I have an STI frame that I want to get built by a US gunsmith. Any ideas on what paperwork I need to get and how to go about the process? One of the gunsmiths I talked to expressed some concern that I might not be able to import a frame and export a finished gun.
Working with a US Gunsmith
- Thread starter hungrybeagle
- Start date
- Location
- Halifax - NS
In exactly the case you mention, this is the legal requirements:
The US gunsmith would have to get a Form 6 (not NIA) with your frame on it to be in possession of the frame alone in the US and...he'd have to have an export permit (obtained by your import permit) to sell you the parts that he put on the gun. He can only get that export permit if he has purchased an export licence at around $2000.
Of course, if you purchased all the parts in Canada and the US gunsmith only did labor (and maybe sold you a couple of parts under $100), then the freebie Form 6 would be all he'd have to get, and of course, that US gunsmith would have to be willing to do it, despite probably being overloaded with work from the USA that he doesn't need to get a permit for.
Less legal methods exist and odds of being caught are low, but discussion of them on this site is forbidden and rightly so.
Several people here in AB have done what you are looking to do. Kelly W. (target40 ?) recently went with a custom built in the states using a bought frame in Canada. Trickpony may have something up his sleeve to help you out.
I have two guns being built in the states but bought frame direct from gunsmith. One gun is built and just waiting on paper work. : '( I went with Questar at the top of the page and they were good with everything so far.
Building on that frame you picked up at the last years nats?
I have two guns being built in the states but bought frame direct from gunsmith. One gun is built and just waiting on paper work. : '( I went with Questar at the top of the page and they were good with everything so far.
Building on that frame you picked up at the last years nats?
- Location
- Calgary, Alberta
You can use a Form 6NIA for importation for gunsmith work, the regs specifically say so. But you have to take it in yourself, you can't ship it that way (from Canada, you can ship it inside the US when you get there). And you must remove it from the US when you leave, you can't leave it behind and fetch it later.
It's helpful e.g. if you want some scope rings fitted but not much help for major work, unless you've got a vacation home or something and spend significant time there.
Otherwise you're into the whole formal import/export process, i.e. the FFL must get a Form 6 Part 1 import permit, and a DSP-5 export licence. For which he must be AECA-registered. If in fact there are any gunsmiths in the US that are AECA-registered (I doubt it, might be one or two), most likely they have an FFL for imports as well, which means they must stamp the gun with their import stamp. Regular FFLs don't have to do that, although they can do "occasional" imports on Form 6 Part 1.
Basically what it boils down to is that you have to use a specialised importer/exporter most of the time.
It's helpful e.g. if you want some scope rings fitted but not much help for major work, unless you've got a vacation home or something and spend significant time there.
Otherwise you're into the whole formal import/export process, i.e. the FFL must get a Form 6 Part 1 import permit, and a DSP-5 export licence. For which he must be AECA-registered. If in fact there are any gunsmiths in the US that are AECA-registered (I doubt it, might be one or two), most likely they have an FFL for imports as well, which means they must stamp the gun with their import stamp. Regular FFLs don't have to do that, although they can do "occasional" imports on Form 6 Part 1.
Basically what it boils down to is that you have to use a specialised importer/exporter most of the time.
Okay, I spent a good portion of the morning on the phone with BATF and CBP and this is what I found out:
BATF had these two things to say:
Option 1. Go to the border with all the parts and the gun in a box with a letter from the gunsmith saying that you are shipping it to him for repair/reconstruction. Ship all the parts to him. Export is his problem.
Option 2. Have a BATF Form 6 Part I (as opposed to a Form 6 NIA) filled out by the gunsmith. Have him send the approved Form 6 Part I to you and then take the gun and all the parts to the border with the Form 6 in the box. Ship it to the gunsmith.
Needless to say, I was a bit skeptical on Option 1, so I called CBP to get their input. The CBP wasn't particulary impressed that BATF made that suggestion, and he agreed with me that the border guys would probably not react favourably to me arriving at the border with a gun in a box and no other paperwork other than a letter. He then said I could try taking it to a PreClearance desk (there's one at the airport in Vancouver) and tha I should consider filling in a TIB form (Temporary Importation under Bond) form, but then we looked through the notes and saw that it had restrictions listed in some document that we didn't bother to look up (we spent close to 40 minutes on the phone). He then said I should phone a Firearms Import Specialist in Washington State who would be more knowledgeable.
So another phone call, and the first question the guy asked was, "Why don't you just ship it FedEx? Why do you need to carry it to the border yourself." I was a bit stunned, as the option hadn't even occurred to me. He said all I had to do was have the gunsmith complete the Form 6 Part I and include that with the firearm when I take the package to FedEx. (He said I have to use FedEx, as UPS won't ship firearms.) This answered one of the questions I had about the Form 6 Part I, because it asks for a Broker. He said to just use FedEx as the broker, or if I really wanted to, I could shop around and find another broker instead, but why bother paying 2 different companies (shipper and broker) when I could pay 1 company instead.
He said export will be another issue.
BATF had these two things to say:
Option 1. Go to the border with all the parts and the gun in a box with a letter from the gunsmith saying that you are shipping it to him for repair/reconstruction. Ship all the parts to him. Export is his problem.
Option 2. Have a BATF Form 6 Part I (as opposed to a Form 6 NIA) filled out by the gunsmith. Have him send the approved Form 6 Part I to you and then take the gun and all the parts to the border with the Form 6 in the box. Ship it to the gunsmith.
Needless to say, I was a bit skeptical on Option 1, so I called CBP to get their input. The CBP wasn't particulary impressed that BATF made that suggestion, and he agreed with me that the border guys would probably not react favourably to me arriving at the border with a gun in a box and no other paperwork other than a letter. He then said I could try taking it to a PreClearance desk (there's one at the airport in Vancouver) and tha I should consider filling in a TIB form (Temporary Importation under Bond) form, but then we looked through the notes and saw that it had restrictions listed in some document that we didn't bother to look up (we spent close to 40 minutes on the phone). He then said I should phone a Firearms Import Specialist in Washington State who would be more knowledgeable.
So another phone call, and the first question the guy asked was, "Why don't you just ship it FedEx? Why do you need to carry it to the border yourself." I was a bit stunned, as the option hadn't even occurred to me. He said all I had to do was have the gunsmith complete the Form 6 Part I and include that with the firearm when I take the package to FedEx. (He said I have to use FedEx, as UPS won't ship firearms.) This answered one of the questions I had about the Form 6 Part I, because it asks for a Broker. He said to just use FedEx as the broker, or if I really wanted to, I could shop around and find another broker instead, but why bother paying 2 different companies (shipper and broker) when I could pay 1 company instead.
He said export will be another issue.
