Collector of Curios and Relics

 

  It has a funny sound to it, like you are collecting rusted and unusable “relics” or some quirky, oddball “curio” items. The name doesn’t really serve to accurately describe what a Type 03 firearms license can actually bring you, right to your doorstep (in most States). There are a great many firearms that are available to the collector and holder of a C&R license. Have you ever thought about it? Many have never heard of it. Look into it and you might be surprised at what is included in the C&R list of firearms. The license costs $30 and is good for three years and is renewable. The license will pay for itself with the very first firearm that you order from a wholesaler. It is an incredible way to start a collection and many perfectly good firearms can be had for under $200, even under $100 (see photos). It is also an interesting way to touch base with history and to learn more about the weapons of the past. The form is easy to fill out…easier than buying a firearm at some retailers and the records that you must maintain to track your purchases and the disposition of any that you might sell are easy to do as well. It is not a license to sell guns or to be involved in the business of selling guns though. It is for collecting only. You can however, sell or trade what you buy if you decide you want to. Basically, if you buy a rifle, decide you don’t like it or the condition, you can sell it and the person that you sell it to would have to provide you with their drivers license info so that you can have it in the records that are required of a C&R licensee. That is perfectly legal. What would not be legal is buying 10 rifles and selling those 10 rifles. There is a great deal of information out there to help you get started. There is a Facebook page dedicated to collecting and the C&R license that is an excellent source of information. I’ve had a C&R license for 15 years and have learned things since following that page. You can find that group and ask to join at: https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/cruffler/

 

 

  Once you get your license back, the first thing you will want to do is to make copies of the license to mail out to the various wholesalers that carry C&R available firearms. DO NOT sign the original license, as each copy of your license you send out license must be signed in ink. Keep your original unsigned and with the records that you are required to keep.  On the bottom of the copies that you mail out (remember that EACH copy must be signed in ink….not a copy of one signed in ink) write “Please maintain my license on file and add me to your mailing list”. You will get flyers and such from the wholesalers notifying you of sales or recent purchases they have made and have for sale. It is a lot of fun to go through and see what is available and what the prices are. It’s great to have the UPS guy ring your doorbell and have you sign for a weapon you have ordered. Opening the box to get at what is inside gives you an anticipation of opening a Christmas gift. Give it a try and you might be hooked. Like I said, the license will pay for itself on the first weapon you order. You can’t use it to buy a new Remington 700 (or any other newly manufactured firearm) and the license doesn’t help you in any way when buying a new firearm. You will still have to go through the background checks and fill out the forms. You can use your license to buy a C&R eligible weapon at a gun show or from a gun shop in lieu of filling out the forms though, provided the gun shop knows what is C&R eligible and what is not, by giving them a copy of your signed C&R license. This is not always the case that they are aware and some might still refuse to accept your license and require you to fill out the standard form. To get a good idea about some of the weapons out there, their price and condition, pick up a copy of my hometown newspaper, The Shotgun News, and look through the ads. If you see a weapon that has C&R eligible or Type 03 eligible listed, you can order those. Take a look, think it over and give being a Collector of Curios and Relics a try.

           http://www.atf.gov/forms/download/atf-f-5310-16-notice.html

Hooah.