Black Powder Reproduction Rifles

[Varinia Swicegood]

Anotherhistorically accurate reproduction from Davide Pedersoli, the Pennsylvania rifle features a one-piece oil finished walnut stock, rust brown finish, and double set trigger. Sighting is accomplished with steel sights with vertically adjustable rear.

The Kentucky rifle evolved from German hunting guns and was a major rival of the Brown Bess in its time. Thanks to its lightness and accuracy, it became immensely popular in the American colonies. Davide Pedersoli offers this reproduction in blue finish with polished brass fittings and oil finished walnut stock.

From the golden age of the American long rifle (1760-1840), and renowned for their accuracy, this Pedersoli reproduction reveals meticulous detail in both metal and wood. Available with a rust browned finish, rifled octagonal barrel, American maple or walnut stock, brass trigger guard and butt plate, color cased locks and fittings, and double set triggers. Deluxe maple models are available with patch box as well.

Produced with rust brown finish, this musket features snake-shaped decoration with engraving embelishments, period-correct wooden ramrod, and large trigger guard. Capable of firing either shot or round ball, the Indian Trade Musket can be used for hunting, reenactment, or clay pigeon competition in the Manton R discipline.

The Extra Deluxe models are enriched with floral engravings and English scrolls on locks, tang, and trigger guard, feature hand selected walnut stocks with checkering fore and aft, and receive rust brown finish on the barrels.

A faithful Davide Pedersoli reproduction of one of the most famous rifles in the field of precision target shooting. Originally produced in 1865 by English gunsmith George Gibbs, this is a rifle born to satisfy both the aesthetic purist and target shooter alike.

The Gibbs Deluxe Target Rifle features an octagon-to-round blued steel barrel, checkered and oil finished walnut stock with pistol grip, and premium wood butt plate and nose cap. This rifle is equipped with an elevation and windage adjustable Creedmoor rear sight and spirit-level tunnel front sight with windage adjustment micrometer screw. Sights are accompanied by a set of 15 interchangeable inserts.

The Deluxe version is enriched with hand finished engravings in style identical to those found on the original, covering lock, breech plug, tang, and trigger guard in fine English pattern. The hand selected walnut stock receives fine checkering on both grip and forend.

These are air guns with both a high muzzle velocity (greater than 152.4 metres or 500 feet per second) and a high muzzle energy (greater than 5.7 joules or 4.2 foot-pounds). Air guns need to exceed both thresholds to be classified as firearms for purposes of the Firearms Act.

These high-powered air guns are subject to the same licence and registration requirements as a conventional firearm. Owners and users must store, transport, display and handle them safely in accordance with the regulations supporting the Firearms Act.

The manufacturer's specifications are usually used to determine what muzzle velocity and muzzle energy an air gun was designed to have. The user's manual or the manufacturer's website may provide this information. If the information is not available, you should contact the Canadian Firearms Program (CFP) and ask to speak to a firearm technician to find out if the air gun is considered to be a firearm for purposes of the Firearms Act.

High-powered air rifles are generally classified as non-restricted firearms. However, the classification depends on the exact design of the air gun. Air rifles manufactured to resemble an assault rifle could be non-restricted, restricted or prohibited depending on the exact model imitated. High-powered air rifles would also be prohibited firearms if fully automatic or if they have a sawed-off barrel. They could also be restricted firearms if they have a folding stock that reduces the overall length to less than 660mm.

These are air guns with a maximum muzzle velocity of 152.4 metres or 500 feet per second and/or a maximum muzzle energy of 5.7 joules or 4.2 foot-pounds. Such air guns are exempt from licensing, registration, and other requirements under the Firearms Act, and from penalties set out in the Criminal Code for possessing a firearm without a valid licence or registration certificate.

However, they are considered to be firearms under the Criminal Code if they are used to commit a crime. Anyone who uses such an air gun to commit a crime faces the same penalties as someone who uses a regular firearm.

The simple possession, acquisition and use of these air guns for lawful purposes are regulated more by provincial and municipal laws and by-laws than by federal law. For example, some provinces may have set a minimum age for acquiring such an air gun. For more information, please contact your local or provincial authorities.

These air guns are exempt from the specific safe storage, transportation and handling requirements set out in the regulations supporting the Firearms Act. However, the Criminal Code requires that you take reasonable precautions to use, carry, handle, store, transport and ship them in a safe and secure manner.

These are air guns not powerful enough to cause serious injury or death, but designed to resemble a real firearm with near precision. Replica firearms, except for replicas of antique firearms, are classified as prohibited devices.

In particular, some air guns commonly known as air soft guns may fall into this category. These are devices that have a low muzzle velocity and muzzle energy, and that usually discharge projectiles made out of a substance such as plastic or wax rather than metal.

An airsoft gun, firing a .20g 6mm plastic pellet with a muzzle velocity below 111.6 m/s (366 fps), and resembling with near precision an existing make and model of a firearm, other than an antique firearm, is a replica firearm and therefore a prohibited device.

Although replica firearms are prohibited, individuals may keep those they owned on December 1, 1998. You don't need a licence to possess them, and they do not need to be registered. However, you cannot import or acquire a replica firearm. If you take a replica firearm out of Canada, it will not be allowed back in.

The CFP receives many enquiries from people wondering whether a low-powered air gun would be considered a replica if it resembles a real firearm in terms of its shape, but it is made of clear or brightly coloured plastic, or has 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.

These are air guns that are not powerful enough to be classified as firearms and that do not resemble a real firearm closely enough to be considered a replica. An example would be a harmless air gun made out of clear plastic or a device that is obviously a child's toy. Like replicas, they generally fall within the definition of an "imitation firearm" and may be subject to some penalties under the Criminal Code if used to commit a crime.

All other reproductions of long guns are considered non-restricted firearms. They don't need to be registered but a licence to possess them is required. As an example, reproductions of percussion cap muzzle-loading firearms like American Civil War Enfield and Springfield rifles are considered non-restricted firearms and not antiques.

If you possess or are planning to acquire a black powder firearm, whether a muzzleloader or a firearm that discharges black powder cartridges, you should be aware of requirements that may apply to them under the Firearms Act. There are no licence and registration requirements for antique firearms.

All matchlock, flintlock and wheel lock long guns are considered antiques no matter when they were made. Like older firearms of these types, they are exempt from the licence and registration requirements set out in the Firearms Act.

Percussion cap long guns and muzzle-loading black powder handguns made after 1898 are not considered antiques even if they are copies of an earlier antique model. Newer percussion cap long guns are classified as non-restricted firearms. Newer handguns, including matchlock, wheel lock and flintlock handguns made after 1898 are classified as restricted if their barrel length is over 105 mm (about 4 inches), or prohibited if their barrel length is 105 mm or less.

There are a lot of reproduction firearms on the market. In addition, some firearms were made over a period of several years spanning the 1898 cut-off date. If you possess or are planning to acquire a percussion cap firearm or a muzzle-loading handgun, you need to know if it was made before or after 1898 in order to know what rules apply.

A firearm that discharges black powder cartridges might be considered an antique if it was made before 1898, but not necessarily. It would depend on the caliber or gauge. For example, a shotgun that discharges 12 gauge centre-fire cartridges would not be considered an antique no matter how old it is. More information on which ones are antiques is available by calling 1-800-731-4000.

You must have a firearms licence to obtain ammunition. As defined in the Criminal Code, "ammunition" means "a cartridge containing a projectile designed to be discharged from a firearm and, without restricting the generality of the foregoing, includes a caseless cartridge and a shot shell." The definition does not include loose black powder and shot used in muzzleloaders. Black powder is regulated primarily under the Explosives Act, which is administered by Natural Resources Canada. For more information on requirements for the purchase of loose black powder, contact Natural Resources Canada or consult the Explosives Act. Provincial, territorial and municipal laws, regulations and policies may also apply.

3a8082e126