Another "is it still worth it" question -- C&R licenses

[Llew Taranau]

I had my Cruffler license for some years, let it lapse about 2 years ago. Thinking about reapplying, but wondering if it's still worth bothering given how the market has shrunk.

Thoughts from other 03 FFLs?

 

[AlexanderA]

Depends on what stage you are in your collecting activities. If you're not doing many transactions, it's probably not worth it.

 

[WestKentucky]

I’m going to go ahead and do it once I get moved. There are plenty of good things out there to buy that can be C&R. Earliest contenders, lots of good old smiths… if your strictly looking for military surplus it’s a no-go but if your collection is less refined then it’s worth it.

I like to tinker with old junk guns and that will make it worthwhile. Buying them 3 or 4 at a time for a hundred bucks, 20 shipping, and no transfer fees might work. If I had to pay 10 for background check, and 15 per gun then it suffer jumps to around $200 for the same $120 deal and it’s not worth it anymore.

 

[GBExpat]

I have had my 03 for almost 20 years (Jan'02). In addition to some discounts & "dealer" access it provides, I figure that even a single 03 purchase (for me, exclusively online now) during the course of the 3yr license period means that I have broken even with the licensing fee because of the "4473 Trip" I could skip.

Yeah ... I will keep re-upping.

 

[IJ1981]

I have had a C&R since 2006. It has made me a lot of money since I invested heavily during the Obama years in MilSurps.

Today it is a chancy investment. But still only $30 for 3 years. Who knows the future?

 

[theotherwaldo]

I had one and never used it except to get discounts on some parts.
I didn't like the records-keeping requirements.

 

[HankC]

I don't have CHL, many folks only want to sell to CHL holders when do FTF, I used my C&R a couple times to show I'm good. I'm due to renew my C&R as well, C&R market pretty much dried up but I will just keep it in case something pops up and keep it to do FTF! If you buy from CMP, they honor C&R if you are a CMP affiliated club member. I used my C&R to buy my Garands!
Are we going to see SKSs from Vietnam soon?

 

[dogtown tom]

........ given how the market has shrunk....

False premise.
The number of C&R eligible firearms increases every year.

Now, if you mean the tens of thousands of cheap imported mulsurps have dried up.....they have. But collector interest has increased as well.

 

[H&R Glock]

Good mil surplus guns are just not there any more. The "good" prices have gone sky high I have used my license to buy "stuff" from Century Arms and saved money. The license just might come in handy though so I keep it up to date.

 

[toivo]

I just got mine last year. IMO, it's not only for milsurps. I like old Mossbergs too, and I like the ability to have the older ones shipped right to me.

 

[vintovka]

Watch "laws" change.

 

[12Bravo20]

There are more C&R eligible firearms than just Mil Surp's. Basically anything that is over 50 years old (even if still made) or has a high collectors value qualifies as a Curio and Relic. Plus a lot of the older rifles with barrels shorter than 16" that are considered C&R can be bought with a C&R license without the NFA/SBR paperwork since they were removed from the NFA list due to collectability. As always check the C&R list frequently for changes/updates.

 

[vintovka]

How many years till the civilian model of the M-16 is a C&R?

 

[WestKentucky]

How many years till the civilian model of the M-16 is a C&R?

Wouldn’t matter if your talking about one with a happy switch. Still falls under NFA law so all the governmental bovine excrement still applies.

 

[12Bravo20]

How many years till the civilian model of the M-16 is a C&R?

Actually any civilian AR15 made before 1971 is C&R eligible.

 

[vintovka]

Actually any civilian AR15 made before 1971 is C&R eligible.

Exactly my point, thank you

 

[rromeo]

I’m going to go ahead and do it once I get moved. There are plenty of good things out there to buy that can be C&R. Earliest contenders, lots of good old smiths… if your strictly looking for military surplus it’s a no-go but if your collection is less refined then it’s worth it.

Or as some would say, "if you're strictly looking for military surplus it’s a no-go but if your collection is refined then it’s worth it"

 

[Llew Taranau]

Point(s) taken. Thanks.

 

[jmace57]

I have had my C&R license for about 12 years. I used it heavily for about 8 or 9 of that while I was acquiring a lot of items. My trading has dropped to almost nothing, so when the most recent one expires in another year or so, I will let it expire.

 

[12Bravo20]

If you are into collecting lever action rifles the there are plenty of Marlin 1994/94 and Winchester 1892/92 and 1894/94 rifles with barrels shorter than 16" that have been removed from the NFA and are C&R eligible. A lot if the old military pistols with original wood holster stocks have been removed from NFA also.