Why Every Shooter Should Get a C&R FFL

What is a C&R license?

C&R FFL is short for Curio & Relics Federal Firearms License - also known as a Type 03 FFL. This is an inexpensive ($10/year) federal firearms license intended for collectors. It is issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (a.k.a. the BATFE or simply, the ATF).

Here's why every shooter should get one:

With a C&R, you can get qualifying firearms shipped directly to you - there's no need to have them transferred through a dealer.
You'll save money. In addition to avoiding dealer transfer fees, many online retailers offer discounts to C&R holders.
In Massachusetts, a C&R establishes your status as a "bona fide" collector, which qualifies you to apply for a machine gun permit.
Beginning on January 1, 2021, MA dealers can transfer qualifying handguns to C&R holders - even if they're not on the Approved Firearms Roster.

Examples of firearms qualified as Curios or Relics

Which firearms are qualified as "curios and relics"?

Any firearm more than 50 years old in its original configuration (not including replicas thereof).
Any firearm on the Curio and Relic list maintained by ATF.
Firearms which are certified by the curator of a municipal, state, or federal museum which exhibits firearms to be curios or relics of museum interest. I have no idea which firearms this might include, but it comes verbatim from the ATF's website.
Any other firearms which derive a substantial part of their monetary value from the fact that they are novel, rare, bizarre, or because of their association with some historical figure, period, or event. This includes many military firearms from countries that no longer exist, such as East Germany, the USSR, and Czechoslovakia.

Does the C&R License qualify me as a firearms dealer?

No. You can't buy firearms for the specific purpose of selling them for a profit. However, you can sell parts of your collection, and even make a profit, but the profit should be used to enhance your collection.

Here's an example:
You find a better example of a firearm in your collection for sale on Gunbroker.com. You buy the better one and sell your existing example to cover the cost of the new one. Even if you make a profit on the sale, you did so to enhance your collection. This activity is fine.

How do you get one?

Take this video class and you will leave with a correctly completed, ready-to-mail application.

Here is the application

I hope you found this post informative. If you have questions about getting a C&R license, feel free to contact me here, or message me on Facebook (Jim Finnerty).