Well I meant pre 1898 rifles of those makes. You can buy pre 98 nagants, mausers, ect. You can even buy antique revolvers in .38S&W and .32S&W, along with .22lr/ect. I just bought 2 antique Mausers, an 1888 Commission rifle, and a Gew 71 from Centerfire, right to my door. The Gew 71's 11mm Mauser is kinda hard to come by, but the 88 is Spitzer marked and will fire regular 8mm Mauser.
http://www.atf.gov/pub/fire-explo_pub/gca.htm
All right, from here now.
(3) The term "firearm" means (A) any weapon (including a starter gun) which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive; (B) the frame or receiver of any such weapon; (C) any firearm muffler or firearm silencer; or (D) any destructive device. Such term does not include an antique firearm.
An Antique firearm is not a firearm, first off. In fact, my school rulebook says you cannot bring a reciever to school, but it says antique firearms are not considered "deadly weapons". So a AK reciever is a deadly weapon, yeah....
The term "
destructive device" shall not include any device which is neither designed nor redesigned for use as a weapon; any device, although originally designed for use as a weapon, which is redesigned for use as a signaling, pyrotechnic, line throwing, safety, or similar device; surplus ordinance sold, loaned, or given by the Secretary of the Army pursuant to the provisions of section 4684(2), 4685, or 4686 of title 10; or any other device which the Secretary of the Treasury finds is not likely to be used as a weapon,
is an antique, or is a rifle which the owner intends to use solely for sporting, recreational or cultural purposes.
(16) The term "antique firearm" means --
(A)
any firearm (including any firearm with a matchlock, flintlock,
percussion cap, or similar type of ignition system) manufactured in or
before 1898; and
So wikipedia basically copied and pasted from the ATF's website on it. So Wiki was right.
Antique firearms are not considered firearms, no matter what they are. ATF also said it's not a DD if it's an antique firearm. I dont see any reason why an antique firearm would be considered a NFA item, as it's not even considered a firearm. The antique firearm clause of GCA does not mention any characteristics that would make an antique firearm not an antique firearm but an NFA, so I think we're safe here.
I've also seen plenty of short barreled antique muzzleloaders and stuff. I've always thought if it was made before 1898, it was allowed to basically do anything except maybe full auto and have any features it wanted. Nothing really voids antique firearm status, either, it's not like a C&R where a scope or something voids it, as long as it's marked made in 1898, it's OK.
As for the C&R becoming antiques thing, I guess it's kinda just wishful thinking. I think it's somewhat possible, though. Not many crimes have been committed by C&R stuff. Another thing I'd like is all C&Rable machineguns may be traded/sold between C&R license holders. That way, nobody gets busted for having Grandpa's old Thompson he took home/ect.
Those are just kinda neat ideas I got, I guess the ultimate dream is back to the days of no/very little gun control, pre 34.