"This product is currently not available online." Did Cabela's/Bass Pro change their policy?

[alexander45]

Italy got wrecked by the rona quarantines so no new products coming out

 

[Elkins45]

This is only tangentially related to the topic but I remember some years ago Midway was selling cap and ball revolvers. Right there on the same page they were also selling kits to convert those same revolvers to modern cartridge guns. I don’t know if they would balk if you ordered both together at the same time, but that always felt like a legally dubious practice to me.

 

[jdavis123]

This is only tangentially related to the topic but I remember some years ago Midway was selling cap and ball revolvers. Right there on the same page they were also selling kits to convert those same revolvers to modern cartridge guns. I don’t know if they would balk if you ordered both together at the same time, but that always felt like a legally dubious practice to me.

Both items are readily available now from Midway and others and it is completely legal. Black Powder guns and replicas are not considered as firearms under current BATF rules. The conversion cylinders are not firearms and are therefore not regulated.

 

[Elkins45]

Both items are readily available now from Midway and others and it is completely legal. Black Powder guns and replicas are not considered as firearms under current BATF rules. The conversion cylinders are not firearms and are therefore not regulated.

I understand that. My point is that when you purchase both together you are in essence buying a modern cartridge firearm thru the mail just like the good old days. It’s like buying a Polymer 80 Glock kit but without the need to drill any holes.

I’m surprised someone hasn’t raised a fuss.

 

[jdavis123]

I understand that. My point is that when you purchase both together you are in essence buying a modern cartridge firearm thru the mail just like the good old days. It’s like buying a Polymer 80 Glock kit but without the need to drill any holes.

I’m surprised someone hasn’t raised a fuss.

I agree with you. You can create a “somewhat” modern revolver without paperwork and shipped to your door.
Shush....they won’t raise a fuss if they don’t realize what the conversion kit can do!

 

[SlowFuse]

I would definitely look to you for a customized 1858 New Army BP.
Just Let US Know.

If the kid starts tuning 58's i'd be on the list to send a few his way as well!

As far as I know he likes his open tops and only tunes those.

 

[electricfactory]

This is correct.

If the kid starts tuning 58's i'd be on the list to send a few his way as well!

As far as I know he likes his open tops and only tunes those.

 

[arcticap]

I understand that. My point is that when you purchase both together you are in essence buying a modern cartridge firearm thru the mail just like the good old days. It’s like buying a Polymer 80 Glock kit but without the need to drill any holes.

I’m surprised someone hasn’t raised a fuss.

Some states do make a fuss.
Once the modern conversion cylinder is installed, the gun becomes a modern firearm subject to all of the restrictions and penalties of the jurisdiction.

And I'm not sure that the 2 items should be shipped together or if any responsible vendor will.
Some folks here used to say that they shouldn't be shipped in the same box, but that could require a written opinion by the ATF to know for sure.
With very few exceptions, even percussion revolvers shouldn't be shipped through the USPS, only by private carrier.

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

...With very few exceptions, even percussion revolvers shouldn't be shipped through the USPS, only by private carrier.

My initial thought would be to politely disagree.
Do you mean you think it's a bad idea for some reason?
Care to elaborate?
Wondering why you think a private carrier is a better choice.
USPS is usually the lowest cost option and shipping percussion revolvers via USPS is clearly within the USPS policy manual guidelines.
Is there another factor you're more concerned with?

 

[Tommygunn]

Well, every time I've ordered a cap & ball gun, UPS has been the courier. I'm not sure if that's for legal reasons or economic though.

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

I'll clarify, that when I say "USPS is usually the lowest cost option.." that I mean for an individual without a UPS or FedEx contract with a big discount.
Large retailers typically utilize one carrier or the other for a whole list of reasons that add up to a decision they make overall and then enjoy a nice discount for their loyalty.

 

[arcticap]

My initial thought would be to politely disagree.
Do you mean you think it's a bad idea for some reason?
Care to elaborate?
Wondering why you think a private carrier is a better choice.
USPS is usually the lowest cost option and shipping percussion revolvers via USPS is clearly within the USPS policy manual guidelines.
Is there another factor you're more concerned with?

1. Postal regulations changed.
The exemption allowing for antique pistols to be shipped by the USPS was removed sometime after Sandy Hook, with few exceptions.
That includes single shot percussion pistols too among other things.
There is no longer an exemption that differentiates a percussion pistol from any other modern handgun/firearm in the USPS shipping regulations.

2. That means that the percussion pistol /package won't be insured if it's lost or stolen even if insurance is purchased.

3. I don't want to speculate what official action an over-zealous postal employee could take if contraband were discovered inside of a package.
From my experience, Fedex does not ask what the contents of their ground packages are, and shipping BP guns is acceptable.
I have also found Fedex to be cheaper than Priority Mail for long guns in most cases, although it may take an extra day or three.
And Fedex even paid a damage claim for an air pistol that I had shipped to a buyer, which I can't say that the USPS or UPS would have been as accommodating.

4. One time a C&B revolver was delivered to me by Priority Mail and the barrel was sticking out of the side of the box left sitting on my porch.
The shipper didn't pad it well inside the flat rate box, which if that happened today I don't know if the USPS would have delivered it or not.
But I might end up being out some money if the gun were confiscated as contraband.
Too many people don't realize that the USPS reg's have changed for percussion pistols, and they'll want to argue about it because no one seems to enforce it.
Not until something bad happens like a lost package, an investigation, a seizure or a fine.
Why count on USPS employees not doing their job?
Isn't that how they get promoted to get ahead, or maybe one guy just feels cranky that day.

5. I tried to answer the same question on the MLF and did enough research to be convinced that it's not legal to ship percussion pistols through the USPS.
If that's not good enough then folks can do whatever they want.
If the Postal Inspectors are all a bunch of clowns simply masquerading as Federal law enforcement agents then you'll never get caught.
But I wouldn't want to bet on it.
At least I can try to inform folks so they can make an informed decision.

1. https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/mailing-bp-revolvers.124175/page-2#post-1706840

2. https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/mailing-bp-revolvers.124175/page-2#post-1708054

 

[electricfactory]

Wow. This was quite an eye opening read. I have sent my very last percussion pistol through USPS.

1. Postal regulations changed.
The exemption allowing for antique pistols to be shipped by the USPS was removed sometime after Sandy Hook, with few exceptions.
That includes single shot percussion pistols too among other things.
There is no longer an exemption that differentiates a percussion pistol from any other modern handgun/firearm in the USPS shipping regulations.

2. That means that the percussion pistol /package won't be insured if it's lost or stolen even if insurance is purchased.

3. I don't want to speculate what official action an over-zealous postal employee could take if contraband were discovered inside of a package.
From my experience, Fedex does not ask what the contents of their ground packages are, and shipping BP guns is acceptable.
I have also found Fedex to be cheaper than Priority Mail for long guns in most cases, although it may take an extra day or three.
And Fedex even paid a damage claim for an air pistol that I had shipped to a buyer, which I can't say that the USPS or UPS would have been as accommodating.

4. One time a C&B revolver was delivered to me by Priority Mail and the barrel was sticking out of the side of the box sitting on my porch.
The shipper didn't pad it well inside the flat rate box, which if that happened today I don't know if the USPS would have delivered or not.
But I might end up being out some money if the gun were confiscated as contraband.
Too many people don't realize that the USPS reg's have changed for percussion pistols, and they'll want to argue about it because no one seems to enforce it.
Not until something bad happens like a lost package, an investigation, a seizure or a fine.
Why count on USPS employees not doing their job?
Isn't that how they get promoted to get ahead, or maybe one guy just feels cranky that day.

6. I tried to answer the same question on the MLF and did enough research to be convinced that it's not legal to ship percussion pistols through the USPS.
If that's not good enough then folks can do whatever they want.
If the Postal Inspectors are all a bunch of clowns simply masquerading as Federal law enforcement agents then you'll never get caught.
But I wouldn't want to bet on it.
At least I can try to inform folks so they can make an informed decision.

1. https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/mailing-bp-revolvers.124175/page-2#post-1706840

2. https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/mailing-bp-revolvers.124175/page-2#post-1708054

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

I stand corrected.
I went out to the USPS website and confirmed what arcticap shared about USPS policy changing.
I'm not sure it goes back to Sandy Hook though, I'm pretty sure I found documents confirming Antique Firearms were still all good via USPS in 2016 looking back at my records.
Disappointing that our freedoms continue to be eroded 24/7/365