gun broker?
- Thread starter hedgehog
- Start date
BrotherRockeye
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Rural Saskatchewan
I've bought a few off gunbroker and a few more from dealers in the US, all successfully delivered. There is risk involved and there is no comeback if a seller decided to screw you. Buying on the EE here is probably safer.
The guns listed as antique on the auction site will be US prescribed antiques but not necessarily Canadian prescribed antiques. It's up to you to know the difference.
There are a lot of good sellers, and a few not-so-good ones. Read feedback, especially how he responds to negative feedback - did he try to fix the problem or just spew insults.
Be aware that the seller may refer to firearm condition using "NRA Antique" condition grading, which is markedly different from the regular NRA grading system. Check the differences here - http://www.armchairgunshow.com/Condition-NRA-Guns.htm#modern look especially at the differences in bore and finish condition.
Most of the sellers on gunbroker will not ship internationally. The ones that will ship to Canada usually price their goods higher.
Expect extra costs. US$40-50 is what i have usually paid to ship a handgun. Confirm shipping costs before you bid, and ask for tracking # and insurance. Some sellers won't accept Canada Post money orders and it costs a LOT more to send a wire transfer. You will also have to pay GST/provincial tax when it arrives.
Once you have paid for your antique you will have to apply to the government and wait for the right documents, then send them to the seller to include in the shipment or it could get seized by Canada Customs. It's not hard to get the antique letter from the RCMP, but it does take persistance and attention to details.
The guns listed as antique on the auction site will be US prescribed antiques but not necessarily Canadian prescribed antiques. It's up to you to know the difference.
There are a lot of good sellers, and a few not-so-good ones. Read feedback, especially how he responds to negative feedback - did he try to fix the problem or just spew insults.
Be aware that the seller may refer to firearm condition using "NRA Antique" condition grading, which is markedly different from the regular NRA grading system. Check the differences here - http://www.armchairgunshow.com/Condition-NRA-Guns.htm#modern look especially at the differences in bore and finish condition.
Most of the sellers on gunbroker will not ship internationally. The ones that will ship to Canada usually price their goods higher.
Expect extra costs. US$40-50 is what i have usually paid to ship a handgun. Confirm shipping costs before you bid, and ask for tracking # and insurance. Some sellers won't accept Canada Post money orders and it costs a LOT more to send a wire transfer. You will also have to pay GST/provincial tax when it arrives.
Once you have paid for your antique you will have to apply to the government and wait for the right documents, then send them to the seller to include in the shipment or it could get seized by Canada Customs. It's not hard to get the antique letter from the RCMP, but it does take persistance and attention to details.
Last edited:
-What jethunter says, x2. Most folks are great to deal with. Some won't ship outside of the U.S. for whatever reason(s), or deal with foreign buyers. Before getting personally annoyed about that, consider that they may either be a large-volume seller or small-time dealer, or simply a collector that may not have the time or patience for any additional hassles, real or imagined. Under imagined hassles, consider also that the U.S. has so bloody many interconnected and separate federal and state laws enforced by separate agencies, let alone local ordinances, that some don't want to risk violating something that they weren't even aware of. Some folks are simply scared of potential trouble, and have as much to risk from a criminal record as we do.
Add to that the ones who have been irritated by Canadian buyers (who should always take responsibility to ensure that what they buy CAN come into Canada; before they bid), who have subsequently had to go through the hassles of returned items that they've had to re-list, so that now they may feel 'burned' and want to avoid future problems, therefore; Canadians.
Okay, some sellers are just dicks. The ones who annoy me are the ones selling firearms that are clearly antiques on both sides of the border (and can easily be proven as such), yet refuse to deal with anyone who isn't American, regardless of whether you have a U.S. address and are handling exports yourself. From the seller's perspective, selling & shipping an antique to a U.S. address (in absence of local restrictions) it's no different than selling to any (non-felon) U.S citizen, but they refuse to anyway. I'm certainly not painting all GunBroker sellers with that brush because I've dealt with a bunch and they've all been great with me. I've even met up with other Canadians on GunBroker, and bought things from them in other provinces, and in one case the seller was a buddy from my own club in my own town! Small world.
Like eBay; do your homework and you'll do fine. Unlike eBay, they don't discriminate against firearm owners. Also unlike eBay, I've never been stung on GunBroker.
Add to that the ones who have been irritated by Canadian buyers (who should always take responsibility to ensure that what they buy CAN come into Canada; before they bid), who have subsequently had to go through the hassles of returned items that they've had to re-list, so that now they may feel 'burned' and want to avoid future problems, therefore; Canadians.
Okay, some sellers are just dicks. The ones who annoy me are the ones selling firearms that are clearly antiques on both sides of the border (and can easily be proven as such), yet refuse to deal with anyone who isn't American, regardless of whether you have a U.S. address and are handling exports yourself. From the seller's perspective, selling & shipping an antique to a U.S. address (in absence of local restrictions) it's no different than selling to any (non-felon) U.S citizen, but they refuse to anyway. I'm certainly not painting all GunBroker sellers with that brush because I've dealt with a bunch and they've all been great with me. I've even met up with other Canadians on GunBroker, and bought things from them in other provinces, and in one case the seller was a buddy from my own club in my own town! Small world.
Like eBay; do your homework and you'll do fine. Unlike eBay, they don't discriminate against firearm owners. Also unlike eBay, I've never been stung on GunBroker.
Man.. it' funny that you guys mention sellers being dicks on gunbroker. I once contacted this guy who was selling a gun that's clearly an antique on both sides and he replied by yelling insults at me IN CAPITAL LETTERS AND WITH FAR TOO MANY EXCLAMATION POINTS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! almost as if I had just raped his wife and de-virginized his daughters.
My message to him was very civil... "Sir, may I ask if you ship to Canada and if so, how much would the shipping be?", then I also explained the gun's status in Canada and the procedures I'd take care of on my end (RCMP letter), etc... I don't know what kind of stick this guy had up his azz, but he just exploded in his reply. I seriously hope he's not a USPS postman, lol!
On that note, if I were to buy any antiques in the States, I'd probably do it for cash at a gun show in NH or something... then I'd bring them back myself in the car. Shipping them through USPS just gives *some* americans the jitters, even though it's totally unjustified... plus the shipping/taxes costs are total bullsh*t! How can customs charge import tax on an item that was made in the States (even if it was in the 1890's?)? What about the free trade agreement, has it expired for some reason?
Realistically speaking, even if an american were to ship something that's illegal in CANADA, what the hell are the canadian authorities gonna do to that seller? Criminal charges are not possible, as long as the sender doesn't violate any US criminal laws and the MOST that can happen is that the item will be seized at the border by Canada Customs... in which case the seller is not responsible for it and the buyer has to sort it out with his government!
Anyway... most of the stuff on gun broker isn't that cheap either. Personally, I've already gotten some very good deals from reputable sellers in other provinces and didn't have to buy anything in the States, all thanks to the magic of CGN! The regular guys on here are solid as a rock as far as antiques go, so there's no reason to be lurking south of the border to get a good deal. I don't mind paying a little extra in order to avoid hassles with idiots (like San Diego's Leo Hamel, aka Fairfa############... this is a guy who constantly screws Canadians over!). Don't forget that there are quite a few Leos out there...
My message to him was very civil... "Sir, may I ask if you ship to Canada and if so, how much would the shipping be?", then I also explained the gun's status in Canada and the procedures I'd take care of on my end (RCMP letter), etc... I don't know what kind of stick this guy had up his azz, but he just exploded in his reply. I seriously hope he's not a USPS postman, lol!
On that note, if I were to buy any antiques in the States, I'd probably do it for cash at a gun show in NH or something... then I'd bring them back myself in the car. Shipping them through USPS just gives *some* americans the jitters, even though it's totally unjustified... plus the shipping/taxes costs are total bullsh*t! How can customs charge import tax on an item that was made in the States (even if it was in the 1890's?)? What about the free trade agreement, has it expired for some reason?
Realistically speaking, even if an american were to ship something that's illegal in CANADA, what the hell are the canadian authorities gonna do to that seller? Criminal charges are not possible, as long as the sender doesn't violate any US criminal laws and the MOST that can happen is that the item will be seized at the border by Canada Customs... in which case the seller is not responsible for it and the buyer has to sort it out with his government!
Anyway... most of the stuff on gun broker isn't that cheap either. Personally, I've already gotten some very good deals from reputable sellers in other provinces and didn't have to buy anything in the States, all thanks to the magic of CGN! The regular guys on here are solid as a rock as far as antiques go, so there's no reason to be lurking south of the border to get a good deal. I don't mind paying a little extra in order to avoid hassles with idiots (like San Diego's Leo Hamel, aka Fairfa############... this is a guy who constantly screws Canadians over!). Don't forget that there are quite a few Leos out there...
A lot of US sellers don't know their own US regulations regarding shipping antiques across international borders, let alone Canadian regulations. They just don't want the hassles. You can't really blame them for not taking legal advice from strangers on the internet. If a US auction says no international shipping, then that's the end of it as far as i'm concerned.
Buying antiques at a gunshow in the US may be perfectly legal, but you still need documentation to prove prescribed antique status when you cross back into Canada. You might need to spend a week in the US waiting on the antique letter before you could bring your purchase home. Might be an option for people who live close to the border but not very practical for a lot of us.
Buying antiques at a gunshow in the US may be perfectly legal, but you still need documentation to prove prescribed antique status when you cross back into Canada. You might need to spend a week in the US waiting on the antique letter before you could bring your purchase home. Might be an option for people who live close to the border but not very practical for a lot of us.
Last edited:
i'm fond of it myself
Last edited:
Well Said.
There are so many Laws even within there own US States let alone shipping up here.
I dont Blame them Either.
I have convinced a few to ship up here, but thats not the Norm.
The RCMP Letters Helped in every single case.
Sorry to bring this back to life, but what about parts?
anyone have trouble ordering small parts? (nothing that would be considered restricted/prohibited)
I.E; slings, buttstock, handguards, etc? all that stuff can be used for airsoft/paintball aswell :/
anyone have trouble ordering small parts? (nothing that would be considered restricted/prohibited)
I.E; slings, buttstock, handguards, etc? all that stuff can be used for airsoft/paintball aswell :/
Just email and ask the seller if they ship to Canada. Some US retailers won't ship anything over the border because they are nervous of making a mistake and paying huge fines. Midway USA won't sell you a duck call without an export permit.
