Curio and relic firearms are guns the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) recognizes as collectible for reasons beyond ordinary sporting or defensive use. In most cases that means the firearm was manufactured at least 50 years ago and is still in its original configuration, though a younger firearm can also qualify if it is rare, historically significant, or certified by a museum curator. Collectors who obtain a special federal license can buy these firearms across state lines and have them shipped directly, which is the main practical reason the category matters.
How a Firearm Qualifies
Under 27 CFR 478.11, a firearm needs to fit only one of three categories to be classified as a curio or relic:
- The 50-year rule. Any firearm made at least 50 years before the current date qualifies automatically, provided it is not a replica and remains in its original configuration. A 1970 military surplus rifle crossed the threshold in 2020 with no paperwork required. Swapping out original parts can disqualify a gun, so collectors should think carefully before modifying anything.
- Museum certification. A curator at a municipal, state, or federal museum that exhibits firearms can certify a specific firearm as a curio or relic of museum interest, regardless of age.
- Historical or monetary significance. Firearms that draw a substantial part of their value from being novel, rare, unusual, or connected to a notable historical figure, period, or event also qualify. A revolver documented as belonging to a Civil War officer is the classic example.
The first category is by far the most common. Guns age into C&R status every year with no petition required.1Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Curios and Relics
The ATF’s Published C&R List
The ATF also maintains a downloadable list of specific firearms it has designated as curios or relics. The list captures models that qualified through museum certification, historical significance, or individual rulings. If a firearm appears on the list, it qualifies whether or not it independently meets the 50-year threshold. The list is not exhaustive, because anything that meets the 50-year rule qualifies whether it’s listed or not. Collectors most often use it to confirm the status of a firearm under 50 years old.1Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Curios and Relics
The Type 03 Collector’s License
The practical benefit of the classification comes through the Type 03 Federal Firearms License, formally called the Collector of Curios and Relics license. Under 18 U.S.C. ยง 923, it is available to anyone at least 21 years old who is not otherwise prohibited from possessing firearms.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 923 – Licensing
The application is simpler than for other FFL types. You submit ATF Form 7/7CR with the fee. No photographs or fingerprint cards are required.3Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Form 7/7CR Instructions – Application for Federal Firearms License The statutory fee is $10 per year, and the ATF issues the license for a three-year term, so the total cost is $30, non-refundable. Renewal keeps it active for another three years.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 923 – Licensing
What the License Lets You Do
The biggest benefit is interstate acquisition. Without the license, federal law generally requires you to buy a firearm through a licensed dealer in your home state. With a Type 03, you can receive eligible C&R firearms shipped directly to your home address from out-of-state sellers, whether those sellers are dealers or private individuals. You can also travel to another state, buy a C&R firearm in person, and bring it home without routing it through a local dealer. Dealer transfer fees and delays drop out of the equation, and for a collector who regularly adds military surplus rifles or vintage revolvers, the license pays for itself quickly.
What the License Does Not Cover
This is where collectors get tripped up. The Type 03 applies only to transactions involving curios and relics. For any firearm that is not a curio or relic, a Type 03 holder has the same legal status as an unlicensed individual.4eCFR. 27 CFR 478.93 Buying a modern handgun or a recently manufactured rifle still means going through a regular dealer and completing a background check on ATF Form 4473.
The license is also strictly for personal collecting. Using it to buy C&R firearms with the intent to resell them for profit crosses into dealing, which requires a different type of FFL. The ATF draws a firm line between building a collection and running a business.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 923 – Licensing
A firearm can also be both a curio or relic and an item regulated under the National Firearms Act. Some pre-1976 machine guns, short-barreled rifles, and other NFA items are old enough to qualify as C&R, and the ATF has specifically listed models such as Winchester Trappers. The C&R designation does not exempt these firearms from NFA requirements. You still register the item, go through the NFA transfer process, and pay any applicable transfer tax.5Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. National Firearms Act Handbook
Recordkeeping Requirements
Every Type 03 holder must maintain an Acquisition and Disposition record, commonly called a bound book or A&D book. The format is set by regulation, and it can be a physical ledger or an electronic record. Log each acquisition by the close of the next business day. When you sell or otherwise dispose of a C&R firearm, you have seven days to record the disposition.6eCFR. 27 CFR 478.125
Each acquisition entry records the date of receipt, the seller’s name and address (or FFL number if a licensee), the manufacturer and importer if any, and the model, serial number, type, and caliber or gauge. Each disposition entry records the date, the recipient’s name and address (or FFL number), and for non-licensee buyers, their date of birth and an identification number such as a driver’s license.
Records must be kept at the premises listed on your license and available for ATF inspection. Inspections of Type 03 holders are less common than inspections of commercial dealers, but they happen. A clean, current bound book is the single most important compliance obligation the license carries.
Reporting Theft or Loss
If a firearm in your collection goes missing or is stolen, you must report it to the ATF within 48 hours of discovering the loss by filing ATF Form 3310.11, and you must also report it to local law enforcement.7Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. 2025 – Federal Firearms Licensee Theft/Loss Report The 48-hour clock starts on discovery, not on the underlying theft. If you open the bound book and notice a firearm unaccounted for, that is the moment the deadline starts.
Address Changes
Because the license is tied to a specific premises, moving requires advance notice. File ATF Form 5300.38 at least 30 days before you relocate.8Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Federal Firearms Licensee Quick Reference and Best Practices Guide Missing that window can put your license status in jeopardy, so build it into your timeline early.
State and Local Laws Still Apply
A federal C&R license does not override state or local firearms laws. When you apply, you certify that your collecting activity complies with the laws of the state and locality where your premises are located.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 923 – Licensing Some states impose waiting periods, registration requirements, or bans on certain firearm types that apply to C&R firearms regardless of their federal status. A semi-automatic rifle from the 1960s might qualify as a C&R federally and still fall under a state’s restrictions on certain rifle features. The license makes interstate acquisition possible under federal law, but the rules of your own state are your responsibility. Checking with your state firearms regulatory authority before buying from out of state is the safest approach, especially in states with more restrictive laws.