Type 03 FFL: Collector of Curios & Relics
A Type 03 FFL makes it easier to acquire curio and relic firearms for a personal collection. It is the Collector of Curios and Relics license, not a business or dealer license. Its scope is narrow, and those limits matter if you plan to sell firearms.
What a Type 03 FFL is
The Type 03 is a collector license, not a dealer license. It applies only to curios and relics. These firearms are of special interest to collectors, generally because they are at least 50 years old or the ATF recognizes them as curios or relics. The license makes these specific firearms easier to acquire for a personal collection.
What a Type 03 lets you do
- Acquire curio and relic firearms for a personal collection.
- Receive C&R firearms shipped directly to the collector across state lines, rather than through a dealer.
- Maintain a bound record of the curio and relic firearms acquired and disposed of.
What a Type 03 does not cover
- It is not a business license. A Type 03 holder cannot engage in the business of dealing in firearms.
- It applies only to curios and relics, not to modern firearms outside the C&R category.
- It does not authorize running background checks or completing 4473s for customers, because it is not a dealer license.
Collector, not dealer
If you intend to buy and sell firearms for profit, you need a dealer license such as a Type 01, not a Type 03. The collector license exists for building a personal C&R collection.
How it compares to a dealer FFL
Dealer licenses, such as the Type 01, are for businesses that transfer firearms to the public. Those dealers complete ATF Form 4473 on every transfer. The Type 03 is a personal collector license with a much narrower scope and a lower fee. Compare every license in our FFL license types guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Type 03 FFL sell firearms?
No. The Type 03 is a collector license for a personal collection of curios and relics. Buying and selling firearms as a business requires a dealer license such as a Type 01.
What counts as a curio or relic?
Curios and relics are firearms of special interest to collectors, which generally includes firearms at least 50 years old and firearms the ATF has specifically recognized as C&R items.
Does a Type 03 collector complete a 4473?
No. Because the Type 03 is not a dealer license, the collector does not run background checks or complete 4473s. Those are dealer responsibilities.
Serve collectors and every other buyer
If you run a dealer FFL that transfers firearms to collectors and the public, see how e4473 keeps every 4473 clean and audit-ready.