What Is a C&R License? The Curio and Relic FFL Explained

If you've ever browsed old military rifles or vintage revolvers, you've probably seen collectors mention their "C&R." So what is a C&R license? It's a federal firearms license, officially the Type 03 Collector of Curios and Relics license, that lets a collector buy certain older and collectible guns across state lines and have them shipped straight to their door. It costs $30 for three years. This guide explains which guns count, what the license lets you do, and the limits that matter most.

A quick note before we start: this is general information about federal law, not legal advice. States and cities add their own rules on top of federal law, so it's worth reading your state's gun law page too.

What is a C&R license?

Federal regulations define a collector as "any person who acquires, holds, or disposes of firearms as curios or relics," and a licensed collector as a collector of curios and relics licensed under those rules (27 CFR 478.11). Anyone can collect old guns without a license. The license simply adds some extra privileges for buying and selling the collectible ones.

ATF's application instructions are clear about what kind of license it is. A Type 03 license is not a license to carry, use or possess a firearm, it gives no right to do anything that state or other law forbids, and its purpose is "to facilitate a personal collection" (ATF Form 7/7CR instructions).

Which guns count as curios and relics?

To be a curio or relic, a firearm has to fit one of three categories in 27 CFR 478.11:

• Made at least 50 years ago, not counting replicas. This is a rolling date, so more guns qualify every year.
• Certified by a museum curator. The curator of a municipal, state or federal museum that exhibits firearms certifies it as a curio or relic of museum interest.
• Collectible for another reason. The gun gets a big part of its value from being novel, rare or bizarre, or from its connection to a historical figure, period or event.

ATF keeps an official Firearms Curios or Relics List (ATF Publication 5300.11) of guns it has formally classified, and posts it on its Curios & Relics page. The most recent edition there covers 1972 to 2025. A gun doesn't have to be on the list to qualify, though. ATF's NFA Handbook says firearms 50 years or older "automatically qualify as curios or relics," and a collector doesn't need to ask ATF for a classification for them.

What can you do with a C&R license?

ATF's Federal Firearms Licenses page sums up the main privileges. With a Type 03 license, you can:

• Buy curios and relics in any state and bring them back to your home state. That includes having them shipped to you across state lines, which is the big draw for most collectors (27 CFR 478.41(c)).
• Sell, trade or transfer curios and relics to residents of your own state, and to other licensees in any state.
• Acquire curios and relics at any location (27 CFR 478.50(b)), and transfer them to another licensee at a qualifying gun show or event outside your home state.

Without a license, a gun bought out of state normally has to go through a dealer in your home state. Our guide to how an FFL transfer works walks through that process.

What can't you do with a C&R license?

This is the part that trips people up, so it's worth reading slowly:

• It only covers curios and relics. For any other firearm, the license "is of no force or effect," and you're treated just like someone without a license (27 CFR 478.93). A brand-new pistol still goes through a dealer the usual way.
• It isn't a dealer's license. ATF says a collector's license "does not authorize a collector to engage in the business of dealing in firearms, even when those firearms are curios and relics" (ATF). If your buying and selling starts to look like a business, you'd need the right kind of license for that (27 CFR 478.41(d)).
• It doesn't override state law. The license confers no right to do anything contrary to state or other law (ATF Form 7/7CR instructions).
• It doesn't change the NFA. NFA firearms classified as curios or relics are still subject to the National Firearms Act (NFA Handbook, Chapter 10). For the latest on how ATF is handling NFA items, see our ATF NFA guidance explainer.

How much does a C&R license cost?

The fee for a collector of curios and relics is $10 per year (27 CFR 478.42(d)), and licenses are issued for three years. ATF lists it as a $30 application fee and a $30 renewal every three years (ATF).

How do you apply for a C&R license?

You apply on ATF Form 7/7CR, the same application used for every FFL type (ATF Form 7/7CR instructions). A few things to know:

1. Fill out Part A and Part B. Every responsible person on the license completes Part B, the Responsible Person Questionnaire.
2. No fingerprints or photo for Type 03. Other license types need an FD-258 fingerprint card and a 2x2 photo for each responsible person, but ATF says those are not required when you're applying for a Type 03 license only.
3. Send a copy to your local chief law enforcement officer. The application requires you to send a completed copy to the CLEO (chief law enforcement officer) where your collection is located, and to certify that you did.
4. Include the fee. ATF takes a credit or debit card, check or money order. Applications without the right fee are delayed.

What records do C&R collectors keep?

Licensed collectors keep a bound record, often called a "bound book," of every curio or relic they acquire or dispose of (27 CFR 478.125(f)). The basics:

• Acquisitions are recorded by the close of the next business day, with the date, who you got it from, the maker and importer, model, serial number, type and caliber or gauge.
• Dispositions are recorded within seven days, with the date and the name and address (or license number) of the person who received it.
• Selling to someone without a license? You also record their date of birth and how you identified them, such as a driver's license.

C&R license FAQ

• Is a C&R license a license to carry a gun? No. ATF's application instructions say a Type 03 license is not a license to carry, use or possess a firearm, and it gives no right to do anything contrary to state or other law.
• How old does a gun have to be to count as a curio or relic? At least 50 years old, not counting replicas. Firearms can also qualify if a museum curator certifies them or if much of their value comes from being rare, novel or tied to history, and ATF's Curios or Relics List names guns it has formally classified.
• How much does a C&R license cost? ATF lists a $30 application fee and a $30 renewal every three years, which matches the $10-per-year fee in 27 CFR 478.42.
• Can I use a C&R license to buy modern guns? No. The license only covers curios and relics. For any other firearm, you're treated the same as someone without a license, so modern guns still go through a dealer the usual way.
• Can I sell guns as a business with a C&R license? No. ATF says a collector's license does not authorize dealing in firearms, even curios and relics, and its purpose is to support a personal collection.
• Do I need fingerprints for a C&R license? No. ATF says the fingerprint card and photograph are not required when you apply for a Type 03 license only, though you still complete the Responsible Person Questionnaire and send a copy of the application to your local chief law enforcement officer.

Related reading

• How does an FFL transfer work?
• ATF NFA guidance, October 2026: the FAQ explained
• Federal gun laws and state gun laws
• Find a licensed dealer near you and browse current deals