From 18 U.S.c. § 921(a)(16) the term “antique firearm” means –



…(A) any firearm (including any firearm with a matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap, or similar type of ignition system) manufactured in or before 1898; or
(B) any replica of any firearm described in subparagraph (A) if such replica —
(i) is not designed or redesigned for using rimfire or conventional
centerfire fixed ammunition, or
(ii) uses rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition which
is no longer manufactured in the United States and which is not
readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial trade; or



(C) any muzzle loading rifle, muzzle loading shotgun, or muzzle loading pistol, which is designed to use black powder, or a black powder substitute, and which cannot use fixed ammunition. For purposes of this subparagraph, the term ‘antique firearm’ shall not include any weapon which incorporates a firearm frame or receiver, any firearm which is converted into a muzzle loading weapon, or any muzzle loading weapon, which can be readily converted to fire fixed ammunition by replacing the barrel, bolt, breechblock, or any combination thereof.



Following this legal definition, ATF has made a judgment and it says that there are certain muzzle loading models that are considered firearms and do not qualify as antiques. The reason for these exceptions are that the frame or the receiver of these firearms are capable of accepting other barrels. These barrels are designed for rimfire or centerfire ammunition. And because of this, these muzzleloaders don’t fall under the definition of an antique firearm.



The following is a partial list of muzzleloaders that are classified as firearms, and not antiques. This is by no means a complete list and is subject to change at any time:



1. Savage Model 10ML (early, 1st version).
2. Mossberg 500 shotgun with muzzle loading barrel.
3. Remington 870 shotgun with muzzle loading barrel.
4. Mauser 98 rifle with muzzle loading barrel.
5. SKS rifle with muzzle loading barrel
6. RPB sM10 pistol with muzzle loading barrel.
7. H&R/New England Firearm Huntsman.
8. Thompson Center Encore/Contender.
9. Rossi .50 muzzle loading rifle.

Tags: ammunition, antique firearm, barrel, black powder, breechblock, centerfire, flintlock, matchlock, muzzle loader, percussion cap, rimfire, shotgun

The FFL license, more commonly known as the Federal firearms license, is broken up into several different types of FFL licenses, and three special occupational tax classes which help to define whether you’re an importer, manufacturer, or dealer of NFA firearms.



The first reason you may want to get an ffl license if you’re considering becoming a gun dealer or a gunsmith. In order to sell firearms or to work on NFA type firearms you’ll need to get a type I title I dealer or gunsmith license.



If you’re a pawn broker or considering becoming a pawn broker that deals in firearms you’ll also need an ffl license. This license will be a Type 2 license. Its also title I but it’s geared towards pawnshops and pawnbrokers.



If you’re just interested in collecting antique firearms or NFA firearms, you’ll need to get a type III license. This is the licensed collector of Curio and Relic (C&R) firearms license you won’t be able to sell firearms to the general public with this license but you will be able to buy for your own collection.



If you want to manufacture ammunition and or reloading equipment, and the two acquire a type VI federal firearms license. This license will allow you to manufacture ammunition except for armor piercing ammunition.



One very important point to keep in mind is that as the political landscape changes so do the oldies of those in charge of our laws. What seems simple to do today may actually become quite difficult in the future, or even impossible. With that said, if you’ve ever considered obtaining an ffl license, the sooner that you can obtain one the better off you may be. The erosion of gun has been a constant concern amongst the conservative contingent in the United States. And with a more fractured base, may not be as important to the general population as they used to be. It’s impossible to stress how important it really is to become active in politics and gun rights if you wish to keep them.

Tags: ammunition, C&R, curios and relics, federal firearms license, ffl, firearms, gun dealer, gunsmith, importer, NFA, pawn shop, pawnbroker