Antique cut off determination

[SgtSki]

What criteria does the ATF use to determine if a specific Krag rifle is considered to be antique or not?

[Dick Hosmer]

Presumably, that would be based on the monthly totals produced.

Flayderman has quoted 152670 (early in M1898 production) for years, as the cutoff - have never seen it challenged, or blamed for a "problem", but, if you are real close, you might want to get that verified - can't be too careful these days; who knows what might be chosen as an excuse to cause trouble.

[SgtSki]

Thanks Dick. I was asking because I saw a really nice Model 1898 at the Allentown Show that the seller wouldn't sell to an out of state resident and was wondering what made him come to make his decision not to sell it.

[lonewoolf]

Anything made before 12-31-1898 is considered antique

[Dick Hosmer]

Anything made before 12-31-1898 is considered antique

Understood - but, on models which span the 'milestone' (Krag, M94 Winchester, etc.) one needs to know - and be very clear with BATF - as to exactly what the magic number is, that equates to that date.

A more reasonable resolution would be to exempt all arms which entered production before the cutoff, on the presumption that if some are "harmless" then they all are.

However, given the status quo, any such attempt at equal treatment would likely go the other way - since, since some are clearly "bad", they must all be so!

In any event, it's just another badly-written law - your tax dollars at work.

[Parashooter]

Anything made before 12-31-1898 is considered antique

I believe that's actually anything before 1/1/1899 - so a receiver completed and serialized on 12/31/98 would still be "antique" (and they likely didn't get the day off for New Year's Eve).