doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Importing from England

Has anyone imported a shotgun from England recently? The narrow question is whether guns under 2000 dollars still can be delivered via US mail or whether the switch from using the Royal Mail to a carrier system for export from England ended that possibility. Thanks.

No guns can be shipped via royal mail. All must go by air freight now. Cost around £250 minimum freight. I'm an importer, that's how I have to do it. Don't forget the BATF form 6 if it's post 1898.

Sounds like you could almost go over there and bring one back almost as cheap as shipping one over by air freight.

Mike,
As I read the custom regulations, that change would mean shotguns from England cannot be delivered via U.S. mail anymore.
Is that your experience? Any suggestions on how to import without having to make a trip to the customs office? Thanks to all for the responses. Jon, yes I should take a vacation and be my own carrier also but I bet there are rules about doing so.













i

I bought a double rifle at auction in England about 8 months ago as an absentee bidder. I had it shipped to the Pittsburgh, Pa airport. The cost was about $ 350.00 (US) for packaging and shipping. The rifle cost just under $5000.00 and was built in 1892. When it gets to the air freight terminal you need to go to the terminal and pick up the papers for it and take them to customs. If the gun is pre 1898 there is no problem; they will fill out the paper work for you to give to the shipper for pick up. There will be about a total $40.00 charge from customs and the shipper before they hand it to you. I don't know what goes on if the gun is post 1898. If the gun is pre 1898 I would definitely not go through a broker, it's not worth it. They can add hundreds of dollars to the shipping cost by charging you for what you can easily do yourself.

I have had excellant results bringing doubleguns across the pond. John Farugia of Cheshire Gun Room handles everything from picking up from the seller or the auction house, all the paperwork, packing and shipping. If gunsmithing is required he does that for me as well and reasonable. I have figured that the total average cost per gun is @ $150 USD. For modern guns (post 1898) I have to fill out the BATF Form 6. The guns are delivered to my office by common carrier. John can be reached at 011 44 161 480 8222. E-mail info@cheshiregunroom.com. Address: 29 Buxton Road, Heavily, Stockport, SK2 6LS - UK RFDG/M210.

George

At the risk of complicating the generally very good advice given above, I would add the following:
All guns now need to be shipped to the US and there are several good people who can arrange this for you: John Farugia mentioned above is one; PAR Freight and PDQ Freight who are both located near Heathrow and are both highly experienced with this stuff.
Pre 1897 guns are easy, they can be shipped without an individual UK export licence by anyone with a suitable UK Open General Licence and can be picked up from the chosen US International with a minumum of expence and fuss. Alternatively they can be cleared and shipped to you by a customs broker but you will pay for the service.
Guns made in 1897 and 1898 require an export licence from the UK and an 'End User Undertaking'. This doesn't really involve any expence but must be brokered by someone with access to 'SPIRE' the UK online export licencing system so probably some charges will be made.
Guns made after 1898 require the above plus a 'broker to clear your gun in the US plus an FFL to recieve it for you.
One thing that is not common knowledge is that as a 'occasional importer' the purchaser effectively becomes the importer rather than the FFL. Therefore an ordinary FFL can recieve the gun on your behalf rather than having to use an 'Importer FFL'.
A special Form 6 is issued in these circumstances which has NOT FOR RE-SALE stamped across it.
I have imported a 1920's shotgun to a client in Texas within the last few weeks and the charges were $250 for UK-US shipping and UK Customs procedures plus $323 for the customs broker including duty (at about 3.5% on $2500.
I hope this helps.
Toby Barclay,
Heritage Guns

Briley is very good at this, give them a call.
bill

Toby, above, is also very good at this.

Thanks everyone. George,I read your response as indicating you do not use a broker to clear customs but that the guns are delivered directly to you. Is that the case regardless of value? Thanks again to everyone for all the information.