Handgun Collectors

In summary, the legislation:

• Requires the registration of Antique handguns;
• Requires Historical Societies to become approved;
• Requires collectors of temporarily inoperable handguns to be members of approved historical societies and demonstrate the firearms are of obvious and significant commemorative, historic, thematic or investment value;
• Requires collectors of modern collectable temporarily inoperable handguns to demonstrate they have a prolonged and genuine interest in the study, preservation or collection of firearms and have their licence endorsed to allow possession;

Topics

• Handgun classes - terminology.
• Antique Handguns - licensing and procedures
• Collectables and Modern Collectables - licensing and procedures
• Permanently inoperable

Handgun classes - terminology

Antique and collectable handguns into four classes:

1. Pre-percussion Handgun (Non-licensable - Non Registrable);
2. Antique Handgun (Non-licensable - Registrable);
3. Collectable Handgun (Requires Licence and Registration); and
4. Modern Collectable Handgun (Requires Licence and Registration).

Handguns manufactured on or after 1 January 1901 which have been rendered permanently inoperable, are also required to be registered to a collector's licence. These are no longer defined as 'replicas'.

Each of the classes requires differenct action by handgun owners.

(NB. A licensed collector must not, without reasonable excuse, remove any weapon or the collection register from the premises specified in the licence).

Antique Handguns - Licensing and Procedures

The following procedures have been introduced to meet the changes to legislation in relation to Pre-percussion and Antique Handguns.

Pre-percussion Handgun:

A pre-percussion handgun includes all antique firearms less than 75 cm in length that is a muzzle loading firearm activated by a fuse, matchlock, wheel lock, snaphaunce, flintlock or miquelet lock.

The legislation affecting pre-percussion handguns has not changed.

All pre-percussion handguns do not require licensing or registration.

Antique Handgun:

An antique handgun includes all firearms less than 75 cm in length, other than a pre-percussion handgun, manufactured before 1 January 1901 that is one of the following:

1. a muzzle loading firearm,
2. a cap and ball firearm,
3. an approved firearm where ammunition is not commercially available.

All antique handguns are required to be registered.

Any person in possession is not required to be licensed however these firearms may be registered to a collector's licence.

Antique Handgun Registration Procedures

A person who possesses or acquires an antique handgun must give written notice to the Weapons Licensing Branch, within 14 days of acquiring the handgun, with the following information:

1. the person's name and address,
2. the type, make, calibre, action, magazine capacity and any serial number of the antique handgun,
3. the place where the antique handgun is generally kept.

This does not apply to 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 or for the handgun.

Aquire an antique handgun means purchase, accept or receive or otherwise take possession of the handgun.

There are no fees payable for this transaction.

This notice is to be forwarded to the Authorised Officer, Weapons Licensing Branch, GPO Box 892, Brisbane Qld 4001.

Collectables and Modern Collectables - licensing and procedures

Collectable Handguns:

A collectable handgun includes all firearms less than 75 cm in length, manufactured on or after 1 January 1901 but on or before 31 December 1946, that is of obvious and significant commemorative, historic, thematic or investment value.

All collectable handguns are required to be registered to a licence.

Any person in possession is required to hold a collector's licence and be a member of an approved historical society.

Persons who wish to possess temporarily inoperable collectable handguns under a collector's licence will need to substantiate the obvious and significant commemorative, historic, thematic or investment value of the firearm.

Firearms held under this licence must remain temporarily inoperable at all times otherwise you will be in breach of the conditions of your licence.

Modern Collectable Handgun

A modern collectable handgun means a category H weapon manufactured on or after 1 January 1947 that is of obvious and significant commemorative, historic, thematic or investment value.

All modern collectable handguns are required to be registered.

Any person in possession is required to hold a collector's licence and be a member of an approved historical society.

Persons wishing to possess temporarily inoperable modern collectables will need to substantiate the obvious and significant commemorative, historic, thematic or investment value of the firearm. Further they will be required to demonstrate that they have a prolonged and genuine interest in the study, preservation or collection of firearms and have their licence endorsed to allow possession of modern collectable handguns.

Firearms held under this licence must remain temporarily inoperable at all times otherwise you will be in breach of the conditions of your licence.

Permanently inoperable Category H weapons

Any handguns manufactured on or after 1 January 1901, which have been rendered permanently inoperable, are required to be registered to a collector's licence. Permanently inoperable Category H weapons are no longer defined as REPLICAS.

A firearm is only taken to be permanently inoperable if a licensed armourer or person approved by the commissioner, certifies in the approved form (form 31), that the firearm is incapable of being discharged.