Antique firearms
An antique firearm is a term used to describe a firearm that was designed and manufactured prior to the beginning of the 20th century. Although the exact definition of what constitutes an "antique firearm" varies between countries, the advent of smokeless powder or the start of the Boer War are often used as cut-off dates. Antique firearms are usually collected because of their historical interest and/or their monetary value.
Categories
Antique firearms can be divided into two basic types: muzzle-loading and cartridge firing.Muzzleloading antique firearms are not generally owned with the intent of firing them, but instead are usually owned as display pieces or for their historic value.
Cartridge-firing antique firearms are more commonly encountered as shooting pieces, but most antiques made from the 1860s through the 1880s were made with relatively mild steel and were designed to use black powder. They were limited to low bullet velocities and had heavily arcing "rainbow" bullet trajectories. However, advances in steel metallurgy and the advent of mass-produced smokeless powder in the early 1890s gave cartridge rifles of this new era much higher velocities and much flatter trajectories than their predecessors. These advances, typified by cartridges such as 8×50mmR Lebel, 7×57mm Mauser,.303 British, and 7.62×54mmR made many smokeless powder rifles manufactured in the 1890s capable of accurate shooting at long distances.
Many antique smokeless powder cartridge firearms from the 1880s and 1890s can still compete satisfactorily in target shooting events alongside their modern counterparts.
Collectibility
Antique cartridge firearms are highly sought by collectors and shooters. This trend began in the 1950s, as before World War II antique firearm collecting was not very popular.Collecting grades differ between modern firearms and antiques due to their age. For example, a modern firearm retaining 90% of its finish may be considered "Very Good" condition, yet an antique firearm can be classed the same as having 80% of its finish.
Prices
Given their scarcity, the prices of antique firearms have steadily risen. Some highly desired brands such as Colt and Winchester Repeating Arms Company have tripled or quadrupled in value in recent years. Current prices are best monitored by comparing prices at gun shows, auctions, websites, and by checking references such as "The Blue Book of Used Gun Values." Collectors also find gun auction catalogs, along with their accompanying "prices realized" sheets, particularly useful. Some auction houses, such as James D.Julia, publish photos, descriptions, and realized prices on their websites. Having provenance can greatly improve prices. The three main criteria for value are: rarity, condition, and provenance.Legality
laws vary widely from country to country. Several nations such as Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States make special exceptions in their gun laws for antique firearms. The "threshold" or "cut-off" years defining "antique" vary considerably. The threshold is pre-1898 in Canada, pre-1899 in the United States, and pre-1901 in Australia. Some countries like England exempt certain antiques but they do not set a specific threshold year.In the United States the ATF has the Gun Control Act definition as: For the purposes of the Gun Control Act of 1968, the term "Antique Firearms" means any firearm manufactured in or before 1898
Australia
Single-shot or double-barrel muzzleloading firearms manufactured before January 1, 1901, are considered antique firearms in all States of Australia, and can be legally purchased, used and owned. Victoria and Queensland do not require people to have a licence for them.Cartridge-loading firearms manufactured prior to January 1, 1901, may or may not be considered "antique", depending on the commercial availability of ammunition. For example, a Martini–Enfield rifle manufactured in 1896 would not be considered antique in any state of Australia, as it is chambered in.303 British, a calibre which is still commercially manufactured and readily available to most of Australia's 2.0 million gun owners.
Conversely, firearms manufactured after January 1, 1901, are not considered antiques, even if they are replicas of antique firearms, or if ammunition is no longer commercially available
Antique cap & ball revolvers require licensing in all states, except Queensland where an individual may possess such a firearm without a license, so long as it is registered with the police.
Argentina
All muzzleloading black-powder firearms are free to sale and possess, new or old. All kinds of mobile and static guns and ammo made up to 1870 inclusive are free to sale, buy and collect.Belgium
As non-licensed weapons for the purposes of Article 3, § 2, 2, of the Arms Act are considered weapons of a historical, folkloric or decorative value:1 °, That are loaded through the breach, the muzzle or from the front of the cylinder are charged only with black powder or cartridges with black powder and separate ignition loaded, whose model or the patent dates back to 1890 and manufactured before 1945
2 ° using only cartridges with ignition, loaded with black powder, of which the model or the patent dates from 1890 and were produced pre-1945;
3 ° using cartridges with smokeless powder and that are listed in Annex 1 of the decree of 29 December 2006.
4 ° produced before 1897 or for which ammunition is no longer in production.
Canada
In Canada antique firearms are defined under Section 84 of the Criminal Code and Regulations Prescribing Antique Firearms, SOR/98-464 as any firearm manufactured before 1898:- not designed to fire rim-fire or centre-fire cartridges,
- capable of only firing rim-fire cartridges other than.22 Short,.22 Long and.22 Long Rifle,
- rifles capable of firing centre-fire cartridges with a bore of greater than 8.3 mm, except for repeating rifles fed by any type of cartridge magazine,
- shotguns capable of firing centre-fire cartridges, except for 10, 12, 16, 20, 28 gauge and.410, and,
- handguns capable of firing centre-fire cartridges, other than a handgun designed or adapted to discharge.32 Short Colt,.32 Long Colt,.32 S&W,.32 S&W Long,.32-20 Winchester,.38 S&W,.38 Short Colt,.38 Long Colt,.38-40 Winchester,.44-40 Winchester, and.45 Colt.
The threshold for antique status being one year earlier than in the United States is a minor source of confusion for antique gun collectors and dealers in North America.
Chile
In Chile, the figure of 'antique firearm' doesn't exist, and all firearms regardless of age must be properly registered. This has led to a great number of historic weapons being turned in for destruction by their former owners who do not wish to go through the lengthy certification and registration process.Czech Republic
According to the Czech Firearms Act, the following are considered as historical weapons:A firearm that was manufactured before 31 December 1890, provided that all main parts of the firearm were manufactured before 31 December 1890,
a single-shot or double-shot firearm that was constructed before 31 December 1890 and is based on the principles of the breech-loading, wheel-loading, flintlock or percussion-lock systems; or
'' a needle gun which was constructed before 31 December 1880.''
Finland
In Finland, black-powder weapons manufactured before 1890 are exempt from licensing requirements, unless they are actually used for shooting. The Ministry of the Interior has authority to issue secondary legislation to release other kinds of historically valuable antique firearms from licensing requirements.The Netherlands
Exempt are the following weapons :b. All firearms produced before January 1, 1870
c. Rifles, shotguns, revolvers, pistols and combination-firearms designed and destined to be loaded with:
1) Loose balls and black powder, or
2) Cartridges, not being rimfire cartridges in caliber.22 or centrefire cartridges
d. Rifles, shotguns and pistols designed and destined to be loaded with cartridges of which the propellant consists of black powder or only priming compound, except rimfire cartridges in caliber.22 with a cartridge length or more than 18mm
e. Artillery pieces designed and destined to be loaded with loose projectiles and black powder, loose or in bagcharges
The exemption mentioned in points c, d and e only applies to weapons produced before January 1, 1945.
Notes:
Point b, c.1), c.2), d and e are separate groups, the criteria are not cumulative
Please note that point c.2) does NOT take into consideration what powder is used. Only the obsolete ignition system of the cartridge is the deciding factor.
Point d. means that, in black-powder caliber.22 rf, only calibers.22 CB,.22 BB and.22 short are allowed..22 long, lr and WRF are not.
Specific types of weapons are mentioned in the law. That means that the exemption does not apply to other types of weapons. A pinfire rifle may be free but a pinfire trapgun is not, a muzzleloading cannon from the American civil war is free but a Gatling model 1873 is not.