US Gun Parts Sales

[Alan de Enfield]

I was looking to buy a Morris Tube (to convert a No1 in 303 calibre to .22 calibre) and was in negotiations with the seller re shipping costs when he came back with the following :

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING CHANGE TO THIS AUCTION: I HAVE BEEN RELIABLY INFORMED THAT AN EXPORT LICENSE IS REQUIRED FOR THESE ITEMS. BARRELS, BOLT ASSEMBLIES, AND PARTS VALUED OVER $100 MUST BE CLEARED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND/OR STATE AND AN EXPORT PERMIT ISSUED. I REGRET THEREFORE THAT I CANNOT ACCEPT FOREIGN BIDS, UNLESS YOU ARE PREPARED TO PAY A LICENSED EXPORTER TO RECEIVE THESE ITEMS AND SHIP TO YOU. THIS WILL INVOLVE SUBSTANTIAL EXPENSE AND DELAY, MUCH MORE THAN THE KIT IS WORTH. MY APOLOGIES TO ANY FOREIGN WATCHERS, BUT NO BIDS OUTSIDE THE US CAN HONORED. I WISH THEY COULD BE.

I guess this means that except for small low value items that the US is out of the loop for bits & pieces, is this $100 limit per item or per shipment ? (woodwork is often over $100 a 'set', or 50 screws at $2.10 each ? for example)

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[RJW NZ]

Hi Alan, this has been affecting us for about 2 years now. Numrich and Springfield Sporters have been advising customers the same thing, and have restricted their outgoing packages to $100 per parcel. Numrich are a bit more proactive in splitting your order into two mail outs to get around it., but SS do it too.

There is a very odd reluctance in America generally to sell to overseas customers, this is not limited to gun parts, whose sellers live in real fear of put up raids by the ATF that are made to satisfy political needs. In this case no matter how innocent the person being raided is, their name is broadcast far and wide as though they are personnel friends of the taliban and later when charges are not pressed or they're found not guilty, not a single press mention to offset the damage can be found. This is why most gun related folks won't cross the line or test the export laws, guilty first and then driven to bankruptcy by lawyer fees defending trumped up charges, its enough to ruin many a business overnight.

What I don't understand is why I can't get book sellers to send text books on movie making out of the US? Every USA seller who won't sell overseas is just making room for more aggressive countries like China to take their place, a big mistake in my opinion.

What I do re enfield parts is have them sent to a buddy in Ca who then sends them on to me, works OK but adds two weeks to the thing.

[bearhunter]

I am under the impression that Canadians can order items up to $500 without export permits as long as they're not restricted items, such as barrels, triggers, receivers and scopes. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[Brian Dick]

Barrels, bolts and breech blocks are a no-no as stated above unless approved on a permanent export license, (DSP5), by the Office of Defense Trade Control, U.S. Dept. of State. Other firearm parts orders do have to be kept under $100 to be exempt. I attended a import/export conference in Washington, DC in August and it's all pretty cut and dried. The fine if you get caught is $1,000,000 per infraction so you can't blame folks for not wanting to bother. There are very few small exporters anymore who hold the yearly ODTC registration that want to fool with small orders. It's all a horribly expensive endeavor. The registration alone is $2750 a year if you're in the top tier as I am. You also get taxed on any export licence submissions over ten to the tune of roughly $250 each and if you don't pay the tax, you won't be able to register again for the next year. Great fun, eh? I'll be looking forward mto my bill in December. Ugg!

[Surpmil]

And the NRA is doing what about this?

[Brian Dick]

Nothing that I know of. What can they do except watch and they don't even do that. By the way, I'm a life member. Groups like FAIR and NFATCA are much more involved and they were both present at the conference. It was the Bush administration who declared that the ODTC would be a self sufficient entity inside the U.S. Dept. of State with no infusion of taxpayer funding. They tax the folks in the trade instead and it inevitably gets passed on to the consumer.

[Alan de Enfield]

Assume available slot on my FAC etc.
Can you give me a - ballpark figure - what extra would it cost me to buy :
a) $1000 rifle from you ? or
b) $150 PH5C sight from you ?

When it gets to this side of the pond I've also to add on 15% tax and 3.5% import duty.

Thanks
Alan

[Brian Dick]

Alan,

a) I don't charge any extra fees for firearm exports if they are purchased from me. That doesn't include shipping charges.

b) Sights and accessories are not regulated. I don't have any $150 PH 5C sights in stock. I usually pay more than that for them when I find them if in nice condition. You might find one in the UK or on one of the auction sites less the mounting screws in that ballpark.

Brian

[Alan de Enfield]

Alan,

a) I don't charge any extra fees for firearm exports if they are purchased from me. That doesn't include shipping charges.

b) Sights and accessories are not regulated. I don't have any $150 PH 5C sights in stock. I usually pay more than that for them when I find them if in nice condition. You might find one in the UK or on one of the auction sites less the mounting screws in that ballpark.

Brian

Thanks Brian - It was a hypothetical question and I was just looking what extra costs could be involved.
I think it was said that extra licence submissions are $250 each - is this passed on to the gun price ?
Re the sights etc not being regulated I was going back to the comment that anything over $100 needed an export permit.

I'm 'full up' on sights at the moment with all rifles except the No5 and the .410s having PH sights (PH5A, PH5C, PH5E/4, AJP4/47, PH8/53 + a variety of eyepieces)

[Brian Dick]

I don't charge the $250 on exports of my own firearms. I make up for it on exports of firearms purchased elsewhere with me acting as the exporter. It all comes out in the wash I guess.