Where can you find information about the Crescent New Empire hammerless 410 double barrel pistol or the Certified Shotgun and why are these illegal to own per the Blue Book?

Answer 1

I've researched this weapon and it only shows 5 known. The one I saw was serial number S20 and was for sale but had no papers. Everything I can find says these weapons are subject to seisure if not registered. It has also been called the "Auto Burglar Gun" and only has a 12 1/4 inch barrel. The blue book states the certified shotgun is subject to seisure but that statement is not included in the New Empire description. I am a licensed FFL and really wanted to buy this weapon for my collection but afraid to. I hope someone can tell me a lot more about this and if ok hope I can locate the fellow that had it again if it is legal to own. Didn't get his phone number or address so probably lost forever. Please help. If you have an FFL, you should be familiar with the National Firearms Act of 1934. This gun is not legal to own in the US unless it has the proper papers accompanying it and if registered, the BATF will investigate the purchaser before approving the transfer. The 1994 edition of the Standard Catalog of Firearms includes a request that anyone with a pre-1934 shotgun pistol, original factory records, advertisements, etc., contact a person who is researching these weapons. The address is given in the entry for the H&R HandiGun.

Answer 2

A .410 smoothbore shot pistol (a pistol made to fire only shotgun shells) is classed as an Any Other Weapon (AOW) under the 1934 National Firearms Act. This Federal law regulates ownership and transfer of firearms such as machine guns, short barreled shotguns, silencer, etc. Unless the firearm has already been registered with the BATFE, it cannot be. An unregistered AOW is treated the same as an unregistered machine gun. Possession of one is good for 10 years in a Federal prison, and a fine of $10,000. Crescent is separate from the Ithaca Auto & Burglar gun or the H&R Handy Gun .410 pistol.

Almost all the Crescent New Empire guns were made as shotguns, but Fjiestad reports having located 5 of them made as pistols with 12.5 inch barrels. Smoothbore, barrels less than 18 inches, overall length less than 26 inches puts it in the AOW class.

Please note that modern arms such as the Judge revolver are not smoothbore, but rifled.