Stay Current With Your Curios And Relics

[Bill_in_VA]

Here's the Reader’s Digest version….
- A C&R, or Type 03 FFL costs $30 and is good for three years.
- It allows the holder to directly receive C&R firearms from out of state.
- C&R firearms are any firearms that are either “on the list” or that are at least 50 years old from date of manufacture. Note that the 50 year age applies to the individual firearm and not the design. (E.g., My Remington Rand 1911A1 is older than 50 years but my Rock Island 1911A1 is not old enough, and thus not a C&R. Similarly, my West Hurley TSMG was made in 1986 so it is lessthan 50 years old. However, it is specifically included in “the list” and thus IS a C&R firearm.)
- Record keeping…a C&R FFL-holder is required to maintain a record of all C&R acquisitions and dispositions. I.e., a “bound book.” Note that you do not use an C&R FFL; you are either a licensee or you are not a licensee - no middle ground.Even if the transferring FFL requires you to fill out a Form 4473 on that Luger, just like any other peasant would, you still need to record if you hold a valid C&R FFL.
- A C&R FFL is not required to surrender their “bound book” if/when the license lapses.
- A C&R FFL is liable for an annual compliance inspection but unlike a dealer/Type 01 FFL it does not have to be unannounced, and can be held at the local ATF field office. Note the compliance inspections of C&R FFLs is exceedingly rare.
- A C&R FFL is specifically for collecting, and is not for dealing. If you repeatedly buy a bunch of M1 carbines, for example, and repeatedly sell them to your friends/co-workers/JoeBob-at-the-gun-show then you are dealing and not merely collecting, and thus need a Type 01 FFL.
- Some dealers and distributors will give a C&R holder dealer discounts. Brownells will, for example; Century Arms used to give C&R holders flat-rate dealer shipping (no idea if they still do; I haven’t messed with CAI in many years.)

Finally, while a C&R FFL is a “real” FFL, and is a federal license, some states refuse to recognize them, just as some dealers refuse to recognize them.
HTH