Question on 9mm mag blocks

Leg

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Are these legal to export out of the States without export permits? I found a good deal on a Colt two piece unit and I don't want the seller to get into trouble because of me.

Earlier this year a bought a mag block that uses Sten mags off of SNS Industries, he didn't think that any paperwork was required and it made it to me no problems.

While we are on the subject of mag blocks, I have a drop in unit and I was wondering if it could be modified to use the Colt 9mm extended BHO. It looks like I'd just have to file/machine a slot for the extended tail through the block. I don't know the make but I'm guessing ASA.

ETA; The price is under $100.
 
Yes, you are fine. International Trafficking in Arms Regulations (ITAR) specifically allows the export of gun parts ,excluding barrels, bolts, cylinders or receivers, from the US without a permit if the total value of parts in a shipment is less than $100 USD.
 
BattleRife said:
Yes, you are fine. International Trafficking in Arms Regulations (ITAR) specifically allows the export of gun parts ,excluding barrels, bolts, cylinders or receivers, from the US without a permit if the total value of parts in a shipment is less than $100 USD.

I would suggest you double check that with US State Department. That was their "old" interpretation. For quite some time now they have been excluding a number of other parts and components from that $100 USD Exemption.

For example, any trigger related component no longer qualifies under the exemption. Magazines (and magazine component parts) no longer qualify under the exemption. There are quite a few other parts that no longer qualify... and that information has come to us (and many other exporters) directly from US State Department over the past two years.

A couple of "suggestions" when it comes to Exporting (or having something Exported) from the US...

  • Depending on what government agency you ask you'll likely get a different answer... and most of them will be wrong.
  • Our Canadian government lists rules and regulations, but they are only concerned with Canadian laws and requirements... you can't rely on them for accurate info about the laws of a foreign country
  • ATF in the US is responsible for permanent IMPORTS to the US and for temporary imports (like th FORM 6 NIA) for when you take your guns to the US for hunting or a shooting competition.... they have NOTHING to do with Exports going out of the US
  • US Customs is mostly concerned with what is coming into the US not what's leaving... they do check our export shipments on the way out but that's because we stop on the way out to have our permits and SED's stamped... they primarily check to insure that we have filed our SED's and in order to do that we have to have the proper Export permits or the SED's won't process through.
  • The two US agencies involved with Exports leaving the US are the US State Department and the US Commerce Department. For most firearms and munitions, (except sporting shotguns over 18.5"), the US State Department issues the Export Permits (ITAR related items) and that includes optics made to a Mil-Spec standard or firearms, accessories, etc. that are considered SME (Significant Military Equipment). Anything that doesn't fall under the State Department's area (such a basic rifle scopes of a non-military nature or sporting shotguns over 18.5" barrel length) would fall under the Commerce department's requirements. They also require export permits in most cases.
  • The reason that most US companies won't ship outside the US is that in order to apply for an export permit with US State Department the US company must first become a registered ITAR Exporter and to do that they have to pay a $1,750.00 fee just to register... then they are allowed to make the applications and those are quite involved and take an average of 2 to 3 months to process. It's just not practical for a company that only makes a small number of export sales per year.
  • The penalties for illegally exporting firearms and related accessories without the required export permits are quite severe and the US authorities have gotten quite serious about enforcing those regulations the past couple of years... don't make the mistake of thinking they don't care... they do.


Mark
 
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questar is bang on... the old rules are no longer valid. that $100 dollars or less was old news last year. You can ship whatever you want, ignorantly people have still been receiving parts etc. But to be legit you must now do as questar mentioned above.
 
carefull with that colt BHO the ones with the long tails are the early ones are are VERY VERY hard to get into canada i broke mine and it took me 4 months to get a replacement

the colt 2 piece must be pinned into your lower so you will have to drill hole into it
 
Questar, I'm a little dissapointed in your answer since you didn't answer my question. I realize that these rules, or their interpretation, change from time to time, which is why I asked the question in the first place.

I was hoping to receive an answer from a qualified individual who has expertise in this area (that would be you). Since you import the RRA mag well adaptors you would/should know if 9mm mag block adaptors are ITAR restricted or not.

So I ask the question again, are 9mm magwell adaptors an ITAR restricted item that requires an export permit from the US State Dept.?
 
Leg said:
Questar, I'm a little dissapointed in your answer since you didn't answer my question. I realize that these rules, or their interpretation, change from time to time, which is why I asked the question in the first place.

I was hoping to receive an answer from a qualified individual who has expertise in this area (that would be you). Since you import the RRA mag well adaptors you would/should know if 9mm mag block adaptors are ITAR restricted or not.

So I ask the question again, are 9mm magwell adaptors an ITAR restricted item that requires an export permit from the US State Dept.?

If you want a definitive answer then ask the US State Department... they are in charge of that area. I gave you the best answer I could (sorry if you're disappointed).

In our opinion the mag well adaptor requires an export permit and that's why we have export permits for these and all the other RRA parts. Also, since the value of the RRA mag well adaptor is over $100 we would need a permit no matter what.

If you're still unsure then ask State Department for a ruling.

Mark
 
Thanks for your answer. That was more the kind of info that I was looking for.

Do you have contact info for the State Dept.?
 
Leg said:
Thanks for your answer. That was more the kind of info that I was looking for.

Do you have contact info for the State Dept.?

Try a Google search... the numbers we have are for Registered Exporters not general inquiries.
 
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