Canadian Airgun Forum

Sory if this has been done, but new to this faction of the sport.
I read somewhere that a "replica" air pistol is considered a Prohibited weapon in Canada. Does that mean it will be no good me getting one for plinking/small varmint hunting etc? Puzzled!! I have a P.A.L
Eastman

Hi Eastman,

This comes up over and over so don't worry about asking again. I think there were requests to make this response below or one like it as permanent reference posts but I am not sure where that initiative went.

Read this post.

[url][/http://www.airgunforum.ca/forums/topic52368.htmlurl]

_________________
Keep you powder dry and your seals oiled.
Shoot straight and safe.

http://plinkercases.ca/

Can't seem to get in to the post

Past this into the search function and it will take you where you need to be.

topic52368


Pasting the URL doesn't seem to be working fro me today....

_________________
Keep you powder dry and your seals oiled.
Shoot straight and safe.

http://plinkercases.ca/

topic52368.html?hilit=replica%20air%20guns

In a nutshell:
1) If a replica pistol which is a 4.5mm (.177cal) airgun shoots from 214 to 500fps or if shoots >500fps and doesn’t exceed 5.7 Joules muzzle energy then it is classified as a non-licensed firearm (non-PAL) i.e. no license needed for possession. All other things are same like for a licensed firearm (transportation, storage).

2) If a replica pistol shoots >500fps or > 5.7 Joules, it is classified as a restricted firearm i.e. R-PAL needed for possession.

3) If a replica pistol is a NON-TRANSLUCENT airsoft gun and shoots >366 fps with 0.2g 6mm plastic BBs or if it shoots >500fps and doesn’t exceed 5.7 Joules muzzle energy then it is classified as a non-licensed firearm (non-PAL) i.e. no license needed for possession. All other things are same like for a licensed firearm (transportation, storage). If it shoots <366 fps it is a PROHIBITED DEVICE/"replica firearm" (see below).

4) If a replica pistol is a TRANSLUCENT airsoft gun and shoots <366 fps with 0.2g 6mm plastic BBs, it’s a toy.

5) If a replica pistol is produced as a non-shooting replica, NON-TRANSLUCENT, then it is a “PROHIBITED DEVICE”/”replica firearm” unless it is a replica of an ANTIQUE pistol that was produced before 1898. One can possess a replica firearm but cannot sell it.

6) If a replica is a blank pistol capable of shooting flares then it is classified as a “signalling device”, non- licensed, and may be admissible to Canada. It depends. Some are available for sale in Canada nowadays.

The muzzle energy above is customarily measured with the lightest pellet in a specific caliber.

Rav this is great. You cleared up airguns and airsoft's and blank guns but added something about replicas that confuses me. One question:

5) If a replica pistol is produced as a non-shooting replica, NON-TRANSLUCENT, then it is a “PROHIBITED DEVICE”/”replica firearm” unless it is a replica of an ANTIQUE pistol that was produced before 1898. One can possess a replica firearm but cannot sell it.

What about a non-antique firearm in production post 1898 something like a Denix replica Colt 1911..easy choice due to the date stuff.... are you saying it could be in the possession of a Canadian? I thought that a prohibited device is just that .... prohibited to own unless you are licenced to have in your possession.

_________________
Keep you powder dry and your seals oiled.
Shoot straight and safe.

http://plinkercases.ca/

Thanks Plinkercases for nice words.
Regarding the Denix replicas of firearms produced after 1898 (or any other for that matter). One word: PROHIBITED DEVICES/replica firearms! You will never find them OFFICIALLY imported to Canada. However, having said that Sec. 94 of the Criminal Code clearly says that a person commits a crime “possessing any prohibited device other than a replica firearm”. That was introduced in 1998 to decriminalize possession of prohibited replica firearms that people had before 1998. The RCMP says this: ”Although replica firearms are prohibited, individuals may keep those they owned on December 1, 1998. It is not necessary to have a licence to possess them, and they do not need to be registered. However, an individual cannot import or acquire a replica firearm. If a replica firearm is taken out of Canada, it will not be allowed back in”.
So yes, you can possess a replica firearm (like a Denix replica) obviously because you had it before 1998, right?

Based on your information...... yes ....... it is my boyhood treasure from a trip to the US when I was 10-12.....

so now... you indicated regarding Denix after 1898 "(or any other for that matter)" which leads me to another question.

There are several sites in Canada plus a few in the States that sell and ship to Canada replicas of the western (i.e. peacemakers) and civil war revolvers and rifles...... so I again you have added another wrinkle I don't get yet when you say any other (Denix) for that matter.

I assumed they do so legally since they are replicas of antiques. So.... how does that work?

_________________
Keep you powder dry and your seals oiled.
Shoot straight and safe.

http://plinkercases.ca/

YES, you are absolutely correct! They are replicas of antique firearms which are guns designed and produced before 1898. The Peacemaker appeared in 1873 so its replica is O.K. to be freely sold in Canada let alone Civil War revolvers and rifles.
Unfortunately, the real antique Colt single action (Peacemaker/Frontier), even produced before 1898, if in the .45 Colt or 44-40 Winchester calibers is restricted because of a restricted caliber. However, if it was, for example, originally produced in the .455 Webley caliber (theoretically) it would be an antique firearm, legally to own in Canada without a license because the .455 Webley is not a handgun restricted caliber. Funny enough, the 9 mm Luger or .30 Mauser is not a restricted caliber for antique handguns, either. Think of the Mauser C96, .30cal, manufactured in 1896-1897. They are available although quite expensive.