How do I get my Grandfather's WW2 Luger?

[FNFiveSeven]

Hey all, strange question I have here. My grandfather was in WW2 and while there he captured a WW1 luger from a surrendering German officer. The officer claimed it was his father's during WW1. Anyway, my grandfather took it and brought it back home with him to Canada. The pistol is now in the possession of my uncle, who still lives in Canada. Like many Canadians, he doesn't "get" guns and wants to get rid of it or turn in in to the police :banghead: Anyway, we've been talking and he said he would be willing to let me take it, if a legal method existed for me to acquire it. Does anyone know how this works? Can he just export it out of Canada and ship it directly to my FFL? Something tells me there's more to it than that. P.S. I live in California.

 

[PinnedAndRecessed]

Hi Black.

You've got a real problem, here.

I think I know the answer but you should verify it yourself.

First, call the Cal DOJ. Surprisingly, they are helpful.

Department of Justice
P.O. Box 820200
Sacramento, CA 94203-0200
916-263-4887

Next, call the BATF. They are equally helpful.

BATF
650 Mass. Ave. NW
Room 6450
Washington, DC 20226
916-498-5095


Best of luck.

BTW, what's the status of your 50 cal rifle?

 

[Dbl0Kevin]

If only he lived in Mexico you could pay Pedro to sneek it over the border for you.

 

[HarryB]

Sounds like a heirloom worth jumping multiple hoops through.

 

[Hkmp5sd]

On the federal side....

You would have to line up an FFL in California (Importer not required) to receive the firearm. You then complete ATF FORM 6 - Part I (5330.3A) and send it to ATF for approval. Once approved, the FFL then presents the approved ATF FORM 6 - Part 1 and a completed ATF FORM 6A to the US Customs Service.

Don't know about California state restrictions, however.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Don't know about California state restrictions, however.

I believe if it's over fifty years old, the "gun safety" baloney is inapplicable.

 

[Trebor]

It can be done. You'll need to talk to the ATF to figure out what import paperwork you'll need. You might actually need to have an importer do it for you.

CA state laws may or may not mess you up.

There will be some hassle involved, and probably some expense, but for a family heriloom gun, I'd do it. If it was just a run of the mill Luger, it wouldn't be worth the effort, but you should jump through the hoops to bring this piece of family history home.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

Too bad you don't know the name of the German officer your grandfather took it from so you can return it to its rightful owners.

 

[Sisco]

I don't know much about Canadian gun laws, but I was under the impression that handguns were illegal to own. Fact or fiction?
If it's true your relitaves might not want to admit to any government agency that they are in posession of it.

 

[thatguy]

Canada has more gun control laws on handguns than some U.S. states, but less than others. I see Canadian members posting about their pistols on a couple of forums.

CA law allows for C&R pistols to be imported and if it were from your dad that would help, too, since CA also allows parents to send guns to the kids.

 

[JohnBT]

Sounds like it'd be easier to move to Canada. Just kidding. Go for it.

JBT

 

[BEARMAN]

As a Canadian gun owner ,I have to answer, YES we have strange gun regulations but also we can own Handguns, I have 10 ,I shoot IPSC and WESTERN ACTION SHOOTING but I have a permit that allows them to be transported locked and cased to the range only. ( Now "range" is pretty broad, it can be in any of 5 provinces and 1 territory and to U.S. border crossings then I have to do the BATFE permit route but only on/with invitation). A suggestion for the IMPORT QUESTION . contact ( www.marstar.ca ) a COMPANY that exports to the U.S. regularly, ask them how you would go about importing one of the firearms they have or ask if they will handle the exporting for you ,at a cost to you of course. Worth a try.

 

[lotus]

Originally posted by Lone_Gunman

Too bad you don't know the name of the German officer your grandfather took it from so you can return it to its rightful owners.

The rightful owner is the US fighting man who had disarmed the pistol from a captured enemy officer.

War trophies were an honored tradition back then. You make the rightful spoils of war sound like petty thievery...

 

[cracked butt]

The rightful owner is the US fighting man who had disarmed the pistol from a captured enemy officer.

To add to that, if the gun went back to Germany, it would most likely be confiscated on the way and be melted downor at the very least rendered inoperable and put in a museum. Not only are handguns highly restricted in Germany but the society over there have illegalized anything with Nazi markings on it.

 

[CZguy]

There would be no Nazi markings on a WWI Luger.

 

[Wildalaska]

Easiest to use an importer, I use Leroys in Big Falls Montana for Canadian stuff....

That solves the problem of you having to clear customs etc when you do the Form 6

WildhatesimportexportAlaska

 

[schromf]

I can help on the California mystery. It is definately a curio relic item. Contact the California DOJ or a FFL dealer. I have a FFL back home (not Cali ) who has handled Canadian transfers in the past, the last one he fought with the Canadian Custom officials trying to get cleared. Basically it was boxed up and impounded for months and nobody really cared. He finally did get someone to reply to his requests and it was straightened out pretty quickly afterwards, but it took multiple attempts and persistance on his part. He did say he never had that much trouble in the past so maybe it was a fluke.

Now if you have any local gun laws in addition to the state nonsense I can't help you buy LA comes to mind.

 

[Sisco]

Thanks for clearing the Canadian laws up for me, I've been mistaken for some time about the rules on handguns.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

Lotus,

Didn't mean to make it sound like petty thievery.

It just sounds to me like the gun got more respect when it was in German hands. It was carried in combat during two World Wars by a father and then a son, two generations of the same German family.

After its liberation by an Allied soldier (which I have no problem with in and of itself), it has now ended up in the hands of someone who apparently cares nothing about it and is willing to just turn it in to the police. Not exactly a fitting end to a war trophy, eh?

I hope this weapon makes it back to someone, anyone, who wants it.

 

[Destructo6]

After its liberation by an Allied soldier (which I have no problem with in and of itself), it has now ended up in the hands of someone who apparently cares nothing about it and is willing to just turn it in to the police. Not exactly a fitting end to a war trophy, eh?

Hence blackrazor's attempt to gain possession of said item.

 

[HankB]

Since it's been in your family so long, it's just too bad your grandfather didn't give it to you a long time ago. Then there would be no problem.

 

[FNFiveSeven]

Hank,

My grandpa died when I was 15, so I coudln't have taken possession of it even if I wanted to... besides, I didn't know jack about guns back then, probably wouldn't have been a good idea.

Anyways, thanks for all the suggestions guys. I'll start making some phone calls on Monday.

 

[Jim K]

Don't forget you not only have to get it INTO the U.S. legally, you have to get it OUT of Canada legally. That may require additional paperwork and time. If the owner will cooperate, he can do a lot from his end. If not, there might be a problem. I assume the gun is registered in Canada. If not, my thinking tends toward forgetting about some other laws, but of course I would never suggest that.

Jim

 

[Chris Rhines]

Importing a gun on an ATF Form 6 is not hard - any FFL holder can do it for you. Putting together the export documents from Canada may be a more difficult point, and is probably the best argument for using an importer who's familiar with Canadian law.

- Chris

 

[R.H. Lee]

I'd probably just drive up and visit my uncle for awhile, then bring the pistol back with me.