than 0% chance of taking any action against them if the gun is deficient in any way or the deal otherwise doesn't go completely as planned.
 
H wally you hit the nail on the head .

I found it is rare that a seller in the states is even familiar with we are doing up here .

most of them want nothing to do with selling to us Canadians .

just from that mindset ,I'd get the rcmp letter , just to keep the seller happy .
 
jethunter said:
The antique letter is not a legal requirement for export/import. Since the seller is a lawyer, ask him to provide a reference to the applicable law that he is referring to. He won't be able to because there is no such law or regulation on the books. The RCMP will encourage you to do so, because once you have the letter then they hacve effectively registered that handgun to you. It is on your record forever.
Click to expand...

This, this and more this. And tell Mr. Tom Baugher Attorney at Law he is full of ####.
 
CMichaud said:
Don't meant o open up a hornet's nest here but has anyone heard that a US seller must have an RCMP letter in order to export an antique to Canada?

I was looking at bringing in an antique revolver from the US and the seller insists that this is required by law. I have imported in the past but have never heard this one (nor did the sellers demand a letter before they would ship) - maybe there are some new laws in effect on the US side?

Here is a cut and paste of what the guy sent me when I enquired as to the requirement for an RCMP letter...


The requirement for a RCMP “Antique Status Letter” is standard procedure for importation of an antique firearm into Canada. I have done this several times and it is not difficult. The other Canadian buyers never voiced any concern at all about contacting the RCMP. I have talked to them myself, on several occasions, and they are very nice people to deal with. If you call them they will go over the complete procedure with you. The other Canadian buyers had imported many antique guns in the past with no repercussions. These guys bought the guns from me first, then, contacted the RCMP and requested a letter. They then sent me payment and when the letter arrived they emailed me a copy and I shipped the guns. A few days after their payment arrived here they received the letter so it doesn’t take that long. I don’t know about any other people exporting guns to Canada from the US but I know that if they don’t obtain a RCMP Antique Status letter they are breaking the law and could suffer severe penalties.
Tom Baugher
Attorney at Law

To be clear, Mr Baugher is also the seller of the revolver I was looking at. His feedback on a third party site rates him as a reliable dealer/chap.

Thanks
Click to expand...


So what's stopping him from obtaining such letter? He should be respecting export rules on his side not import rules on our side.
We know rules and by the way RCMP doesn't provide such letter any more. They will provide denial for registration based on antique status letter. But that is after the fact you try to register item in question.
 
burnt_servo said:
I found it is rare that a seller in the states is even familiar with we are doing up here .

most of them want nothing to do with selling to us Canadians .
Click to expand...

I have personally educated several US antique sellers that now ship internationally. It was a matter of explaining our stupid laws and sending the pertinent legal data citing said laws along with an import/export form detailing US AND Canadian antique laws...filled out to show compliance on both sides of the border. It wasn't always an easy hill to climb but I have only have one outright refusal...from an FFL dealer no less...
The one thing I learned is that if it feels at all...off...walk away. There is virtually sfa you can do that won't cost more than the price of the iron in question.

edit: I should add that most of the folks I educated increased the prices of their "Canadian friendly" calibers significantly once they figured out we have to pick and choose...
 
I sent him down the PDF sticky from CGN that lists our pertinent are regs regs prior to his response that I quoted at the start of this thread.

No big deal to me as I can always find another of this particular antique. The letters (assuming you can still get them) mean nothing to me.

I just don't like the idea that the previous US sellers I have dealt with MAY be breaking US export laws they are unaware of.
 
Do you need a letter no. Do you need any paperwork at all no. Do you need a pal (if it's prescribed) no (if it falls under the caliber or age then yes)
 
I've had antiques shipped both ways. With paperwork & without. A papered antique was never quicker. If the seller wants paper & you want to buy it from him; go get the paper. If not look else where...

There are some very excellent dealers down south. I suspect his isn't the only show in town.
 
I found that once I started including the compliance letter that I crafted citing both Canadian and US laws that I never had a delay at customs.
The form was signed and dated by the seller and included all pertinent info including year/caliber etc.
I only once bothered with an antique letter for import and only to document the sale from a first time private US seller.
I don't believe in subscribing to the Mountie's backdoor registry any more than I have to.
I did have one fella include a hand written letter stating that 44-40 would not chamber though :p
 
It's there in a couple of places.

email a copy to your vendor.

have them fill it out (or fill it out yourself before hand), sign it and put it in the box with your new iron.

hasn't failed me yet.
 
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