Canadian Airgun Forum

I think there's some misunderstanding here.

All airguns (not airsoft) are considered firearms in Canada. Airguns that meet certain criteria are exempted from some of the laws governing firearms, like safe storage, transport, licensing, etc. So an airgun used during the commission of a crime does not become a firearm. It was always a firearm and it just wasn't exempt from that (those) law(s).

So if you have an airgun that is, or is modified to become, non-exempt, it's a good bet that you have to follow all the laws governing the category of firearm it falls within.

Also, a gunsmith is not considered a barrel manufacturer. So you can't have a gunsmith 'manufacture' a short barrel for you to install. They have to follow the same rules as if you're modifying the gun yourself.

My bad - I stand corrected - I think it is the air soft gun that becomes a firearm if used in and for the commission of a crime.

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Best Wishes
Daryl

Hi everyone I am new to the forum but not to airgun and shooting.. I thought I might be able to add something to this discussion based on my correspondence with the firearms lab in regard to home built guns in general. When it comes to barrels one may not cut an existing barrel below the prescribed limit otherwise it becomes a prohib item however only the barrel is prohib not the entire gun (that's why centerfire pistols that are prohibited by barrel length can have longer barrels fitted to become restricted) Anyone can manufacture any gun or part of a gun they wish so long as they are appropriately licensed for that classification.AND it is manufactured for personal use not for retail. As it was explained to me personal use would allow for no more than 2 of any particular model to be produced before the RCMP would begin to look at it as unauthorized manufacturing. For barrels one can use an unfinished barrel blank to manufacture any length of barrel they like. You would likely have to do it yourself as most gunsmith are not licensed manufacturers and they would be producing said barrel to sell to you which would likely be seen as unauthorized manufacturing but you would have to check with the rcmp lab and your gunsmith

But chopping a already manufactured barrel and install the barrel on a gun, would make the whole gun prohib. Not just the barrel.

For a break barrel, there is no blanks so would have to machine from scratch.

And Its kinda grey area with the blanks and under the 18" for manual action, and 18.5" for semi auto for NR. Because one could say you just chopped down a manufactured barrel. Because even a restricted AR15. They say you cannot even cut the barrel down.

Also to be clear all guns are considered firearms under the criminal code including airsoft paintball etc certain guns defined in the firearms act (low velocity airgun, prescribed antiques, flintlock rifles etc) are exempt from that act but are still firearms for the purposes of the criminal code ...clear as mud? Airsoft has its own challenges due to the possibility of being classes as prohibited replicas if the velocity falls below something like 360 fps as that is the threshold for "serious bodily injury" with an airsoft bb below which it is considered a replica if it is not clear or painted in such a way as to make it clear that it does not resemble a firearm

My P.A.L. HW97 has a 9" bl. Of course the oal is much longer than than the requisite length.

There is also a model 94 Winchester with a 12" bl. My 94 Trapper .45 Colt had a 16" bl. Companies can get away with barrel lengths we citizens cannot shorten longer barrels to.

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Best Wishes
Daryl

I don't think many understand. If it comes from the factory with a shorter barrel, or a manufactured barrel shorter than 18". Its okay. But if you try and cut one, by hack saw, lathe, it would be prohib.

If you try to cut a HW97 to 9" it would be prohib. If you throw on a 9" HW97 barrel on a longer barrel one, Its okay.

As long as the OAL is 26"

Wonder how the HW98 would look with the 9", HW97 barrel.
Just kidding.

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Best Wishes
Daryl