doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Importing classic shotgun

If the gun is not held on a Shotgun Certificate here in Britain it does pose a slight problem. It needs to be back on a certificate before you can proceed further. Get your relative to take it to a good Firearms Dealer who can accept it in. Provide a plausible reason for not being accounted for and he can enter it on his books and notify the local Police that it now exists. Guns turn up all the time like this having been found in attics when people die and that sort of thing. Despite all this gun registration in Britain there will be more that are not on the data base than are. There is not usually a problem by adopting this method. DO NOT take it to the Police first as this WILL complicate things as they do not have the means to accept it other than as a surrendered item which will probably result in its ultimate destruction. I have helped with quite a few guns that have come my way having been found when people pass away and I have managed to get them back quite legally on certificate through my local Gunsmith. Lagopus.....

I have personally imported 4 shotguns over the years for personal use. On one occasion, I had Neil Anderson in Aberdeen, Scottland export a gun from his business to British Sporting Arms (Charles Schnabel). Upon arrival at BSA, the gun was shipped to my FFL holder.

The last time I imported from the UK, I carried back a 1886 H&H Rook rifle that was converted to .410. I put the gun on my British Shotgun Certificate and carried it to the airport. As this was an antique (Pre 1898), I asked H&H in London for an affidavit stating the year of manufacture with the serial number. On my arrival in the US, I showed customs the affidavit from H&H and they let me carry it in. No tax as it was an antique. Although I had the Bill of Sale, it was not required... easy peasey.

I have also used an importer in my state of residence to process the importation paperwork for two late model shotguns. I received the import permit in about 6 weeks. Again, both of these guns were on my British Shotgun Certificate. I took both the airport and checked them in. The airline looked at the Shotgun Certificate but were not interested in the US importation permit. Customs checked and logged the serial numbers, make and model. On arrival in the US, I picked up the baggage and went to customs to show the importation permit and pay duty. From there it was out the door...

I hope this helps.

.... addtionally, Neil can be found at:

http://www.hammeranddamascus.co.uk/

With the gun in Scottland, I would let Neil do the export to Charlie at BSA