So...lets say I buy an antique caplock from the states

[Bobby Ironsights]

I know that the BATF doesn't want anything to do with antiques, and so I'm OK there.

And I know that the CAFC doesn't want anything to do with antiques.

But am I missing anything? Are there any loopholes preventing my simply purchasing one on a trip down there, and taking it with me when I come back across.

Do I have to do anything special to "prove" that it is, in fact an antique?

Having just gone through the rigamarole for my PAL and RPAL I don't want to do anything to risk losing them.

 

[trevj]

In the US, if I read it correctly, pretty much any black powder gun, including replicas, is outside the BATF realm.

If you want to bring it in with no hassles (OK, minimal) get all the documentation that you can, and have it travel with the piece.
I would also sort out a copy of the relevant sections of the code that apply.

Factory letters, interpretations of proof marks, scholarly reference material, anything you can.
Handy if you got something that is marked with a date, but there are so many reproductions out there, that is iffy at best.

You may have to go through the rigamarole of registering it, importing, then getting it stricken off the registry if you can prove it's age.

How do you KNOW it is antique status by our rules, and how do you prove it? That is what you should consider.

Cheers
Trev

 

[Bobby Ironsights]

How do you KNOW it is antique status by our rules, and how do you prove it? That is what you should consider.

Cheers
Trev

Yah.....that's what I'm asking.

So, how have any of you who own such pistols done it?

Is there a firearms examiner that you send it to?

 

[mooncoon]

Are there any loopholes preventing my simply purchasing one on a trip down there, and taking it with me when I come back across.

Do I have to do anything special to "prove" that it is, in fact an
antique?

It is tempting to say that if you have to ask, then you need to spend more time learning the history of the particular model of gun and the pertinent laws. Your biggest problem is going to be the ignorance of Canada Customs. Most of them have little knowledge of the law as it applies to firearms.

Antiques are defined under cc84 1a and cc84 1b and SOR 98-464 and their exemption is spelled out under cc 84 3. You need to get a copy of Statutes of Canada containing them and take that with you. There are a number of books dealing with the history of specific types of guns and you need to read the ones that pertain to what you are trying to import and be thoroughly knowledgeable of the history of that model. Antique guns may or may not be found on the FRT discs and the information on the disc may or may not be accurate in terms of stating if the gun is an antique. You need to have some reference in reputable literature which shows that the gun does in fact meet the criteria of an antique in Canada.
When it comes to early muzzle loaders, the RCMP rely almost exclusively on the name on the barrel to date the gun (personal experience). If it is unnamed, they will say the gun is modern. Your only hope is to have a letter from an antique dealer stating that the gun is an antique under Canadian law. Does not matter what his/her specialty is; all antique dealers are considered by Canada Customs to be experts but the letter should have a letter head of a store on it. Collectors and knowledgeable persons are not considered to be knowledgeable of the age of firearms for antique purposes

cheers mooncoon