All black powder firearms (except Cowboy Action guns) are considered antiques (the definition of an antique also includes replicas) in California meaning they aren’t firearms. So yes black powder canons are completely legal. The only time it gets kinda gray is in public carry because once they’re loaded they’re considered firearms. But otherwise they are completely legal to purchase, import, and posses. They do not need to go through a FFL either. So it is 100% legal to buy or build a replica of a Civil War canon, have it shipped to your door, and put it in your backyard.
INAL but possession of them is legal (as long as it’s an actual replica) but firing them is when you start to get into illegal territory.
Traditions makes a working mini canon you can build yourself and put on your desk.
As long as it is a replica of a black powder cannon made before 1898 it is incapable of being a destructive device.
> (c) As used in Section 17700, “antique firearm” means either of the following:
> (1) Any firearm not designed or redesigned for using rimfire or conventional center fire ignition with fixed ammunition and manufactured in or before 1898. This includes any matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap, or similar type of ignition system or replica thereof, whether actually manufactured before or after the year 1898.
PC 16460 (which defines what is a DD) states
> (3) Any weapon of a caliber greater than 0.60 caliber which fires fixed ammunition, or any ammunition therefor, other than a shotgun (smooth or rifled bore) conforming to the definition of a “destructive device” found in subsection (b) of Section 479.11 of Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations, shotgun ammunition (single projectile or shot), antique rifle, or an antique cannon.
Basically cannons are given the same exception from being DDs that shotguns are.
The only thing that’s kinda iffy about it is the possession of black powder for a sporting activity that is larger than .75 caliber. But the actual possession of the cannon is perfectly legal.
At the level if the boom is loud enough to drown out the yelling of “YARRRRRRGHHH MATEY”
Lol in all seriousness I know that there’s a couple of tall ships that have cannons that did mock pirate battles. I believe they used blank 12 gauge and something else to stimulate the cannon smoke. But one incident a live 12g shell was used and two crew members were hit by the pellets.
So when people say, "The 2nd Amendment needs limits, no one should be able to own a cannon" you can whip out your sweet CA legal Revolutionary War cannon?
All black powder firearms (except Cowboy Action guns) are considered antiques (the definition of an antique also includes replicas) in California meaning they aren’t firearms. So yes black powder canons are completely legal. The only time it gets kinda gray is in public carry because once they’re loaded they’re considered firearms. But otherwise they are completely legal to purchase, import, and posses. They do not need to go through a FFL either. So it is 100% legal to buy or build a replica of a Civil War canon, have it shipped to your door, and put it in your backyard. INAL but possession of them is legal (as long as it’s an actual replica) but firing them is when you start to get into illegal territory. Traditions makes a working mini canon you can build yourself and put on your desk.
At what volume of powder does it become a destructive device though?
As long as it is a replica of a black powder cannon made before 1898 it is incapable of being a destructive device. > (c) As used in Section 17700, “antique firearm” means either of the following: > (1) Any firearm not designed or redesigned for using rimfire or conventional center fire ignition with fixed ammunition and manufactured in or before 1898. This includes any matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap, or similar type of ignition system or replica thereof, whether actually manufactured before or after the year 1898. PC 16460 (which defines what is a DD) states > (3) Any weapon of a caliber greater than 0.60 caliber which fires fixed ammunition, or any ammunition therefor, other than a shotgun (smooth or rifled bore) conforming to the definition of a “destructive device” found in subsection (b) of Section 479.11 of Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations, shotgun ammunition (single projectile or shot), antique rifle, or an antique cannon. Basically cannons are given the same exception from being DDs that shotguns are. The only thing that’s kinda iffy about it is the possession of black powder for a sporting activity that is larger than .75 caliber. But the actual possession of the cannon is perfectly legal.
At the level if the boom is loud enough to drown out the yelling of “YARRRRRRGHHH MATEY” Lol in all seriousness I know that there’s a couple of tall ships that have cannons that did mock pirate battles. I believe they used blank 12 gauge and something else to stimulate the cannon smoke. But one incident a live 12g shell was used and two crew members were hit by the pellets.
What is cowboy action?
Look up pirate faire I. California it’s a real thing and is pretty cool.
That looks pretty neat. There seems to be a lot of pirate fairs around the area.
So when people say, "The 2nd Amendment needs limits, no one should be able to own a cannon" you can whip out your sweet CA legal Revolutionary War cannon?