[Kadric]

US Code Title 18 Part 1 Chapter 44 Section 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

[brbethke]

Okay. Anything made before 1898. Got it. I should have known that; I once saved up enough to buy a certain 1880's Colt SAA I coveted, but decided to buy a new car instead.

I find B(ii) an interesting exception: what exactly does "not readily in the ordinary channels of commercial trade" mean? Does the Old Western Scrounger qualify as an ordinary channel? Almost anything is shootable if you have a source of adaptable brass and the right forming dies. They even make replacement center-fire blocks for rimfire Spencers and Henrys. Does forming your own .50-70 brass or installing a replacement block constitute a redesign under B(i)?

(I suspect that for practical purposes, the law is whatever the ATF decides to enforce this week.)

[brbethke]

Okay. Anything made before 1898. Got it. I should have known that; I once saved up enough to buy a certain 1880's Colt SAA I coveted, but decided to buy a new car instead.

I find B(ii) an interesting exception: what exactly does "not readily in the ordinary channels of commercial trade" mean? Does the Old Western Scrounger qualify as an ordinary channel? Almost anything is shootable if you have a source of adaptable brass and the right forming dies. They even make replacement center-fire blocks for rimfire Spencers and Henrys. Does forming your own .50-70 brass or installing a replacement block constitute a redesign under B(i)?

(I suspect that for practical purposes, the law is whatever the ATF decides to enforce this week.)

[brbethke]

Okay. Anything made before 1898. Got it. I should have known that; I once saved up enough to buy a certain 1880's Colt SAA I coveted, but decided to buy a new car instead.

I find B(ii) an interesting exception: what exactly does "not readily in the ordinary channels of commercial trade" mean? Does the Old Western Scrounger qualify as an ordinary channel? Almost anything is shootable if you have a source of adaptable brass and the right forming dies. They even make replacement center-fire blocks for rimfire Spencers and Henrys. Does forming your own .50-70 brass or installing a replacement block constitute a redesign under B(i)?

(I suspect that for practical purposes, the law is whatever the ATF decides to enforce this week.)

[brbethke]

Okay. Anything made before 1898. Got it. I should have known that; I once saved up enough to buy a certain 1880's Colt SAA I coveted, but decided to buy a new car instead.

I find B(ii) an interesting exception: what exactly does "not readily in the ordinary channels of commercial trade" mean? Does the Old Western Scrounger qualify as an ordinary channel? Almost anything is shootable if you have a source of adaptable brass and the right forming dies. They even make replacement center-fire blocks for rimfire Spencers and Henrys. Does forming your own .50-70 brass or installing a replacement block constitute a redesign under B(i)?

(I suspect that for practical purposes, the law is whatever the ATF decides to enforce this week.)

[brbethke]

Okay. Anything made before 1898. Got it. I should have known that; I once saved up enough to buy a certain 1880's Colt SAA I coveted, but decided to buy a new car instead.

I find B(ii) an interesting exception: what exactly does "not readily in the ordinary channels of commercial trade" mean? Does the Old Western Scrounger qualify as an ordinary channel? Almost anything is shootable if you have a source of adaptable brass and the right forming dies. They even make replacement center-fire blocks for rimfire Spencers and Henrys. Does forming your own .50-70 brass or installing a replacement block constitute a redesign under B(i)?