Shipping Antiques to USA
- Thread starter Rob
- Start date
I've done it once a few years ago.
If it's an antique it's legally a "non firearm" in both countries. No import or export permits needed.
USPS regulations prohibit shipment of regular firearms, but their regulations do allow them to ship antique firearms.
I put "pre-1898 antique" on the customs declaration and my own home made antique letter in the box with the gun where it would be found if the package was inspected. I also included a copy of the receiver's FFL - which may not have been required but since he had one we stuck it in the box anyway. My letter contained the make, model, caliber, s/n, and date of manufacture, and states that it is antique and legally considered to be a non-firearm in both Canada and the USA. Then I stuck it in the mail and two weeks later it arrived at the destination. It had a sticker saying it had been opened by US Customs Services.
I've heard of Canada Post refusing to ship firearms outside Canada. Seeing that an antique is legally a non-firearm this shouldn't be a problem but apparently it has been for some people. If you call it a gun, then it is a gun. If you call it a pre-1898 antique then it's a non-firearm. YMMV.
If it's an antique it's legally a "non firearm" in both countries. No import or export permits needed.
USPS regulations prohibit shipment of regular firearms, but their regulations do allow them to ship antique firearms.
I put "pre-1898 antique" on the customs declaration and my own home made antique letter in the box with the gun where it would be found if the package was inspected. I also included a copy of the receiver's FFL - which may not have been required but since he had one we stuck it in the box anyway. My letter contained the make, model, caliber, s/n, and date of manufacture, and states that it is antique and legally considered to be a non-firearm in both Canada and the USA. Then I stuck it in the mail and two weeks later it arrived at the destination. It had a sticker saying it had been opened by US Customs Services.
I've heard of Canada Post refusing to ship firearms outside Canada. Seeing that an antique is legally a non-firearm this shouldn't be a problem but apparently it has been for some people. If you call it a gun, then it is a gun. If you call it a pre-1898 antique then it's a non-firearm. YMMV.
Last edited:
All BP firearms are considered to be firearms. Some just don't require permits to acquire.
Despite the U.S. saying BP firearms are not controlled, there may still be importing rules from their Dept. of Commerce. Net search that.
For Canadian export rules etc, go here.
http://international.gc.ca/controls...eu/other-autres/license-demande.aspx?lang=eng
Then here.
http://www.international.gc.ca/controls-controles/firearms_armes_a_feu/permit-licence.aspx?lang=eng
Despite the U.S. saying BP firearms are not controlled, there may still be importing rules from their Dept. of Commerce. Net search that.
For Canadian export rules etc, go here.
http://international.gc.ca/controls...eu/other-autres/license-demande.aspx?lang=eng
Then here.
http://www.international.gc.ca/controls-controles/firearms_armes_a_feu/permit-licence.aspx?lang=eng
For what its worth, I sold an antique in January 2013. It was an antique in both Canada and the US. The guy lived in Maine.
Here is what he told me at the time...
As far as I can tell, after discussing the procedure with BATF Import, all I have to do is get the proper form signed by my local licensed dealer and approved by the BATF (should be no problem but could take time), and send the form to you. You put it inside the shipping container with the gun, and then you can ship by any means you like to my licensed dealer. Actually simpler than I thought. That should relieve your shipping cost worries.
NB: The form he sent me was a BATF Form 6
I would imagine that the process would be the same for a NR-Canada/Antique US gun.
Best to have the buyer confirm. God only knows what State laws may be in each different State
Here is what he told me at the time...
As far as I can tell, after discussing the procedure with BATF Import, all I have to do is get the proper form signed by my local licensed dealer and approved by the BATF (should be no problem but could take time), and send the form to you. You put it inside the shipping container with the gun, and then you can ship by any means you like to my licensed dealer. Actually simpler than I thought. That should relieve your shipping cost worries.
NB: The form he sent me was a BATF Form 6
I would imagine that the process would be the same for a NR-Canada/Antique US gun.
Best to have the buyer confirm. God only knows what State laws may be in each different State
Last edited:
You should call the atf, or send them an email. I've done this before, a restricted in Canada and antique in U.S. I can tell you that I have a letter from the ATF stating that antiques are not considered an firearm in the US, and as such, are not subject to federal firearm laws... Including federal laws governing the import of "firearms". All I had to do was prove to customs it was antique, I did so with a letter from Colt archives.
I had no troubles (or dealings) with the BATF. I enclosed two sets of papers documenting how and why it was considered an "antique" in the US (provided for me by the buyer...none of them were government documents) and it sailed across the border and directly to his home with no problems.
