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Legalities for purchase of muzzleloaders in different countries

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The German

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Guys, I was hoping you have some imput and knowlage about the laws of buying muzzleloaders in different countries!
In the US ( most states)- flint & percussion firearms are available without any paperwork/license if you are over 18 yr besides
In Germany single shot flint and percussion firearms are available without a licence but you must be over 18 for a percussion gun. However for Black powder or subsitute you must have a license ( attend a course and pass a background check). You can not but a double barrel ( or more) or a revolver without a gun license.
In Austria you can buy a single shot flintlock/percussion rifle, single shot shotgun flintlock pistol if you are 18 without a license but not a percussion pistol. Black powder ( only for shooting) is sold over the counter up to 20 lb without a license....

What about other countries?
Your imput is highly appreciated!!
 
Dear Mr The German - here in UK the law is somewhat at variance with sense, like most things legal connected with firearms, in fact.

ALL live-firing replicas, no matter what they replicate, must be licensed. Rifled arms on a Section 1 Firearms Certificate, and smooth-bore arms on a shotgun certificate.

You may freely buy a genuine antique muzzle-loader for your non-shooting collection, but if you EVER want to shoot it to see how it goes, you are required to have it licensed with a firearms certificate [rifled] or shotgun certificate [smoothbore], before you ever touch it off. The penalties could be very severe - tantamount to obtaining a live-firing Section 1 firearm for which you do not possess a licence - usually five years.

Some might tell you that the occasional 'test-firing' of an antique may be carried out in the interests of pure inquisitiveness, but heaven help you if you are found out.

Two licences are required for black powder - one to purchase and one to transport it. Plus an authorised storage container of the approved Home Office design.

tac
Supporter of the Cape Meares Lighthouse Restoration Fund
 
Halo from Belgium.
Out here you can not buy any gun without a lot of paperwork. You have to be a hunter (before you can hunt you have to follow courses and do exams), or you can become a member of a shooting club. In order to do this you have to acquire a sports license. That means - theoretical exam + practical test (one for every type of gun = pistol - revolver - smoothbore - black powder gun - hunting rifle)- you have to visit a doctor and acquire a document that proves that you are mentally ok. - Then you have to acquire a special document that proves that you have no criminal record. Then - when you finaly have done all that, you have to provide proof of all those documents and generaly pay a serious memberships fee in order to become member of a club. You have to prove to the regional instances once a year with special documents that you attended at least twelve shooting sessions during the past year, pay a fee and prove that you still are free of criminal convictions. On top af all that you can have the police on your doorstep to check if you are keeping your guns behind lock and key, and separated from your amunition. They can also interview your neighbours. If one of those has a grunge against you, your guns will be taken away. If you forget one of the above rules - all your "rights" involving the keeping and shooting of guns are revoced and you can start the whole procedure anew... You know ... I am starting to think they do not like us to have guns ... :idunno: :surrender:
 
I forgot: for every gun you buy - you first have to ask permission to buy it and acquire a license ... - You need to have an official reason to take the gun out. that can be a shooting session, a shooting contest, but then you have to follow certain stringent rules to transport the weapon(s) and the amunition (gun has to have a lock on it - then be in a locked transport case AND your car has to be locked!! :youcrazy: idem dito with the amo... now on the other hand - if you are a criminal, you can freely and cheeply buy an AK 47 or an AK 74 with all the fineries and amo you want, and go shoot some on the police in Brussels.... Out here the citizens are outlawed, and the gangsters are armed and free to do what they want. Don't ask me what I think of my (for the moment not existing) government. :cursing:
 
In Canada over 18 for flint long guns,perc. requires a FAC license and registration of the piece, hand guns .all of 'em are considered restricted and require a restricted license, registration and severe limits on the transport and use of them. At a range only and specified routes taken from home to range, Kept under lock and key at all times.
 
I'm really sorry to hear about all of those restrictions for a law abiding and peaceful population ........ Part of what I believe keeps my country free is the government fears the citizen and rightfully so in my opinion. When it is reversed anything can be imposed upon it's people.
 
Here in Canada flintlocks aren't considered to be firearms so you don't need a firearms license to buy them, percussion caps are considered firearms so you do need a license.

Because you know, you gotta stop the murderous hordes of percussion cap rifles :rotf:

If the pistol was made before 1898 it is considered an antique and does not require a license to own it
 
Sounds like Massachusetts, California, New Jersy, Illinois, and New Yawk. Only not all of them have responded to the threat of unlicensed muzzle loaders like the Europeans have. Give them a little time. Having grown up in southern Ontario, I am saddened by the government restrictions. I could buy a pound of Curtis & Harvey's at the Ironmongers in Guelph for $C 1.00 no questions asked in 1955. I was 12. Eley caps were 10 cents. Of course the Canadian dollar was worth US$1.15 back then
 
Actually, New York the State is pretty good about purchasing muzzleloaders and components via U.S. Mail or private shipper. New York the City, however, is more strict.

Worst problem I see is that the state requires retailers to use a seperate building for the storage of blackpowder, so no one carries it anymore. Thank God we have www.powderinc.com
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Gerard Dueck said:
In Canada over 18 for flint long guns,perc. requires a FAC license and registration of the piece, hand guns .all of 'em are considered restricted and require a restricted license, registration and severe limits on the transport and use of them. At a range only and specified routes taken from home to range, Kept under lock and key at all times.
A slight expansion:
Flint, wheel, and match longarms of any vintage are paperwork-free - no P.A.L. or registration. Original (pre-1898??) percussion longarms are unpapered, as well, but replicas are subject to the same requirements as modern CF rifles & shotguns (due in part to the performance claims for in!*^%$). All can be used readily like any other longarm for shooting or hunting, subject to federal safe storage and transportation regulations. OTOH, an original flint Tower pistol would be subject to the same licensing (owner & pistol), storage, transportation, and restrictive usage requirements as a Glock. Somehow, I find somewhat improbable the image of some street punk presenting the Tower in a 7-11 and hollering "Stand and deliver!" However, such is the logic of some bureaucrats and politicians.

Neither the regular (long-gun) "Possession and Acquisition" license nor the "restricted" version (adds handguns and certain semi-auto long guns) is difficult to obtain, either taking a course or challenging the exam, plus a background check. Renewal is routine, and does not require retesting.

We're still working on getting rid of the long-gun registry. The hand-gun registry and usage etc. restrictions are likely to stay for the forseeable future.

Regards,
Joel

p.s. The F.A.C. was the original version of the P.A.L. - I think they have all expired by now.
 
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