May I mail an antique (NM #3) to Canada?
(Our teeny, tiny post office is replete with blank stares!)
Ralph Tremaine
(Our teeny, tiny post office is replete with blank stares!)
Ralph Tremaine
ANYBODY HERE BEEN THERE AND DONE THAT??
- Thread starter rct269
- Start date
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smoothshooter
Member
If you are talking about a gun,
NO!
Not worth the hassle of sending whatever that is to a socialist country.
Why would you want to?
NO!
Not worth the hassle of sending whatever that is to a socialist country.
Why would you want to?
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StrawHat
Member
The gun he is talking about is an antique, at least in this country.
Ralph, hopefully some of our Canadian members will see this and reply. They might have a better grasp on the laws up North.
Kevin
Canada gun laws
Ralph,
I have mailed several antique firearms to Canada. From California no less. It can be done legally.
See attached exemption.
Notice they limit several calibers that do not qualify as antique.
Also, you must have proof that the NM3 is pre-1898 so it must be a lower serial number or if you have a factory letter? That helps greatly.
The shipping cost is very expensive so I hope the buyer is paying for it.
You have to fill out a customs declaration form and describe the antique in detail including caliber, serial number, and proof of antique status.
I'm surprised your post office is clueless. That's not good.
Murph
Ralph,
I have mailed several antique firearms to Canada. From California no less. It can be done legally.
See attached exemption.
Notice they limit several calibers that do not qualify as antique.
Also, you must have proof that the NM3 is pre-1898 so it must be a lower serial number or if you have a factory letter? That helps greatly.
The shipping cost is very expensive so I hope the buyer is paying for it.
You have to fill out a customs declaration form and describe the antique in detail including caliber, serial number, and proof of antique status.
I'm surprised your post office is clueless. That's not good.
Murph
Attachments
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mmaher94087
Member
Ralph, note it is pre 1898 for Canadian antique. U.S. is pre 1899 for antique status.
mmaher94087
Member
"What's an NM #3 ?" It is a large, #3 frame revolver classified as an antique in the U.S. as all frames were manufactured prior to 1899. These are usually found in .44 Russian caliber but they were also chambered in about 10 other calibers.
OP
Well, so far so good!
It's a .44 Russian, so good to go on that count!
It's a four digit serial number, so it's good to go again----maybe. Do I need a letter showing a ship date making it obvious it was made before the magic date---or do they accept "obvious"?
Ralph Tremaine
It's a .44 Russian, so good to go on that count!
It's a four digit serial number, so it's good to go again----maybe. Do I need a letter showing a ship date making it obvious it was made before the magic date---or do they accept "obvious"?
Ralph Tremaine
I mailed an antique Double Action 44 to a member of this forum in Canada last year through USPS. I put "Antique S&W" on the customs form. It was no hassle on my end, but I understand it did spend some time in purgatory of Canadian customs. However, he did eventually receive it.
Antique status
I'd say you're good to go Ralph.
I'd recommend you write clearly under description on the customs form. "Early antique serial number range Pre-1898 in exempt caliber 44 Russian." That pretty much covers it.
You don't have much room on the form so bring a fine point pen so you can write small but clear and make sure it goes through the triplicate form so all the copies are clear and legible.
Customs likes easy to read forms.
Murph
I'd say you're good to go Ralph.
I'd recommend you write clearly under description on the customs form. "Early antique serial number range Pre-1898 in exempt caliber 44 Russian." That pretty much covers it.
You don't have much room on the form so bring a fine point pen so you can write small but clear and make sure it goes through the triplicate form so all the copies are clear and legible.
Customs likes easy to read forms.
Murph
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mmaher94087
Member
Ralph, you must prove the revolver is pre-1898. The RCMP does not give diddley what you say. "... but I understand it did spend some time in purgatory of Canadian customs. However, he did eventually receive it." Your choice, but the Canadian Customs will hold it until THEY are satisfied that it complies with their laws.
bcowern
Member
He is sending it to a gun lover, not a government. Governments are socialist not countries. Some would describe the US Government as socialist.
Regards,
bcowern
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bcowern
Member
Ralph,
I am there and did that. Just this month I had a NM3 in 44 Russian shipped to me from the US via USPS no problem. Spent 1 day in Canada Customs before being released to Canadapost.
What you are dealing with is known in Canada as a Prescribed Antique Firearm:
Regulations Prescribing Antique Firearms
As you can see the regulations have no rhyme or reason. They are however government policy enacted to prevent gun crime, as in drive-by shootings.
At the present time, a Canadian can't buy, import, sell, give away, or bequeath a hand gun. They may own and shoot them at a government approved range, if the firearm is properly registered with the government, they are properly stored according to government regulations, and the owner holds a valid firearms license for restricted or prohibited firearms. When the owner leaves his mortal body, the handgun will be confiscated by the government for destruction with no compensation to the estate.
So far these regulations with the exception of storage do not apply to Prescribed Antique Firearms.
Jean Chretien (Prime Minister) turned every person possessing a gun into a criminal in 1995. Read criminal code of Canada Section 91.
All guns in Canada were prohibited in September of 1995, when the Jean Chretien Liberal government amended Section 91 of the criminal code to make possession of any gun a criminal code offense. The Firearms Act (Chapter 39, Statutes of Canada) creates the gun license (PAL). The gun license is only a temporary (5 year) amnesty from conviction for possession of any gun.
The only reason the gun license exists is so the anti gun owner bureaucrats can recommend that guns be removed from the protection of the gun licence and the Prime Minister uses an OIC (Order in Council) to remove the protection a gun license gives.
That is what happened May 1, 2020 when the Liberals prohibited 1500 brands of hunting and target sporting guns in Canada. They lied and called them assault rifles (Assault rifles were prohibited in 1978 in Canada)
Bill C 21 seeks to end legal possession of many hunting and target rifles as well as the legal possession of handguns in Canada.
The Liberals prohibited one half of the handguns in Canada as of February 14, 1994 (retroactive from December 1, 1998 when C68(1995) came into effect) and now they are prohibiting the other half with Bill C 21.
Law abiding gun owners?
Gun owners buy a license to defend themselves from criminal charges for possession of property deemed a criminal code offense.
Liberal MP (Member of Parliament) Pam Damoff "gun owners are law abiding until they are not..." Law abiding ends when the gun license (PAL) expires or is revoked for a class of firearm like the May 1, 2020 OIC (Order in Council) prohibiting named firearms and ending the power of the license to protect from criminal charges for possession. All Firearms can then be seized and held, charges can be laid, and only a court order from a judge can force the police to return the firearms - Section 337 of the criminal code requiring that property of citizens seized by federal agents be returned on demand was rescindedt in 2018 by the Liberal government.
Here is a link the Firearms Reference Table (FRT) which will give the Firearms Reference Number (FRN) for your NM3. As you can see, some are considered Restricted or Prohibited and cannot be imported, and some are considered prescribed antiques and can be imported. The various Restricted and Prohibited NM 3"s are mainly due to calibre. You will also note the FRN changes depending on barrel length.
See: Canadian Firearms Data & Analytics | Armalytics
At the present time in Canada, all NM3 frames are considered to have been manufactured BY 1898. If you include a factory letter stating your revolver was SHIPPED in 1898, or later, this might trigger overwhelming waves of confusion in whatever Customs Agent reads it. It is still a Prescribed Antique by regulation.
Here is a link to the FRN for the NM3 so you can find the proper FRN for your barrel length: Canadian Firearms Data & Analytics | Armalytics
You will want to scroll down and click on Top Break Single Action New Model 3 Smith & Wesson.
This is most likely more than you ever wanted to know about the sad state of Canadian gun ownership.There is more but I haven decided to show mercy and omit it.
There is no 2nd Amendment in Canada, but it appears the rabid anti-gun sentiment is creeping south.
If you were in my shoes, you would be tempted to put prescribed antique (no mention of firearm) in the customs declaration or anywhereon the outside of the parcel.
You would include documentation in an envelope affixed to the outside of the parcel that included Make, Model, Serial #, Calibre, value (if any), and the correct
FRN for whatever barrel length your NM3 has.
See: Canadian Firearms Data & Analytics | Armalytics
Ship requiring signature and proof of age.
I would then cross my fingers and hold my breath.
Some more to chew on while holding your breath.
Canadpost regulations for individuals shipping firearms:
Personal | Sending | Canada Post
These regulationsare for individuals shipping firearms within Canada. Your USPS parcel will be delivered to Canada Customs, who will release it to Canadapost if they are in a good mood.
The Canapost regulations are for individuals and don't apply to a business. My NM3 was shipped USPS from a auction house.
USPS-Canada post is hands down the cheapest way to ship for the person you are shipping to as they only charge a $10cdn import fee. You will want be sitting down you see what UPS or FedX charges the recipient for import fees. A licensed exporter is hundreds of dollars.
Hope when your head stops spinning you will find this info of some interest, if not use.
Regards.
bcowern
I am there and did that. Just this month I had a NM3 in 44 Russian shipped to me from the US via USPS no problem. Spent 1 day in Canada Customs before being released to Canadapost.
What you are dealing with is known in Canada as a Prescribed Antique Firearm:
Regulations Prescribing Antique Firearms
As you can see the regulations have no rhyme or reason. They are however government policy enacted to prevent gun crime, as in drive-by shootings.
At the present time, a Canadian can't buy, import, sell, give away, or bequeath a hand gun. They may own and shoot them at a government approved range, if the firearm is properly registered with the government, they are properly stored according to government regulations, and the owner holds a valid firearms license for restricted or prohibited firearms. When the owner leaves his mortal body, the handgun will be confiscated by the government for destruction with no compensation to the estate.
So far these regulations with the exception of storage do not apply to Prescribed Antique Firearms.
Jean Chretien (Prime Minister) turned every person possessing a gun into a criminal in 1995. Read criminal code of Canada Section 91.
All guns in Canada were prohibited in September of 1995, when the Jean Chretien Liberal government amended Section 91 of the criminal code to make possession of any gun a criminal code offense. The Firearms Act (Chapter 39, Statutes of Canada) creates the gun license (PAL). The gun license is only a temporary (5 year) amnesty from conviction for possession of any gun.
The only reason the gun license exists is so the anti gun owner bureaucrats can recommend that guns be removed from the protection of the gun licence and the Prime Minister uses an OIC (Order in Council) to remove the protection a gun license gives.
That is what happened May 1, 2020 when the Liberals prohibited 1500 brands of hunting and target sporting guns in Canada. They lied and called them assault rifles (Assault rifles were prohibited in 1978 in Canada)
Bill C 21 seeks to end legal possession of many hunting and target rifles as well as the legal possession of handguns in Canada.
The Liberals prohibited one half of the handguns in Canada as of February 14, 1994 (retroactive from December 1, 1998 when C68(1995) came into effect) and now they are prohibiting the other half with Bill C 21.
Law abiding gun owners?
Gun owners buy a license to defend themselves from criminal charges for possession of property deemed a criminal code offense.
Liberal MP (Member of Parliament) Pam Damoff "gun owners are law abiding until they are not..." Law abiding ends when the gun license (PAL) expires or is revoked for a class of firearm like the May 1, 2020 OIC (Order in Council) prohibiting named firearms and ending the power of the license to protect from criminal charges for possession. All Firearms can then be seized and held, charges can be laid, and only a court order from a judge can force the police to return the firearms - Section 337 of the criminal code requiring that property of citizens seized by federal agents be returned on demand was rescindedt in 2018 by the Liberal government.
Here is a link the Firearms Reference Table (FRT) which will give the Firearms Reference Number (FRN) for your NM3. As you can see, some are considered Restricted or Prohibited and cannot be imported, and some are considered prescribed antiques and can be imported. The various Restricted and Prohibited NM 3"s are mainly due to calibre. You will also note the FRN changes depending on barrel length.
See: Canadian Firearms Data & Analytics | Armalytics
At the present time in Canada, all NM3 frames are considered to have been manufactured BY 1898. If you include a factory letter stating your revolver was SHIPPED in 1898, or later, this might trigger overwhelming waves of confusion in whatever Customs Agent reads it. It is still a Prescribed Antique by regulation.
Here is a link to the FRN for the NM3 so you can find the proper FRN for your barrel length: Canadian Firearms Data & Analytics | Armalytics
You will want to scroll down and click on Top Break Single Action New Model 3 Smith & Wesson.
This is most likely more than you ever wanted to know about the sad state of Canadian gun ownership.There is more but I haven decided to show mercy and omit it.
There is no 2nd Amendment in Canada, but it appears the rabid anti-gun sentiment is creeping south.
If you were in my shoes, you would be tempted to put prescribed antique (no mention of firearm) in the customs declaration or anywhereon the outside of the parcel.
You would include documentation in an envelope affixed to the outside of the parcel that included Make, Model, Serial #, Calibre, value (if any), and the correct
FRN for whatever barrel length your NM3 has.
See: Canadian Firearms Data & Analytics | Armalytics
Ship requiring signature and proof of age.
I would then cross my fingers and hold my breath.
Some more to chew on while holding your breath.
Canadpost regulations for individuals shipping firearms:
Personal | Sending | Canada Post
These regulationsare for individuals shipping firearms within Canada. Your USPS parcel will be delivered to Canada Customs, who will release it to Canadapost if they are in a good mood.
The Canapost regulations are for individuals and don't apply to a business. My NM3 was shipped USPS from a auction house.
USPS-Canada post is hands down the cheapest way to ship for the person you are shipping to as they only charge a $10cdn import fee. You will want be sitting down you see what UPS or FedX charges the recipient for import fees. A licensed exporter is hundreds of dollars.
Hope when your head stops spinning you will find this info of some interest, if not use.
Regards.
bcowern
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Ralph, being a nice guy and always willing to go out of my way for a fellow collector and forum member, I am willing to save you all of the hassle of worrying about the legality of an out of country shipment, just send the gun to me!! 
OP
Ralph, being a nice guy and always willing to go out of my way for a fellow collector and forum member, I am willing to save you all of the hassle of worrying about the legality of an out of country shipment, just send the gun to me!!
DAMN!!!
I should have thought of that all by myself!
RCT
