Acquiring Antique Category H firearms
Antique handguns (Non-licensable; requires registration): includes all firearms less than 75 cm in length manufactured before 1 January 1901 that are either a muzzle loading firearm, a cap and ball firearm or a firearm for which the appointed Authorised Officer decides that ammunition is not commercially available in Australia or overseas (other than pre-percussion handguns).
An antique firearm may only be possessed by person deemed as ‘fit and proper’ under the Weapons Act 1990. If a person is deemed not ‘fit and proper’ and found in possession of an antique firearm, they commit an offence.
Antique handguns are required to be registered and may be registered to a collector’s licence (weapons).
A person who possesses or acquires an antique handgun must give written notice to Weapons Licensing, within 14 days of acquiring the handgun, with the following information:
- The person’s name and address;
- The type, make, calibre, action, magazine capacity, serial number and the year of manufacture of the antique handgun;
- The place where the antique handgun is generally kept.
This notice is to be forwarded to the Authorised Officer, Weapons Licensing, GPO Box 892, Brisbane QLD 4001. There are no fees payable for this transaction.
Registration does not apply where a person has taken possession of the handgun to repair it, or to store it, if the person is an armourer storing it for someone else, or on a temporary basis for not more than 3 months without giving consideration for the acquisition of the handgun.
“Acquire” an antique handgun means purchase, accept, receive or otherwise take possession of the handgun.
Schedule 2 of the Explosives Act 1999 defines ammunition:
Ammunition: includes bombs, grenades, rockets, mines, projectiles and other similar devices and all types of cartridges (including blanks) used in firearms.
