Destructive Device - Registration

[mnrivrat]

So here is the scoop : A WWI breech loading cannon with a 5+ inch bore and made in 1914. Brought to America in the late teens with the intention of including it in a war display at a state park , but then pulled from display and abandon .

Not demilled, and no paperwork as a FFA device.

Questions are : 1. ) is this indeed a destructive device under FFA rules 2.) Is there any way to registor it to make it a legal display piece.

 

[Ian]

I believe it would be considered a DD if it either uses fixed ammunition (as opposed to loading the shell and powder charge separately) or has a recoil mechanism.

 

[dogtown tom]

mnrivrat So here is the scoop : A WWI breech loading cannon with a 5+ inch bore and made in 1914. Brought to America in the late teens with the intention of including it in a war display at a state park , but then pulled from display and abandon .

Not demilled, and no paperwork as a FFA device.

Questions are : 1. ) is this indeed a destructive device under FFA rules 2.) Is there any way to registor it to make it a legal display piece.

1. FFA is Future Farmers of America, NFA is the National Firearms Act
2. NFA Handbook is here: http://www.atf.gov/publications/download/p/atf-p-5320-8/atf-p-5320-8-chapter-2.pdf

 

[Dan Forrester]

Yes it sounds like a DD. If all you want to do is use it for display, then remove and destroy the breach block. A DD receiver is considered a title 1 firearm. You could then have a machine shop make you up a dummy breach block to use as your display. I see setups like these for sale on www.subguns.com often enough. The buyer registers it as a DD and then purchases a breach block to liven it up. You could also remove the breach block and go stash it somewhere, register it as a DD and them put in the breach block back in. This is technically illegal but would be difficult to prove.

Before you register it as a DD make sure you can get brass and projectiles for it.

Dan

 

[Ian]

It's worth noting that just because it is a breech loading gun, doesn't necessarily mean it used fixed ammunition. Lots of early breech loaders didn't. Heck, really big guns still don't.

Do you have any photos of the piece? Being able to identify the model would be a big help in determining what needs to be done with it legally.