I would only add to the excellent summary of ATF regulations posted by  Mr. DiGregorio that the only real concern for a museum would be firearms that are legally considered automatic weapons and would require a class III license. On the  application for class III ownership - this is where the "curio", "relic", or "antique" designation would be important.  I'm not positive what one would do for Bazookas, Grenades, Mortars, and Tanks!  

Cheers!
Dave

David Harvey
Associate Conservator,
Metals & Arms
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
P.O. Box 1776
Williamsburg, Virginia  23187-1776 USA
Voice:   757-220-7039
E-mail:  [log in to unmask]

-----Original Message-----
From:   Thom DiGregorio [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent:   Wednesday, August 05, 1998 11:57 AM
To:     [log in to unmask]
Subject:        US firearm regulations and museums

I don't know of the existance of any concise summary of US regulations
regarding firearms and museums. I do know that the Treasury Department's
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) has three firearms-specific
publications:

        ATF P 5300.4, "Federal Firearms Regulations Reference Guide"
(latest edition 10/95)
        ATF P 5300.5, "Firearms State Laws and Published Ordinances" (1994
- 20th Edition)
        ATF P 5300.11, "Firearms Curios or Relics List" (latest edition
10/95)

These publications should be obtainable from the BATF (listed in your local
phone directory under US Government, Dept. of the Treasury) or the
Government Printing Office.

Of particular interest to museums is the defination of "curios or relics,"
as published in ATF P 5300.4. Regulation 27 CFR Part 178.11 (Definitions)
states:

        Curios or relics. Firearms which are of special interest to
collectors by reason of some quality other than is associated with firearms
intended for sporting use or as offensive or defensive weapons. To be
recognized as curios or relics, firearms must fall within one of the
following categories:
        (a) Firearms which were manufactured at least 50 years prior to the
current date, but not including replicas thereof;
        (b) 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; and
        (c) 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. Proof
of qualification of a particular firearm under this category may be
established by evidence of present value and evidence that like firearms
are not available except as collector's items, or that the value of like
firearms available in ordinary commercial channels is substantially less.
        [Editor's Note: ATF Publication 5300.11, Firearms Curios and Relics
List, consists of lists of those firearms determined to be curios or relics
from 1972 to the present.]

I hope this information helps.


Thom DiGregorio
North American Agent for Vernon Systems' COLLECTION

TCD Consulting
226 Monterey Avenue
Elmhurst, IL 60126-3010 USA

(630) 941-3640
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