b'By Jim and Bobbi Jeen Olson,WesternTradingPost.comJ ust what is an antique firearm and why is that so important to collectors? According to Wikipedia, An antique firearm is a term to describe a firearm that was designed and manufactured before the beginning of the 20th century. Although the exact definition of what constitutes an "antique firearm" varies between countries, the advent of smokeless powder is often used as the cut-off date. Antique firearms are usually collected because of their historical interest and/or their monetary value. Since you should never get legal advice from Wikipedia (LOL), keep reading. Colt SAA Pistols from 1885, Left and In the United States, the magical date designated to be1905, Rightconsidered an antique firearm is if it was manufactured in the year 1898 or earlier. Why is that important to collectors? Because any firearm designated as an antique is(C) any muzzle loading rifle, muzzle loading generally outside Federal jurisdiction enforced by the Bureau of shotgun, or muzzle loading pistol, which is Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE, commonly designed to use black powder, or a black powder substitute, known as the ATF). and which cannot use fixed ammunition. For purposes of this subparagraph, the term antique firearmshall not include Why exempt such weapons from federal scrutiny (and FFL paperwork)any weapon which incorporates a firearm frame or receiver, when transferring them? Because most antiques from the 1800s wereany firearm which is converted into a muzzle loading weapon, or made with relatively mild steel and were designed to be used with blackany muzzle loading weapon which can be readily converted to fire fixed powder (which is what was available at the time). Because of this, they hadammunition by replacing the barrel, bolt, and breechblock. fairly low velocities and had arcing, or "rainbow" bullet trajectories when shooting distances. People who buy such firearms today are doing so forBut, according to the ATF, the following is a list of weapons specifically their collectability or novelty. The ammunition used in these types of gunsexempted from the list of antiques, even though they load from the muzzle. is not readily available at your typical sporting goods store and they doThey are classified as firearms, not antiques under the GCA because they not pack the same wallop as modern firearms. The folks owning suchincorporate the frame or receiver of a firearm:a firearm are not likely the ones out there causing crime. So the Federal Savage Model 10ML (early, 1st version)Government, in the United States Gun Control Act of 1968, recognized Mossberg 500 shotgun with muzzle loading barrelthese facts and exempted antique firearms from FFL transfers. Remington 870 shotgun with muzzle loading barrel Mauser 98 rifle with muzzle loading barrelSo just what is an FFL transfer? Generally speaking, a Federal Firearms SKS rifle with muzzle loading barrelLicense (FFL) is a license given to an individual or a company to engage in PB sM10 pistol with muzzle loading barrelthe business of manufacture or importation of firearms and ammunition, or H&R/New England Firearm Huntsmanthe interstate and intrastate sale of firearms. The FFL is issued by the ATF. Thompson Center Encore/ContenderIn 1993, with the passage of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, Rossi .50 muzzle loading riflea background check system was created which required all licensed FFL sellers to do a background check of prospective gun purchasers to see ifUnderstandably, there is some confusion out there as to what qualifies as they are on a list of individuals to whom the sale of firearms is prohibited.an antique and what does not. The Federal Government does not seem to When a licensed FFL dealer makes a transfer of a firearm, they are requiredbe too worried about old guns (or their replicas) that use black powder, but to keep records of said transfer for not less than 20 years. back in the 1890s, modern smokeless powder became available. Some of the firearms made back then used the same ammunition common today for Antiques are exempt from FFL transfers. However, there are still some areasuse in modern firearms. That is what they seem to be trying to discourage, of confusion floating around when it comes to defining an antique. Somethe transferring of a firearm that accepts modern ammunition, readily say it is any firearm made in 1898 or before. Some say only black powderavailable, without any background checks or traceability of that firearm. (muzzle loading) weapons qualify. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rules, and the Gun Control According to United States Code, Title 18 (USC-18), Chapter 44 -Act of 1968 and the subsequent, Brady Amendment, are no different. Such FIREARMS, Sec. 921 - Definitions, from the U.S. Government Publishingis the case of private transfers between individuals of the same state where Office, www.gpo.gov, the term antique firearm means: FFL paperwork is not required. Generally referred to as the Gun Show (A) any firearm (including any firearm with a matchlock, flintlock,Loophole (which is a political term referring to the sale of firearms by percussion cap, or similar type of ignition system) manufactured in orprivate sellers, including those done at gun shows). In most states, such before 1898; or transfers by private sellers are exempt from federal background check (B) any replica of any firearm described in subparagraph (A) if suchrequirements. All other sales of modern firearms and sales by persons replica engaged in the business of selling firearms are subject to FFL rules. (i) is not designed or redesigned for using rim fire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition, or These are some of the main draws why collectors like owning antiques. (ii) uses rim fire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition which is noThey are becoming rarer all the time and they tend to appreciate as time longer manufactured in the United States and which is not readily availablegoes on. They usually have some sort of historical significanceAND they in the ordinary channels of commercial trade; or can be bought and sold with a handshake. ArizonaRealCountry.com October 2020 15'