Is a C&R lincence OK to purchace a 1909 Argentine Mauser action through the mail or does it need to go through a regular FFL?

I don't want to say Ricochet is wrong because now I'm not sure. I have bought actions and barrelled actions (from dealers) on my C&R license with no problem. The explanation that I was given (by a dealer)is that in CFR Part 178- Subpart B, Section 178.11-Meaning of terms - a C&R is defined as "... Firearms which were manufactured at least 50 years prior to the current date...". Then to get a definition of a firearm you have to go to the same section where a "firearm" is defined as "... a weapon ..., the frame or receiver of any such weapon...". I've got the book in front of me looking at it now, I believe that 15 USC Chapter 18-Federal Firearms Act defines a firearm identically. By the way most definitions fall into this category where the reciever is serialized and is the firearm, not the barrel or trigger assembly etc. Now all this assumes that the action (receiver) has not been significantly altered, if it's been ground and had markings removed it may no longer classify as a C&R.

Note that some listings specifically say "original", but for the military firearms they do not. If it's a 1909 action that was assembled into a sporter rifle after 1954 (currently) it definately does not fall into the C&R classification, howevr a pre-war sporterized Mauser should,I've bought several of them as C&R's also.

WARNING - this is just one persons experience, when you get to reading through all the arcane government regulations you can make them say just about anything you want. I'm not a lawyer and don't want to be a lawyer, also don't want to argue about it, just relating my experience and the interpretation that seemed reasonable to me.

No, it's not. I read and replied to it too quickly at first. An action's not a C&R gun. They have to be intact guns, in the original caliber, substantially as issued. I'm not quoting the exact words of the regulations, but that sums it up.

I still stand by the fact that unless this action has been substantially altered in the first place, it could have a military barrel, stock etc and be returned to military configuration. Even so like what has been said above any gun even if it has been modified if it is over 50 yrs old it is C&R. I think the intent of the modifacaton clause is to keep people from modifying gun extensivly. If this action is orginal it is mearly a part and as such recieved no modifacation and could be returned to military configuration. The wholesalers such as samco, FAC etc sell actions and barrled actions to us C&R holders, I have seen many times wholesalers selling "gun smith" special guns as C&R that are missing parts,such as bolts barrels or stocks or other small parts, what is the difference between this guy selling an action, that has not been modified. I would assume they would know the rules better than us