I asked one of my registrar friends about this issue, and she replied:
 
" I believe that antique guns are ok to travel sans permits (I've never dealt with permits in traveling antique guns in the past).  Permits are required for live ammunition and may also be for registered "in use" [i.e. non-collectable] guns [I once queried the ATF regarding a contemporary art piece that had shot gun casings and was told that we could travel it as long as the shells were empty – so the artist emptied them and then we were legal]."
 
Ron's advice to check with the receiving institution is highly recommended as well.
 
Martha Katz-Hyman
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