No32 Mk3 in hand baggage..

[ArtioZen]

I just flew out of Manchester with a very nice, new to me N032 Mk3 secured in its tin and wrapped in clothes in my carry-on backpack...or so i thought!!

Having progressed to the security check and having sent bags to the hold just within weight limits I was pretty happy.. I had also got through the magic gate without a beep and frisk:)

My backpack though was selected for hand inspection...a nice young lady technician was interested in the tin contents, so out it came - she fumbled with it for a while then asked me to open it and also what what it was - so I said "its a telescope for a rifle", even at the "R" word she recoiled...off to the team supervisor for reference (escalation).

So I stood without my wallet and belt (still in the inspection box with the back pack) and watched it go around the room to increasingly older and better dressed supervisors - the last of which wanted to fill me in on what was going on...

He indicated that my backpack, wallet and belt could come back to me and that I was free to take a seat while he called the police to review this "gun part" - obviously a malicous and evil device. So I sat and caught a few of the words exchanged with PC plod - "clearly not a controlled gun part", "no hes not threatening in any way", "its quite heavy".

After a while he returns a bit miffed that the Police did not want to see such a device in person and it was still up to him..so he lays down the good news and bad news...it could go on the plane with me, but not in the cabin because it is heavy and I could bash somebody on the head with it (tennis rackets are not allowed in the cabin either). So I indicated that it is a valuable antique telescope and that it would not be used for bashing anything and is no more than a half a pair of binoculars in a tin.

I was given a very courteous apologetic personal tour of all the behind the security area pathways to get back to baggage check and 6 airline reps helping to tag my backpack for hand loading - complete with fragile stickers that were too fragile to remove from their backing :) None of the airline crew were too concerned about the mystery object, or being bashed on the head.

It was waiting for me at me destination as expected, just thought I would share the story of its journey for smiles. I was astonished at the reaction of the Brit general public to R,G, F and W words throughout my whole trip - things have changed :/

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[browningautorifle]

I recall when I came out to my first posting in Victoria BC from Ontario in 1974 I brought my No1 Mk 3 rifle complete with bolt in and no trigger lock...in my baggage along with my kitbag. I had bought a nice padded civilian gun case to put it in for travel but no special measures. The ticket agent asked me to prove it was empty before it went into baggage and that was all. It reappeared at the other end without incident...I sure wouldn't get away with that now. Guess I wasn't as much of a threat then as I am now...

[mrclark303]

Quite right too, taking valuable antiquity's from the UK, it should have been confiscated and sent to me for safe keeping!

Well done for getting her away, so what's she going onto mate?

[Roger Payne]

I'm inclined to agree with Jim. The authorities across the globe have clearly rumbled that as we get older we are becoming increasing security risks! I've been involved with firearms it seems like a mighty long time now; when I first was granted a FAC at the age of 19 in 1977 I could own a full bore self loading rifle & pretty much any pistol I wanted. Indeed for a short period of time even full auto weapons that had had the selector levers welded up to be rendered only capable of self loading operation, were tolerated. Then we had Hungerford, followed a few years later by Dunblane, together with further restrictions on types of ammunition that can be possessed, & I now find myself at the ripe old age of 57 no longer considered fit to be entrusted with a cartridge pistol even in .22LR, a full bore SLR, or a round of AP ammunition.

Perhaps I HAVE become more irresponsible & less trustworthy as I've become older!

[bigduke6]

Perhaps I HAVE become more irresponsible & less trustworthy as I've become older!

Reminds me of a club member who had 20 firearms on his FAC, he had applied for another slot but told he had to do a one for one variation, later in a Gun shop in Wales he explained to the owner that they had refused a slot, the owner replied " So another one will make you more of a danger then"

[vintage hunter]

Sounds like your scope caused as big a stir with airport security as did Capt. Joe Foss' Congressional MOH.
Good examples of what happens when common sense gets phased out in favor of protocol.

[Vincent]

I was astonished at the reaction of the Brit general public to R,G, F and W words throughout my whole trip……

And you thought airport security would better?

.. so I said "its a telescope for a rifle", even at the "R" word she recoiled…

Even Ray Charles would have seen that coming.

[Brian Dick]

Luckily you were bringing it back from the UK and not taking it out of the USA. Telescopes require export licensing and an AES ITN and can be confiscated by U.S. CBP. Fortunately, no import license is required……. yet!

[Beerhunter]

Luckily you were bringing it back from the UK and not taking it out of the USA. Telescopes require export licensing and an AES ITN and can be confiscated by U.S. CBP. Fortunately, no import license is required……. yet!

I just got a small spring clip from Mossberg. It came complete with an End User Certificate!

Has the US Government finally flipped? (As we say this side of the pond.)

[gsimmons]

Yes, they have.