"Jent," so as not to reinvent the wheel, as it were, below is a cut-and-paste cite from one of my earlier posted responses to another correspondent's question similar in nature to yours, to wit:

In the interest of providing helpful information to the correspondents for the many forums on this site, let me clarify a point of confusion that I remark has arisen here and elsewhere on this website regarding the correct cut-off date for determining whether a gun is an unregulated "antique firearm," as that class is defined in the United States Code, or whether the gun in question falls instead under some other firearm classification that is regulated.

The relevant federal statute creates three firearm classifications: (a) "antique firearm," (b) "curio & relic," and (c) "modern." The first classification mentioned is wholly unregulated, while the latter two are indeed regulated and do require the participation of licensed dealers or collectors. The correct statutory cut-off date for a piece classified as an "antique firearm" is 1 January 1899. This correct date would be more commonly expressed, "pre-1899," or even "post 1898."

In the pertinent federal statute, "antique firearm," as that term is defined in 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(16), means —

"A. any firearm (including any firearm with a matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap, or similar type of ignition system) manufactured in or before 1898 (emphasis added); or

B. any replica of any firearm described in subparagraph (A) if such replica —

i. is not designed or redesigned for using rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition, or uses rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition which is no longer manufactured in the United States and which is not readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial trade; or

ii. any muzzle loading rifle, muzzle loading shotgun, or muzzle loading pistol, which is designed to use black powder, or a black powder substitute, and which cannot use fixed ammunition. For purposes of this subparagraph, the term ‘antique firearm’ shall not include any weapon which incorporates a firearm frame or receiver, any firearm which is converted into a muzzle loading weapon, or

C. any muzzle loading weapon, which can be readily converted to fire fixed ammunition by replacing the barrel, bolt, breechblock, or any combination thereof."

Please reference the remainder of the above statute on-line, if you have an interest in the other classifications, which I will not address here.

Without considering the sometimes confusing language within the parenthesis, which was itself added for clarification purposes, the statute's lede paragraph reads: "Any firearm manufactured in or before 1898." Do not confuse or conflate the black powder and muzzle loading or black powder replicas aspects of the above statute with the lede paragraph; they are but further refinements of the issue of muzzle loaders or replicas as antique firearms or not. In no manner do those clarifications alter the basic legal point that any firearm "manufactured in or before 1898" (meaning: before and up to 1 January 1899) is an "antique," period.

If classified as an "antique firearm," which again means it is wholly unregulated by the federal government, the gun can be shipped via your or the dealer's/seller's choice of carrier anywhere to anyone in the United States. Some anti-gun states, however, have laws that cumber such transactions, although if you live in such a restrictive state, you will likely already know of the problem and know how to deal or have in the past dealt with the encumbrance. As well, in my experience, international shipments are best left to licensed firearms dealers and import/export experts that are experienced and have long dealt with firearm shipments. Personally, for the purpose of purchase (I do not sell my guns.) or refurbishment/repair, I have shipped from and received at home or office antique firearms, both domestically and internationally, via chosen carrier many dozens of times without interference from our federal or local government agencies.

I have assumed that you may be intending to ship or receive an "antique firearm" via common carrier (e.g. USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc.), so I have kept that aspect of my earlier post intact because of that assumption. While the "antique firearm" classification does not statutorily reconstitute the piece as a non-firearm (a "firearm" per se is a "modern firearm," in the Government's parlance), it does mean that the antique gun is entirely unregulated by federal agencies, and that in most cases the same will be unregulated by many state governments as well, in accordance with their respective controlling statutes, which in the main will be found to mirror the federal statute above.

I hope the foregoing helps answer your inquiry, as well as answers those questions of like kind from any other correspondent to this always informative and enjoyable site.


Regards,

Edwardian