Might have an AOW, seeking some advice.

[SanPedroShooter]

Signal cannon, not a firearm. I can fire a shotshell using a nail and a rolled up magzine, doesnt make it an AOW.

[keneva]

That is really cool. Would look great in anyones home. You are welcome to shoot it at my house. I live in he country and all of my neighbors shoot, what ever they have! Merced County.

[xLusi0n]

Signal cannon, not a firearm. I can fire a shotshell using a nail and a rolled up magzine, doesnt make it an AOW.

The ATF may disagree. Especially if a rubberband is involved.

[Tarn_Helm]

Keep it!

If this is the wrong place to ask about this, please let me apologize, very new here (first post).

On to the question:
I have a nice collection, some inherited, some purchased by myself, so I have a bit of understanding with gun laws and the like, but I have one item that concerns me...My great grandfather worked for the oil refinery in Martinez, CA for many years and had full access to the machine shop. He was also a member of the yacht club and got to be a fairly higher up there. In his time at the yacht club he built a brass cannon, complete with a spring loaded firing pin and trigger that you could tie a string around to pull and fire off a 12 gauge shell, be it slug, shot, or just a blank. It was way before my time, just something I found in a box somewhat recently but according to my family it was the signal cannon for dozens of races around the bay and it even has a plaque on it that was added later to commemorate my grandfather.

The thing that concerns me...as of my understanding of the laws, I have a single shot 12 gauge with a 12" barrel and that makes it either an AOW or SBR (I think the SBR doesn't apply since it doesn't have a stock and is fired from the mount its on, but I really don't know how the laws apply)

Is this legal for me to have? It was manufactured before any sort of weapons laws that apply to it were written and it has a long history to my family. I know I could permanently disable it and keep it as a heavy thing that sits on my bookshelf, but Id really like to keep it as a functional signal cannon, even though it is capable of firing any 12 gauge shell you put in it.

Do I have legal options other than disabling/destroying/handing it to the ATF?

Thanks,
ASA

If you don't need to get rid of it, don't need the cash, and don't want to destroy a perfectly fascinating piece of personal family history, just keep it.

Who cares what the gubmint thinks?!

Scr3w those guys!

[Alan Block]

They still make and sell Winchester signal canons

http://www.bellmorejohnson.com/

[j.hors]

That is absolutely beautiful and completely BA. I would go to home depot, get some neverdull shine it up and set it on a mantel with a picture of your Grandfather right next to it.

[HowardW56]

That is absolutely beautiful and completely BA. I would go to home depot, get some neverdull shine it up and set it on a mantel with a picture of your Grandfather right next to it.

[G-forceJunkie]

I understand the OP concern. Signal cannons cannot take and fire live ammo. Everyone that is saying it is ok, what make it any different from a zip gun with a stand?

[cacop]

My dad was part of a sailing club 30 years ago and they had a cannon like that. It is clear the intent of that thing is to start a race. I am sure you could use buck or slug at least once (can brass handle the pressure?) but it is not like you are going to pulling stick ups or doing drive bys with it. I would recommend not shooting it at a public range with buck or slug. Signaling the start of a neighborhood Fourth of July BBQ might be fun though.

[SanPedroShooter]

The ATF may disagree. Especially if a rubberband is involved.

Ha ha, I thought the same thing after I hit 'post'....

[BrokerB]

Very sweet signaling device you have there. I want one please Anytime

[RipVanWinkle]

It’s a starting cannon for sailboat races as you know. I’ve seen lots of variations on them over the years. The object is to fire a blank, black powder, round as the start signal. It’s the smoke that’s the signal, not the sound. The smoke is instantly visible to the dispersed competitors maneuvering about the starting line, whereas the sound will be heard at different times depending on their distance from the committee boat.

I’ve used an old Winchester Model 37 to start races, and I know that I used 12 ga. black powder blanks for that purpose; however, a quick Google search only showed me Winchester 10 ga. shells readily available. Of course 12 ga. versions could be easily hand loaded.

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/65096-5.html

Maybe it’s a 10 ga.? In any event, it’s a beautiful piece with a great history, and you’re really lucky to have it! I can’t imagine there would be any legal repercussions from using it for its intended purpose, much less just using it as a display item. There are plenty of similar starting cannons currently in use in sailboat racing on S.F. Bay. It ‘s nearly the defining object for the term “Curio and Relic”. But, hey, this is California, so all bets are off, IANAL, multiple disclaimers, etc., etc……….!

Duh......Here's 12 ga. right here!

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/65106-5.html

[Decoligny]

The signal cannons that are legal currently can only accept blank shotgun shells.

Review the California Penal Code on Short Barrelled Shotguns and you will find that it includes any firearm with a barrel less than 18 inches in length that can accept a standard shotgun shell.

I think this is an SBS under CA PC.

[diggersdarling]

Polish it up and put it on the mantle. It is a beautiful piece.

[G-forceJunkie]

Thats my thinking as well. These signal cannons are not a straight wall,smooth bore shotgun. You cannot fire a slug out of them. Its a 12ga zip gun with a fancy base. One would not view a signal cannon and expect it to shoot slugs and thus would not be "immediately recognizable as a firearm."

PC12020

(a)Any person in this state who does any of the following is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year or in the state prison:

(1)Manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives, lends, or possesses any cane gun or wallet gun, any undetectable firearm, any firearm which is not immediately recognizable as a firearmany short-barreled shotgun, any short-barreled rifle, any metal knuckles, any belt buckle knife, any leaded cane, any zip gun, any shuriken, any unconventional pistol, any lipstick case knife, any cane sword, any shobi-zue, any air gauge knife, any writing pen knife, any metal military practice handgrenade or metal replica handgrenade, or any instrument or weapon of the kind commonly known as a blackjack, slungshot, billy, sandclub, sap, or sandbag.

The signal cannons that are legal currently can only accept blank shotgun shells.

Review the California Penal Code on Short Barrelled Shotguns and you will find that it includes any firearm with a barrel less than 18 inches in length that can accept a standard shotgun shell.

I think this is an SBS under CA PC.