So all he could actually do is talk about them? Couldn't show them to you, allow you to handle them? That's pretty sad, IMO.
Still doesn't explain how you have a collection of just one gun, or how you acquire it without having the licence to acquire it.
What comes first?
ME: I want to begin to collect Swiss military handguns from 1880 up to WW1.
FEO: You need to demonstrate that you are a collector of the relevant handguns that are of some historical or cultural interest.
ME: I don't yet have ANYTHING at all, where do I start?
FEO: You need to demonstrate that you........
See where I'm at?
tac