SAAACA   KwaZulu Natal

Guidelines for determining the “Collectable” status of a firearm

Background :

 These Guidelines have been prepared to address the requirements of Section 17(1) (a )of the FCA of 2000 , which reads  “A firearm which may be possessed in a private collection is any firearm approved for collection by an accredited collectors association”

 Given the divergent and varied nature of Bona Fide Collecting  interests , the ‘collectability’ or otherwise of a specific firearm will be determined primarily from a consideration of the ‘value’ of the firearm to the Collector within his or her stated and approved “Field of Interest and/or Theme(s) “
 

‘Value’ can be measured in a number of different ways , but the  FCA Regulations July 2004 give us some guidance in this regard by referring to   the “Historical , Technological, Scientific,  Heritage, Cultural, Artistic, and Educational  value ” of firearms, plus other elements which the Association may determine , within a specific “Theme or Field of Interest”
 

Other issues to note when determining  the “collectability” or otherwise of a specific firearm , is that it is therefore important to consider not only the item itself, but the context within which it is being considered .
 

(For example –  a certain handgun of which millions were made, and have survived,  might not be considered “collectable” in isolation, but if it had been the personal sidearm of a famous person , and could be identified as such, it would be considered to be very desirable from the viewpoint of a collector  with an interest in that area.)
 

It is against this background that these guidelines have been developed and tested with the assistance and input of various Naaccsa member organisations . Any proposals for enhancements and / or additions to these guidelines should be forwarded via the Naaccsa Office for consideration.

Guidelines :

1. Age, plus an attribute of collectability
   
   The Firearm should be at least 25 years old (moving window), with one or more of the attributes alluded to in the above definitions i.e. The. Historic, Technological, Scientific, Heritage, Cultural, Artistic, Educational or Other defined by the Association  .
   
   If the firearm does not readily conform to this combination of age and one or more collectability attributes , then further considerations may apply i.e.   
    
2. Discontinued for at least 10 years, with the likelihood of becoming of interest from a Historic, Technological, Scientific, Heritage , Cultural , Artistic, Educational , or Other approved perspective  .
    
3. Commemorative issues ( e.g. Mauser Gewehr 98 centenary)
    
4. Limited editions ( e.g. “Last of the Walther PP’s” cased sets)
    
5. Part of a demonstrable Theme.
   There are numerous legitimate ‘Themes’ ,  but one example would be  a collection of oldest to newest “xxx” (including origin, maker, designer, user, type, design, style, usage, calibre, etc.) 
    
6. Part of a demonstrable Theme of “future value” , where the likelihood of such future value can be demonstrated or motivated .
    
7. Proven (or generally accepted) association with famous (or infamous) people or events
    
8. Current scarcity or rarity (locally or internationally) for whatever reason
    
9. Unusual or unique design, materials or method of manufacture of historic interest
    
10. Custom or “one off’s” by well known gun makers / gun smiths , with significant value
     
11. Prototypes
     
12. Limited production runs ( less than 1000 )
     
13. Replicas of well known or famous fire arms ( e.g. Historical , Marque, or Model), where an ‘original’ is either unobtainable , or unaffordable 
     
14. Investment grade firearms of significant value

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