[Inyo-Mono]

Actually, poising a flintlock pistol manufactured before the year 1898 CAN NOT get you sent to prison for the simple reason that a firearm manufactured before 1900 is not a gun from a government regulatory perspective.

A firearm made before 1898 is considered a relic that is not subject to government regulation as per the Gun Control Act of 1968

Actually the cutoff is 1898, not 1900 and they are considered "antiques" not "relics" which is a different category.

[mylife]

Curios and relics require less stringent licensing and may be sent via US postal service but they do require licensing.

Antiques require NO licensing.

[The_Reader_David]

Yup, which is why the first two years of production of the Mosin-Nagant (if you can find any) are wonderful: nice old-style sniper rifle (the Finnish sniper with the most confirmed kills of any sniper in military history used a Mosin-Nagant with iron sights!) not considered a firearm for purposes of American law.

[devolve]

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• pre-1899 manufacture qualifies as an antique per the ATF