Any downside to a C&R license?
 

I am considering applying for Collector of Curios and Relics license from the ATF so that I can ship or receive Lugers that I may buy or sell. Do collectors commonly do this? Is there any downside?

Depends where you live, in NY,CA,NJ and some other places a C & R is valueless except that Midway and other vendors give you a 10% discount if you send it to them.I had one in CA,but only used it once, now that i live it TX it is good for something.However, many online gundealers on gunbroker will not accept them,why i do not know.

It is very nice to have, even if you have a friend who charges maybe $20 per transaction, you are ahead after a couple of buys / technically 1.5 buys, but folks say that with an FFL you can ship USPS to one to another, so even with shipping 'maybe' being less at a dealers, it is worth it.

The reason given many times that a C&R is not accepted is that an FFL 01 (dealer) license can be looked up on-line, but a C&R can not.

Also, the ATF, 'can' request an inspection, usually at your house, however, no unannounced inspections, an appointment would be made. But that said, you keep decent records and its a 'who cares' in my book.

Oh, the comment, selling and shipping of lugers is irrelevant, anyone can ship a firearm (in most states) to anyone with a proper license. It does not take a license to ship to me, you get MY C&R and money and you ship.


Ed

I've had a C&R for several years. No downside except that it can turn into a license to spend money...

Marc

It also carries some responsibility. You have to keep "Bound Books" of all your transactions, both buying and selling. If you give up the license the records must be sent into ATF. If ATF feels the C&R is being used to run a business, they can also come after you. Although extremely rare, the C&R also opens your home up to an ATF inspection to look at your books and stock of collectible weapons.

Doug, Only a business class FFL must send in their bound book to the ATFE when they shutdown.

You retain your Bound Book when you give up your license.

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/curi...der-bound-book

Q: Are licensed collectors required to turn in their acquisition/disposition records to ATF if their collector’s license is not renewed or they discontinue their collecting activity? No. The GCA requires the delivery of required records to the Government within 30 days after a firearm “business” is discontinued. A license as a collector of curios or relics does not authorize any business with respect to firearms. This is in contrast to firearm importers, manufacturers, and dealers who are licensed to engage in a firearms business. Therefore, the records required to be kept by licensed collectors under the law and regulations are not business records and are not required to be turned in to ATF when collectors’ licenses are not renewed or collecting activity under such licenses is discontinued.
[18 U.S.C. 923(g)(4), 27 CFR 478.127]


Marc

alanint-- Do the record requirements apply only to guns acquired with the license or do they reach back to guns acquired previously?

for some states that only allow you to buy one gun a month, this lets you buy as many as your wallet can provide. also there is no waiting period to take a gun home as long as the gun is on the c&r list.

Only going forward, but even if you buy or sell c&r without license, technically, you put in book.

Marc,

I'm assuming you are right. When I had my C&R years ago they required you to send your book in if you were dropping the license.

Doug

Doug, he is correct