Selling prohibited category handgun to US buyer

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David Scott

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I need to sell a prohibited category handgun. Seems difficult to find a buyer in Canada and the prices for prohibited handguns are rather depressed. I was looking for advice on which US based online web sites would be best to advertise on? Does anyone have direct experience selling prohibited category handguns into the US? Any advice is welcome.
 
"...direct experience..." No, but you have to get export paperwork from our side. The buyer gets import paperwork from his side. Our bunch is more than happy to see any firearm leave the country. Of course, no U.S. Lend/Lease firearms can be re-imported. Don't think there are any on our evil list though. The whole U.S. side is covered on the ATF's FAQ page.
 
David Scott said:
I need to sell a prohibited category handgun. Seems difficult to find a buyer in Canada and the prices for prohibited handguns are rather depressed. I was looking for advice on which US based online web sites would be best to advertise on? Does anyone have direct experience selling prohibited category handguns into the US? Any advice is welcome.
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Yup I have a little experience in exporting. Dave, Call me when you have time
 
Hello David, sorry for a very late reply to your post, I just joined the forum. I am in the exact situation you are (were) in having a few prohibited handguns to sell. I am also looking for a way to sell to the US, is it true that it is impossible to sell prohibs across the border? I am now aware of the paperwork needed for the canadian seller and US buyer but cannot find a carrier for shipping. Seems like even canadian gun stores are only willing to sell large orders to the US, so I guess the costs involved would make it prohibitive for a US citizen to buy from Canada?
Thanks for your help
 
FYI Some prohibited handguns may fetch high prices in Canada, so before selling them in the US you should find out what yours may worth here.
You may be surprised .

Some prohibited handguns are sought after by collector here in Canada, and CGN is the best place to sell them, try the Equipment exchange you'll see, and it's free so nothing to loose if you don't sell them.


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I haven't sold any prohib handguns across the border, but I did try to sell a prohib rifle (FN) to the US. When I contacted the CFC, I was advised I had to have an export permit, issued by them. I said, fine, send me one. They said that, while they technically exist, they won't issue them to export prohib rifles. End of story.

As for prohib pistols, things seem a little more relaxed (you can still transport them to the range, at least), so maybe it's still possible?
 
if its a military firearm fugget about it as its near impossible to import military surplus inn the US they can't even import there own lend lease stuff but sporting guns could be sold im sure
 
antiqueguy said:
if its a military firearm fugget about it as its near impossible to import military surplus inn the US they can't even import there own lend lease stuff but sporting guns could be sold im sure
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Not necessarily ... There is an American customs principle called, "US Goods Returned". It allows US made products to be repatriated. What complicates military products is the condition under which it left the US. Was the item given to a foreign power, or was it purchased outright? Case in point, the Danish government bought thousands of Garands in the early 1950s. These could not be returned to the US. The Greek government were given thousands of Garands around the same time. The American Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) happily accepted cubic pallet loads of Garands, sorted them and sold them to the US public. That rules were changed a few years ago, and no exported US military firearm can be reimported into the US. So thousands of Garands and Carbines are sitting in South Korea trying to find new homes.

Just because Canada decides that something is called "Prohibited" doesn't mean it is prohibited by US law. We allow short barreled rifles; they don't. We aren't allowed to fire privately owned machine guns; Americans are.
 
mh434 said:
I haven't sold any prohib handguns across the border, but I did try to sell a prohib rifle (FN) to the US. When I contacted the CFC, I was advised I had to have an export permit, issued by them. I said, fine, send me one. They said that, while they technically exist, they won't issue them to export prohib rifles. End of story.

As for prohib pistols, things seem a little more relaxed (you can still transport them to the range, at least), so maybe it's still possible?
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To the OP, to import handguns into the US they have to meet "sporting purpose guidelines".
Foe example a s&w J frame with fixed sights and a round butt is too short/small, but add adjustable sights or oversize target grips and the fun will likely pass.

Specific to your case, FN-FAL rifles are ALL (due to the safety sear) classed as machine guns under the US system, and no machine guns have been import able to the US for public sale (dealer samples and LEO sales are an exception to this) since GCA '68 in 1968.

Some rare real (to distinguish them from current us production) FAL receivers were manufactured (1970s and 1980s) without safety sear slots (Steyr, FN, argentine FAP & Lithgow are some examples) to gain entry to the US market
 
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A few years ago I had for sale PPK ww2 marked with 2 matching mags and holster , that a US collector wanted.
He spent 4 years trying to get that in to the states, but could not because it was a military gun.
 
Depending on what the specific prohibs are there are interested buyers here .... I keep my eye on the 12(6) postings just in case ... lucked into a stainless Detonics Combat Master about 2 years ago that way ... be a shame to see them leave the country ..
 
Hi, the brady bill prohibits the sale of short barrelled hand guns into the us. They make them there but cant be imported, real common sense going on.
 
Hi, just researched it with my gunsmith, the gun control act 1968, prohibits importing any of our 12-6 handguns into the us.thanks to lynden b johnson.
 
not all 12 6 are forbidden export to the us. There are in fact a large # of them that go quite easily if you do the paper work. Best bet would be to speak to someone from Buffalo gun center who has experiance in this field. Also, the curio and relic classification in the states has allowed certian older military handguns in that used to be excluded. There is a shooter in my area who makes a good buck exporting 12-6's and circulates around all the local stores buying them up to ship to the states to cash in on the price difference. I don't like it myself, as i hate to see them leave Canada, as they can't come back, but i can't blame him (much)
 
mh434 said:
I haven't sold any prohib handguns across the border, but I did try to sell a prohib rifle (FN) to the US. When I contacted the CFC, I was advised I had to have an export permit, issued by them. I said, fine, send me one. They said that, while they technically exist, they won't issue them to export prohib rifles. End of story.

As for prohib pistols, things seem a little more relaxed (you can still transport them to the range, at least), so maybe it's still possible?
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I wonder if that's more "policy" crap as opposed to the actual law.
 
Cocked&Locked said:
not all 12 6 are forbidden export to the us. There are in fact a large # of them that go quite easily if you do the paper work. Best bet would be to speak to someone from Buffalo gun center who has experiance in this field. Also, the curio and relic classification in the states has allowed certian older military handguns in that used to be excluded. There is a shooter in my area who makes a good buck exporting 12-6's and circulates around all the local stores buying them up to ship to the states to cash in on the price difference. I don't like it myself, as i hate to see them leave Canada, as they can't come back, but i can't blame him (much)
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But at least they won't end up in the smelter for merely existing.
 
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