Browse our catalog and you will see many rifles marked “Curio & Relic eligible.” For collectors, that label matters. Here is what Curio & Relic status means and why so many of the surplus arms we carry qualify.
What “Curio & Relic” means
Curio and Relic (C&R) firearms are those the ATF recognizes as having special interest to collectors beyond their use as ordinary weapons. A firearm generally qualifies if it is at least 50 years old, is certified as a curio or relic by a recognized museum, or appears on the ATF’s published C&R list.
The 50-year rule
The most common path to eligibility is age. Once a firearm’s frame or receiver is more than 50 years old — the receiver itself, not a replacement part — it is considered a curio or relic. That is why so many WWII and early Cold War arms qualify: Mosin-Nagants, Lee-Enfields, the U.S. Model 1917, and similar service rifles.
What does not qualify
Age is measured by the receiver, so a modern reproduction of an old design does not become C&R just because the pattern is old. Likewise, a recent commercial pistol or a current-production rifle is not C&R, even if it looks traditional. When eligibility is borderline — for example, a gun right around the 50-year line — we note it conservatively and tell you what we know.
The 03 FFL (Collector of Curios and Relics)
A Type 03 FFL, often called a C&R license, is an inexpensive federal license for collectors. It allows the holder to receive C&R-eligible firearms directly across state lines, rather than routing them through a transferring dealer. It does not cover modern, non-C&R firearms.
Getting your own 03 license
Many collectors find the 03 well worth it: you apply to the ATF, pay a modest fee for a multi-year license, and — subject to your state and local rules — you can then have eligible curios and relics shipped straight to you. You agree to keep a simple bound-book record of your acquisitions. It is a collector’s license, not a dealer’s, so it is only for building your own collection.
How this works at Old Steel Arsenal
If you hold a valid 03 FFL, a C&R-eligible item may be able to ship directly to you — ask us before you order and we will walk through the options. If you do not hold a C&R license, no problem: the firearm transfers to you through any FFL, including ours.
Looking for collectible surplus? Browse our rifles or see the full catalog.
This is general information, not legal advice. Verify current requirements with the ATF and your local authorities.