How to ship antique firearm from UK to USA?

[RobD]

I am considering shipping a Snider from the UK to the USA - now, I know it's not a Lee Enfield, but you guys are very expert on this topic and I don't know where else to get info.
Specifically, do I need to arrange an export permit? Does the recipient need an import permit? To minimise hold-ups, what should I put on the shipping label as "contents"? What value should I put? What postal service will take the Snider - Royal Mail? DHL? Other?
thanks
Rob

Information

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[Sunray]

BP firearms are not considered to be firearms, Stateside. So no U.S. permits are required, as far as I know. Some U.S. States have their own rules too. Rummage around here though. Firearms | Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
A UK export permit is another thing. I know nothing about that. You'd have to ask your customs types. That'd probably be more important.
However, I wouldn't think the RM would be a good idea. The word 'fragile' means "Throw this." to our RM.It would also not be a good idea to have the word 'firearm' on the package. That says, very loudly, "Steal this."
I suspect the biggest advantage of using somebody like UPS, DHL, FedEx or the like, would be that they do it for a living. Don't even think about shipping the thing without insurance either. And you should require a signature upon delivery.

[Alan de Enfield]

I am considering shipping a Snider from the UK to the USA - now, I know it's not a Lee Enfield, but you guys are very expert on this topic and I don't know where else to get info.
Specifically, do I need to arrange an export permit? Does the recipient need an import permit? To minimise hold-ups, what should I put on the shipping label as "contents"? What value should I put? What postal service will take the Snider - Royal Mail? DHL? Other?
thanks
Rob

Is it on a Section 1 firearms licence ?
What calibre is it ? (there is a list of obsolete calibres that don't need a licence and are therefore 'not' firearms.

If it is a firearm then when I shipped (one to the USA and another to Canada) I needed to inform the Police and have them cancel them off my licence, I was then issued with a 30 day temporary licence which was issued on condition they were exported within that time. I had to inform them of the export house, the shippers name and address, the importers name and address and the buyers name and address.

Permission to export a firearm had to be obtained from the Home Office (Government)

The seller (me) also had to provide information to the US Government about how long I had had it and all sorts of 'stuff' to allow the buyer to be granted an import licence.

I also had to complete a OIEL application for a UK Export licence.

https://www.gov.uk/government/public...aking-template

Most of the detail was handled by the UK 'Agent', who are a major UK / USA firearms exporter. They have a warehouse at Heathrow airport.

Bob Nagra
PDQ Freight Ltd
Unit 4 Court 1
Bedfont Industrial Park
Challenge Road
Ashford Middlesex TW15 1AX
United Kingdom


I had to get the rifle to Heathrow, no normal carriers would take it so I had to take it to my local RFD, who 'took it off my licence' and used his normal carrier to ship it to PDQ at Heathrow. It needed to be shipped in a wooden LOCKED box.

[RobD]

Its a Snider, off ticket, in obsolete cal. .577" - does that make it simpler?

[Alan de Enfield]

I would guess it will, but I have only shipped 'live' firearms.

Speak with PDQ, very approachable and up to date with all the requirements and will sort everything out.

[jawes]

USA Firearm Import Service

They import and export guns into the USA from lots of locations.
Have used them to bring guns from US into Canada many times