Wanted: 30cal. 1919 or parts to build one non functional

[rob love]

Welcome to the inane Canadian firearms system Casey. To be legal, you will require that the receiver be an original M1919 receiver. It could be debated that the receiver in this case is the right sideplate, or it could be the entire assembly of the trunnion, right and left sideplates, top plate and bottom plate. And when you have those (or arguably the right sideplate) and they are not yet permanently welded or altered you are in possession of a unregistered prohibited firearm.

If you don't have an original receiver, then it's a replica. And to make a replica in Canada....well it's prohibited. And if you do manage to get a replica, then you have to transport it as if it were a restricted gun, and store it as if it is a restricted gun.

Only option is to find either a deactivated M1919 or even a live or converted auto M1919 and get the legal owner to deliver it to a licensed gunsmith who does deactivation. Expect to pay (minimum) in the neighborhood of $3000 plus for an example. And that will be without any accessories.

There are some non-restricted semi auto M1919s kicking around Canada (lucky me...I have one) But the price on those has reached about the same or more than the Jeep is worth. There are a bunch of M37s (a tank version of the M1919) currently being imported into Canada by a very slow boat. Expected retail on those is currently at $5200.

Good luck in your search.

[Little Jo]

HI Casey

I was able to acquire a genuine .30 body minus the barrel. Photo one. It had been buried for many years and once I had it sandblasted you could make out the serial numbers. Photo two. I had my lawyer take it up with our state police firearms branch and they gave me an answer in writing that as there were no moving parts or genuine barrel I could display it on my Jeep at any time without a permit. Photo three. I later contacted the Firearms branch regarding converting it to gas firing and I was advised as it could not actually fire a projectile I did not need to register it or need a permit. Photo four. This makes things much easier when involved in any re enactment shows.

Cheers

Tony

[Andrew]

Robs right on. I hunted for years a deact 50 bmg. It took me almost 3 years and im about $3500 into it. That's cheap Im told, but hey whats a halftrack without a 50? They dont look right without one

[rob love]

Tony: Very nice....a Colt. That name always commands a premium whether it is on a M1919 or on a 50 cal. Even on an AR15 it still commands top money for that class of gun.

Andrew's experience finding a 50 cal sounds like he is in exactly the right ballpark price wise. Fiftys are actually easier to find at present than are M1919s here in Canada. They can usually be had by a simple phone call.....not so for the M1919.

Harry's advise about the airsoft is also a good one. Just make sure the airsoft shoots a projectile above 366 feet per second, otherwise it is technically a replica. At that threshold and higher, it is a non-controlled firearm (no license or registration) as long as the pellet does not exceed 500 fps AND has 5.7 joules of force...whatever that is..

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by rob love

Tony: Very nice....a Colt. That name always commands a premium whether it is on a M1919 or on a 50 cal. Even on an AR15 it still commands top money for that class of gun.

Andrew's experience finding a 50 cal sounds like he is in exactly the right ballpark price wise. Fiftys are actually easier to find at present than are M1919s here in Canada. They can usually be had by a simple phone call.....not so for the M1919.

Harry's advise about the airsoft is also a good one. Just make sure the airsoft shoots a projectile above 366 feet per second, otherwise it is technically a replica. At that threshold and higher, it is a non-controlled firearm (no license or registration) as long as the pellet does not exceed 500 fps AND has 5.7 joules of force...whatever that is..

And just as single shot conversions of full auto's were prohibited in 1993, if 'airsoft' catches on (and they make some fine reproductions of historic firearms) I can see new legislation on the horizon.

BTW there's a guy selling a dewat 50 cal M2HB, tripod and T&E for $5000. Not sold yet...

[Robin Craig]

I have to say that I was quite amused at the simplicity of the solution fielded by a local chap in Ottawa, whose name escapes me.

He has a jeep with a rear pedestal, so he has a plywood outline of the weapon of choice and it is covered with a a nice green cover.

Looks like there is a gun under it and none of the aggravation.

R

[Barry Churcher]

A friend and I were discussing this very topic as he has a toy Thompson with the toy company name on the side. As he is a bonified full auto collector he didn't want to take any chances with the toy so he called registation in New Brunswick. The snitty lady on the phone explained that the toy was illegal and would have to be destroyed. Not really believing this and having questions he contacted the RCMP in Ottawa and here is the response. I will post half now and the other half later.

This information sheet describes how the Firearms Act and Criminal
Code apply to replica firearms.

A replica firearm is a device that is not a real firearm, but that was designed to look exactly or almost exactly like a real firearm.
Replica firearms are prohibited devices in Canada .

Antique firearms, as defined by the Criminal Code and corresponding
regulations, are not prohibited.

Some devices resemble real firearms in many ways, but are made of clear or brightly coloured plastic, or have significant dimensional differences. Many of these devices need to be assessed on a case-by-case basis. As a general rule, however, devices significantly smaller or larger than the real version are not classified as replica firearms.

Airsoft guns are devices that have a low muzzle velocity and muzzle energy, and usually discharge projectiles made out of a substance such as plastic or wax rather than metal. Some airsoft guns, resembling with near precision an existing make and model of a firearm, are replica firearms and therefore prohibited devices. Advice as to whether or not a particular make and model of airsoft/pellet gun would be considered a replica can be obtained by contacting the Canadian Firearms Program (CFP).

Possessing or Acquiring Replica Firearms
Individuals may keep any replicas that they owned on December 1, 1998. A licence is not required to possess a replica firearm, and it does not have to be registered. However, individuals cannot acquire, make or import a replica firearm. If a replica firearm is taken out of Canada , it cannot be brought back in. Businesses may possess, acquire or import replica firearms only if they have a valid Firearms Business Licence that allows them to possess prohibited devices for an approved purpose.