Forum Discussion

Grey_Mountain's avatar
Grey_Mountain
Explorer
Jul 28, 2013

Expended rifle shell casings into Canada

I am well aware of Canadian law on firearms and always leave weapons, if I have any, at home when visiting our neighbours to the North. I use expended rifle brass when making various Native American cultural items. I have one such item with me with two pieces of such brass on it. This item is for a presentation at an Air Force reunion when I return to the States, but before I return home.
Does anybody know if this will present a problem at the border? Should I tell them/show them the item?

Thanks and looking forward to another great visit with friends I haven't met yet.

GM and his British Bride
Oh, and the two Bear Killers.

8 Replies

  • applegater's avatar
    applegater
    Explorer
    Jul 28, 2013
    We crossed the border earlier this month w/o firearms then later as we were using our day packs discovered 2 357 cartridges leftover from an earlier outing. Boy did I get rid of those in a hurry!
  • Grey_Mountain's avatar
    Grey_Mountain
    Explorer
    Jul 28, 2013
    I have two attached to a Native American war club. Rather than take a chance, I think I'll take them off and mail them to a friend who will be at the gathering where I'm ding the presentation.

    On the feathers - Only Native Americans are allowed to possess most of the feathers. The feathers found on dream catchers are from birds that are not protected. However, in the states, almost 100% of migratory birds are protected.
    I have genuine eagle feathers, but I cannot sell or give them to anyone except another Native Americans.

    GM
  • mike-uswest's avatar
    mike-uswest
    Explorer III
    Jul 28, 2013
    I had a friend go across with a drift boat, and they found a few expended .22 casings in the boat. They tore them down looking for guns, and of course didn't find any, but it took a ton of time.

    Mike
  • cocos_cabana's avatar
    cocos_cabana
    Explorer
    Jul 28, 2013
    Ya just never know!!! Last March when crossing from Baja into California, we were questioned about feathers...as we have a Native American dream catcher (with 5 feathers) hanging on our rear view mirror!!!
  • abslayer's avatar
    abslayer
    Explorer
    Jul 28, 2013
    As long as it is obvious that it is not a live round you will have no problems
  • The_Texan's avatar
    The_Texan
    Explorer
    Jul 28, 2013
    GM, do you declare "first nation" status when you cross? They are allowed much more leeway for ceremonial items than anyone else, so it may be worth your time to have documented tribal status with you for just such possible problems.
  • JaxDad's avatar
    JaxDad
    Explorer III
    Jul 28, 2013
    As long as you don't have any live rounds, nor any firearms with you, you shouldn't have any problems.

    I have a key ring that has a 45 ACP cartridge on it, there's a screw eye epoxied into the back end where the primer would normally go. It's raised a few eyebrows but since there's no primer in it, it's obviously not a threat.

    I've never declared it as a "bullet" and the couple times a border guard brought it up, I laughed it off and so did they.

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