CRFFL Question

[Pistolenschutze]

I am thinking very seriously about applying for a Class 3 FFL, that is, a CRFFL, for Curio and Relics firearms. I have the application forms and I think I understand generally what is involved with this type of license, as well as its limitations. I do have one very basic question, however, one which may seem rather dumb to those of you who have a license, but one that is still critical to me. Will someone please explain to me more clearly than the BTF&E does what kind of firearms I might expect to purchase with this kind of license? I am interested only in shooters, not in rusty old rifles suitable only for use as wall hangings to decorate the den. For example, would such rifles as the WWII Mauser '98, the Swiss K-31s, the Manlicher-Carcano 6.5s, and rifles such as these qualify? Yes, I realize that BTF&E publishes a list of weapons that qualify, but that list is a bit hard to follow! What I am really interested in doing is buying former military rifles I can convert into good shooters with a bit of hard work and elbow grease.

[rmrdaddy]

PS,
I have the forms in on the Dining room table right now!
We are of the same mind on this topic, though I'd like a "rusty old" M1 or 2 to fondle!
It seems that I have read the weapons must be 50 years old to qualify. I've found a few sites you may find educational/inspirational.
www.surplusrifle.com is great, IMHO.
www.cruffler.com is an all C&R site

Here's their explanation:
CRUFFLER.COM

presents

WHAT IN BLUE BLAZES IS A CRUFFLER ANYWAY???

No no no no! A Cruffler is not a glazed pastry that one can get at the local doughnut shop, nor is a Cruffler something that an automobile exhaust system specialist can help you with. Let me back up a bit.

Since 1968, in order to legally receive a firearm shipped across state lines, the recipient must possess a valid "Federal Firearms License" issued by the United States Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (BATF). There are many types of these licenses; for dealers, for manufacturers, for importers, and for collectors. Of all of them, the collector license (known as a Type 03 license) is unique in that it does not permit the licensee to engage in a business, but rather its provisions are specifically designed to enable the collector. Furthermore, the holder of a Type 03 license is restricted to receiving firearms that have been classifed by the BATF as "Curios or Relics." That is, any firearm that was demonstrably manufactured 50 years or more prior to the current date, and/or is on a special "Curios or Relics List" published by the BATF.

As a result of these specializations, the Type 03 Federal Firearms License is known as the Curios and Relics Federal Firearms License. Abbreviated, this becomes C&R FFL, or CRFFL. Now, CRFFL, if you were to try to pronounce it, would come out something like "cruffle." Hence, the holders of these licenses have taken to referring to themselves as CRFFLers, or CRUFFLERS. So, we have a whole new lexicon:

CRUFFLER: Noun. Originally the holder of a Type 03 (C&R) FFL, but now anyone who has an interest in old, historical, or just plain weird firearms for which ammunition is usually hard to come by.

CRUFFLE: Verb. To seek out old, historical, and weird firerams to shoot, study, admire, and place in historical context. Includes engaging in ceaseless research, correspondence, and conversation about same. Also requires a refinement of fiscal priorities (Hmm. . . .I can eat this week, or I can get that all-matching Norwegian .30-06 conversion K98k. . .).

CRUFFLING: Active Participle. For a true Cruffler, this is often equated with breathing. . .


I'm ready to send in my documents...

[flopshot]

well there ya go shutze ! short of havin ib explain it to you i don't know how anoyone could have done a better job.

[polishshooter]

PS, YES, if you check out the list any "Bolt Action Military Rifle" is a category all by itself.

All others have to be on the list. The "50 year old" rule is GENERALLY applied to commercial, not military, as many military guns ARE considered C&R even if NOT 50 years old, but CERTAIN ones, like AK-47s, whose early models are now OVER 50, and now all Chinese weapons, regardless of age, will "Never become C&R" thanks to Bill CLinton and executive orders!

But on the other hand, even though M1s were made until 1957, and SKSs to 1959, etc, they ARE on the list.

However, you WILL see certain military pistols, like Tokarevs, occasionally advertised as NOT CR, but then in small print it will say SOME CR available, (Usually at a premium when they say that, which sucks!) These PROBABLY are the ones that are dated over 50 years...which is now 1956...

All the rest are because they are rare, historical, or a type already on the list.

There are other variations too, like Makarov pistols...'Soviet" era and East Germanm ones ARE CR, but Bulgarian ones (still used by the police and military, are NOT CR...)

Heck it's worth it to get the list just to see WHAT is on it!

Like the M1897 75mm French Howitzer is now an ANTIQUE, a "non-firearm" (!) that I guess you don't even need an FFL to ship it through the mail! But the M1917 US 75mm, (an exact copy that shoots the SAME ammo and IS available!) is merely an NFA CR, which if you registered it, I guess you could have UPS ship it to you! I need to get one of those...I wonder if I could tow it behind my S-10?

And the 75mm German AT gun is also CR too! (Along with the 75 M2 Sherman gun, and all the MGs on one too!)

[Pistolenschutze]

Thanks all of you for the great info! It would seem getting the license would be well worth the effort then. I was simply concerned that it might only be good for true antiques or demilled weapons left over from the Spanish American War.

Originally Posted by polishshooter

Like the M1897 75mm French Howitzer is now an ANTIQUE, a "non-firearm" (!) that I guess you don't even need an FFL to ship it through the mail! But the M1917 US 75mm, (an exact copy that shoots the SAME ammo and IS available!) is merely an NFA CR, which if you registered it, I guess you could have UPS ship it to you! I need to get one of those...I wonder if I could tow it behind my S-10?

And the 75mm German AT gun is also CR too! (Along with the 75 M2 Sherman gun, and all the MGs on one too!)

Hmmmm, Polish, I wonder when the WWII M2 MGs will become antiques. Let's see, if I had one of those mounted in the bed of my pickup, all my parking problems would be solved!

[Marlin T]

Good luck Pistol, and have fun collecting!