CScott
Member
What are the benefits of having a C&R or collectors license?
What are the drawbacks?
Scotto
What are the drawbacks?
Scotto
Collector License benefit
- Thread starter CScott
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diamonback68
US Veteran
For me, I can be a collector without a license, that simple.
Well, if like me, you like those older S&Ws (>50 years old), you can pick them up anywhere other than in the People's Republics of NY, NJ, MD and CA, without any problems. Most of my collection has come this way (over 100 so far, but not all S&W). Dave_n
bigolddave
Member
If you travel to distant gun shows, or travel and search out gun shops far from home, it can be a real help; on the other hand, there is one less argument for leaving your wallet in your pocket.
Bear in mind, you have no additional selling privileges, and at least some possibility of federal scrutiny. Read all the material that comes with your license.
If you are at a show, DO NOT yield to the temptation of picking something up for a buddy. Buy what you want to keep.
As you travel, you will discover that almost all the choice items you would have bought if you had had your C&R last week, month, year will NEVER appear again!
Bear in mind, you have no additional selling privileges, and at least some possibility of federal scrutiny. Read all the material that comes with your license.
If you are at a show, DO NOT yield to the temptation of picking something up for a buddy. Buy what you want to keep.
As you travel, you will discover that almost all the choice items you would have bought if you had had your C&R last week, month, year will NEVER appear again!
deadin
US Veteran
The biggest frustration with a C&R license is that some shops (FFL01's) don't understand just what a FFL03 is and will refuse to honor it. This is especially irritating when you are out-of-state and have a real treasure in your sights. In-state you can always play the game and buy as a non-licensee. (Just be sure to enter it into your Bound Book.)
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mkk41
US Veteran
Well , some state laws are different , but having one here in PA , I can have qualified guns shipped directly to my house. I can cash & carry at gunshops without the normal paperwork and $5 background check fee. And at auctions , I don't have to pay the fees they charge.
Chipmunk6
Member
I enjoyed the discounts from Midway and Brownells. -Cons = possible compliance visit from BATFE. Ever dwindling bank account from the ever increasing purchases.
Chipmunk6
Chipmunk6
OP
CScott
Member
Thanks for your thoughts everyone. I think I will just continue to accumulate without the license. I can't afford enough purchases to justify the extra record keeping.
Scott
Scott
Alpo
Member
Why? I'm not saying you're wrong, but why?
This makes as much sense as "Okay, I just got my license today, so I need to go and enter everything I've bought for the last 40 years, that's C&R eligible, in my bound book". I don't see why. I didn't buy them with my C&R license, so even if they are eligible, I should not have to list them.
By the same token, if I go to Texas and buy a 60-year-old Smith with my C&R, I enter it. But if I go to Pensacola and just buy one at a shop, filling out the 4473 and getting called in, I did not buy it on my license, so why would it need to go in my book?
By the way - I don't have a license. I just wanna know.
doublesharp
Member
I keep mine for out of state gun shows and direct shipping on internet purchases. I've never had any problems and only enter purchases I actually used my C&R on in my spiral, college ruled boundbook. Worth having when the mailman brings these old 5 screws. 
John Wyatt
Member
You don't need to enter eligible guns in your book that you owned prior to obtaining your license. If you sell a gun you had prior to your license, you do have to record the sale in your book. As far as your question of why you need to enter a gun in your book if you did not use your license to buy it. Because federal law says you have to.
Alpo
Member
Well, that's a good reason, I guess.
STUPID, like many Federal laws, but a good reason.
STUPID, like many Federal laws, but a good reason.
It has saved me many times more than the cost of obtaining it. 3/4 of the guns I buy are from out of state. My preference in S&W's is pre-war and early post-war. All of these can be sent directly to my house with my C&R. Quite a few places do offer FFL type discounts to C&R holders, but just 2 weeks ago Midway eliminated any Dealer discounts for C&R and FFL holders. I will probably shop more at Brownells in the future.
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