sending/ receiving an antique firearm to England.

[mrclean89]

So I'm curious if anyone has any experience in send and receive antique firearms from England.

The gun in england coming here is a modern built flintlock musket and the gun (s) going there are old antiques well over 100 years old.

I went on the British government site and it sounds like that's okay to do for importing old guns like that into england. Couldn't find anything on export though.

I'm curious what the ins and outs are with this. Also the gun in england would be coming from a business. Haven't got this far into it yet on shipping with them but figured I would get some sound advice from the experts on here

 

[tommyinbc]

Last time I enquired about bringing over a Snider and a Martini Henry from the UK, I was told we needed to get an export license through a registered firearms dealer and then use a specialised shipper. The cost was prohibitive...I gave up...If anyone else know's differently, I'd also be interested to hear...
https://www.gov.uk/firearms-and-export-control-forms

 

[gunsaholic]

I've had no personal experience but I have heard that it's quite an expensive process. You would want to have a fairly accurate idea before getting into it too far. But if the gun is worth it to you then the cost probably will be secondary.

 

[rgbai]

I bought a Belgian made 1851 colt frame and cylinder from William Oakley & sons son military in England and they sent it to me directly with no paperwork.

 

[rgbai]

found this on a uk antique gun dealers website. heritageguns.co.uk/stock.htm but you would probably have to buy from a dealer

However, if a gun can be reliably dated to 1896 or before, it can be exported from the UK to a non-prohibited country under an Open General Export License which removes the need for an Individual Export License and its associated 'End User Certificate'. This makes the legal side of the export process wonderfully simple, quick and, better still, free!

Each country of destination will have its own rules relating to the importation of firearms but if we take the example of the USA, shotguns made in 1898 or before are treated as antiques and can be imported direct to the purchaser without any import license or the involvement of an FFL (Federal Firearm Licensee)

 

[Tyockell18]

I have seen many nice pieces in England that I would like to purchase, they are expensive but some of them are just beautiful shape. If it's pretty straight forward I may take the leap and try sometime.