Kampilan requested

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Rick

Thank you for clearing this up for me Guys .

Funny, you would think antique armes blanches would not be problematic .

Legalists don't see things that way.
A firearm is a device that depends on technological mechanisms and also on contemporary amunition. So, timely, it becomes obsolete, for one or the other reason. In Portugal and according to the recent law, firearms produced before 1890 may be kept and are not even passive of manifest. The same occurs with a published list of obsolete ammunitions.
On the other hand, a device longer than 10 cms (4") equipped with an edge and or a point, than can cut or perforate, is considered an illegal weapon (arma branca), indepentently from its age.
There are ways to legalize both type of prohibited arms, except for military stuff, but licence achievement is hard and takes rather long time to get through.
You may aplly for use and bearing, home detention or collecting. However the late is not so digestive as it sounds; as there is no antique weapons only collecting, this version comprehends also active arms, so it's a hell of a problem to get this type of licence, despite you only gather antique stuff. Actually since the new law was published two years ago, the police hasn't yet issued the first of these licences. I am trying to get one of these, myself. It requires a dozen different credentials, from certificate of never have driven under the influence of alchool, to one of never having been convicted for drugs abuse ... passing by a certificate of mental health, as well as a membership in a legaly regconized arms collecting association ... and so on, and so on.
If ever you or someone are interested in further details, just tell
Fernando