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I often look at the Switzer auctions (Canada). For this batch coming up, I notice several rifles, shotguns and handguns have been deactivated. I have seen this before on full-auto stuff – but hunting shotguns and rifles? These aren’t collector pieces. The only reason I can think people would own these weapons is to hunt and shoot. Why would anyone own them otherwise? Here’s two examples:
https://bid.switzersauction.com/DEACTIVATED-TIKKA-MODEL-M658RH-CALIBER-300-WIN-MAG_i42546234
https://bid.switzersauction.com/DEACTIVATED-STOEGER-MODEL-CONDOR-SUPREME-CALIBER-20-GA-X-3_i42546235
Bolts welded shut etc. Why would someone do this? They have plenty of other rifles and shotguns offered which haven’t ben deactivated. Surely they will bring more money than those that have been welded. And surely it’s not a requirement that bolt action rifles and double-barrel shotguns be deactivated? I just don’t understand what people are thinking.
Just guessing ,but the firearm might of been inherited by some one without a PAL and wanted to keep the firearm as a memento ,at some point in its life.Perhaps inherited by someone who was a bit scared of firearms and just wanted to make sure it could not be fired.Just guesses.
Possibly as 28gauge had pointed out. Other times I have seen guns deactivated when they were to be used in teaching scenarios, for example in courses being offered for your firearms licensing, courses where maybe need some sort of familiarity with firearms. For many courses, I would think you would still need to be able to manipulate the firearm, so I do find this very odd…
I’m Canadian and live in Canada. Deactivated firearms as you described are pretty rare, in fact I’ve never heard of it before, even though I live here. The only exception is firearms training courses, which have a selection of deactivated firearms so that there are no suicides or unfortunate incidents with people bringing ammo to the course and having a shoot-up during class time. Still, even those have only the chamber filled so that the students can learn how to use all the different types of actions.
Outside of that, maybe they are from some museum or someone who didn’t know anything about firearms, but wanted to keep their ancestors’ rifles and didn’t have a clue how to do it safely.
The other exception is people who turn them into the police. In that case they are destroyed. I shudder to think of how many 1873’s, 1866’s, 1876’s, 1885’s, 1886’s, etc. have suffered that horrible fate due to the ignorance of the heirs. It wouldn’t surprise me if a few deluxe 1886’s have been turned in and destroyed, not realizing they just kissed goodby to $10,000. It is the stuff of nightmares.
