Customs $*@&$)@ed me over

####ty. It sounds like they forced the hammer back after the bolt leg passed over the cam to do that kind of damage.
 
I had a similar thing happen to me, had a paintball gun shipped from the states, customs opened the parcel, took the gun apart, broke several small (expensive, rare) pieces, put it back together wrong, never got them to admit to anything "it was like that when we opened it"
 
gutinater said:
I just received an antique Colt SAA completely restored from the USA. I handled this gun in vegas as my smith was there for the gunshow, gun worked flawlessly. So today I received the box from Canada post opened it up and unwrapped the gun and noticed it was half cocked. I thought WTF there no way my smith sent a gun half cocked, the guys at CBSA must have been playing cowboy. Not impressed. Thats when I tried to pull the hammer back all of the way to de-#### the gun and the hammer was jammed! Instead of forcing anything I took the gun completely apart and found that not only had they bent one of the arms on the bolt but they had managed to loosen the cam from the hammer. Thats some serious force, the trigger and hammer notches look OK, fingers crossed. Tried to bend the bolt back to normal but theres no way I can get this gun to time properly. So off to the gunsmith it goes to get fixed on my dime. What, If any recourse do I have with Canada Customs? Ive tried calling their 1-800 # on the customs form but its completely automated I cant get a living person on the other end. Does anyone know if there is a specific complaint line to call? The last gun I received they also charged me double the GST they should have with no explanation on the form. WTF is going on?
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there may be some limited recourse, but I'm not aware of it.

Those people have no respect nor will they ever have any respect.

But they do not have to worry or concern themselves with anything that you may have a problem with.

They have a government union, they are government and you are just a name on a box.

They are god and they made us who we are today.

Try your MP if he's conservative, if they're a dip or a lib, forget it as they have no respect for you or your property either.
 
All future guns shipped will have the hammers zip tied back. Imagine if this was an engraved nickel colt a have coming ending up with a massive drag line on the cylinder from Wyatt Earp at the CBSA
 
I can not begin to express my disgust with Canada customs. I suspect they simply decide to give someone a tough time. I spent a week clearing a new off road motorcycle. I had the proper paper work to import and all of end use documents. They simply chose to "play stupid". The result was an 1100 km round trip to the CBSA office, and several calls to my M.P. It was not until after my M.P. asked them to explain whey there were not simply charging GST and releasing the motorcycle. Bottom line, they folded but it cost me a weeks wages and 1100 km of vehicle expenses.
 
You won't get anything from insurance and there's no real recourse. You can file a claim but it will likely not go anywhere. USPS will blame Canada Post or CBSA, Canada will blame USPS and neither will come good for it in the end. Just get it fixed and be thankful that you got it. It's all part of the joy of buying antiques.
 
While not as expencive my mum had Canada post open a box of assorted English sweets sent over for here birthday from her sister the open the packages ate half the candies cleared it and sent it on
 
Zip tying the gun sounds like a good idea. Zip tie the hammer so it can't be cocked and also zip tie the cylinder so it can't be opened. In the case of a semi auto pistol, a zip tie through the ejection port and through the barrel will prevent the slide from being racked. Have the person sending you the gun send you pictures of the zip ties in place There is no reason that the flunkies at CBSA need to check the function of a firearm. That is not part of their job and they are not qualified for that. If they have any concerns about a firearm they are suppose to call the RCMP to look at it.

I had an issue if the CBSA years ago when I bought a few pocket knives from the US. They opened the package and seized one of the knives. They claimed that it opened to easily and as a result it was deemed prohibited. Funny thing was that the other knives in the package were the same type. The real issue was that the screw the blade pivotted on was loose causing the blade to be loose. Just tightening that screw would fixed the issue but they wouldn't tighten the screw. Said it was not their job.
 
aww, I feel for you gutinater. Sorry you had one of your nice guns ruined by some azzhat who doesnt know a quality SAA from their bumhole.
 
I just don't order anything from the U.S. anymore and do not have any problem in getting anything across the border or having to deal with the "politicaly correct" people of Customs. Just do the same and save your $$$ and time people!! Well worth it!
 
Um not really an option. Do you know of a Canadian source for antique Colt SAA frames in restorable condition and a gunsmith that can do the work (including case hardening)?
 
icemanwpg said:
I just don't order anything from the U.S. anymore and do not have any problem in getting anything across the border or having to deal with the "politicaly correct" people of Customs. Just do the same and save your $$$ and time people!! Well worth it!
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Lots of items are difficult to source here in Canada. Track of the Wolf, Dixie, Brownells, Numrich Gun Parts, Wolff Springs, CH4D dies, I could go on...these companies have a selection and at a price that is not often seen this side of the line. Shipping costs are pretty fair IF you are careful. Yes I *will* buy Canuck (and support our sponsors) if the item is here AND the price is fair (and to BE fair it usually is) - but many times I cannot; and the above companies can provide in short order. I have not so far found buying from the USA to be cost prohibitive; and definitely saves me time anyway.

And gunsmithing, which is what the OP's matter related to - it's a trade that is getting few and far between up here, especially specialty work.

Heck that's only me...YMMV :)
 
You will need to contact the Border Information Service:
http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/contact/bis-sif-eng.html

you can press 0 to speak to an officer after pressing 1 for personal/traveler during regular business hours. You can then request to speak to a manager. The manager can take a complaint and it will be forwarded to management at the customs mail centre that processed your shipment. You will need to know which one it came through but, that should be evident from the CBSA form stuck to the side of the parcel. That form stuck to the parcel will also show you how to go about claiming a GST refund/correction if necessary. If you tear that form off there will be information under it if memory serves about how to request an adjustment from the casual refund centre. Mistakes happen, incorrect keys get hit. I once saw someone who ended up paying GST on a 2000$ pair of boots when the real value was $200. It was fixed.

Damage to goods happens. Sometimes thousands of dollars of damage during an exam. You may be hard pressed to prove that it was done by a CBSA officer however, the CBSA system will indicate if the parcel was examined and by what officer. Damage happens during an exam, generally it isn't hidden because it is known that it happens and is usually quite easy to take care of with no liability to the officer if it was done in the course of their duties. It's also entirely possible an officer unfamiliar with guns didn't realize it was damaged. PM me if you have any questions.
 
Beezer said:
There is no reason that the flunkies at CBSA need to check the function of a firearm. That is not part of their job and they are not qualified for that. If they have any concerns about a firearm they are suppose to call the RCMP to look at it.
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Incorrect
 
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