Exporting a handgun from Britain.
Exporting a handgun from Britain.
A fellow shooter in the USA has been offered a Webley MkVI by a Pommy friend. It's legally held in Britain. The Yank is looking into the American import laws. Does anyone on here know the hoops to jump through to export it from Britain?
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Frogman Ladue
- Posts: 479
- Joined: 06 Apr 2014, 00:22
- Location: USA, Ohio
Re: Exporting a handgun from Britain.
To bring it here, you have to be a licensed importer, and possess a federal firearms license. It would have to sit in a bonded warehouse, exceeding XXX number of days until passed by US customs then granted passage by BATFE. That's if the BATFE shows up. US Gov't doesn't operate under a "shall issue" stature for granting good passage trough customs. At this point it must be researliezed, registered with BATFE, and struck with an import stamp.
In a nutshell, it's not going to happen. There are no longer any "Smalls" importers that will handle it for you. Since the "foreign barrel ban" and ITAR putting the parts importers long out of business, you ain't getting that gun in. The Pommy friend is already in violation of US Federal law for straw purchase of firearms.
In a nutshell, it's not going to happen. There are no longer any "Smalls" importers that will handle it for you. Since the "foreign barrel ban" and ITAR putting the parts importers long out of business, you ain't getting that gun in. The Pommy friend is already in violation of US Federal law for straw purchase of firearms.
Re: Exporting a handgun from Britain.
I'm an Aussie, after 15 years and 10,000 posts on the American boards I do have a feel for your laws. I also had a hand in writing ours, from the RKBA side, so I've some experience in this area. The Yank has an FFL and can arrange the form 6 through ATF. The Pommy is subject to British law, legally possesses it and wishes to gift it to a friend. The only legal issue is the export requirements from Britain.
Re: Exporting a handgun from Britain.
Hello to both of you 
Couple of questions to ask please.
(1) Is the Webley Mk VI held now as part of a collection, or an antique/trophy of war ? also is the Webley "out of proof for any reason" ? or is the Webley definitely "within proof" ? It is a major issue and a big problem to sell or transfer a "out of proof firearm" also is the calibre of the Webley classed as a "obsolete calibre" under the UK firearms laws ? etc. If an original Police/Army/Service issued hand gun are the proof marks clearly visible and readable etc. ?
(2) Is the above deactivated ?
(3) Is the above held by a private individual or a Registered Firearms Dealer or a Museum or a slaughter man (knacker man) or a vet etc. ?
When the general pistol ban came into force in the UK some twenty odd years ago a high number of expensive/quality pistols/target handguns and collectors antiques were sent abroad and sold in other countries that still allowed pistol shooting and collections by private individuals etc.
(4) Easiest way to get started with a project like this is to first write a letter to the Home Office explaining what you want to do etc. and specifically ask the question of "What are your requirements in exporting a restricted handgun from the UK to the US" at least then you have the start of some documentation that can be kept with the Webley while you jump through all the hoops and over all the hurdles to get the job done by the Webley owner etc. ?
(5) There are several international firearms courier companies who would undertake this type of transfer but I would imagine that the cost of employing their services would exceed the value of the Webley.
(6) As long as you can truthfully demonstrate that the Webley is now legally held by ? you are more than half way there to having a RFD couriering the Webley out of the UK.
(7) I understand that there is a written protocol between different countries in accepting the evidence of "British Proof Marks/Stamps" worth treble checking in case of ???. etc.
(8) There would be less obstacles and it would be more straightforward in couriering/sending a Webley out of the UK to a European Union country that still allows the private ownership of that type of pistol/handgun etc.
(9) Goggle "International Firearm Couriers" and fire off a few emails, they would have all the answers to all the questions
Thank you Phil.
Couple of questions to ask please.
(1) Is the Webley Mk VI held now as part of a collection, or an antique/trophy of war ? also is the Webley "out of proof for any reason" ? or is the Webley definitely "within proof" ? It is a major issue and a big problem to sell or transfer a "out of proof firearm" also is the calibre of the Webley classed as a "obsolete calibre" under the UK firearms laws ? etc. If an original Police/Army/Service issued hand gun are the proof marks clearly visible and readable etc. ?
(2) Is the above deactivated ?
(3) Is the above held by a private individual or a Registered Firearms Dealer or a Museum or a slaughter man (knacker man) or a vet etc. ?
When the general pistol ban came into force in the UK some twenty odd years ago a high number of expensive/quality pistols/target handguns and collectors antiques were sent abroad and sold in other countries that still allowed pistol shooting and collections by private individuals etc.
(4) Easiest way to get started with a project like this is to first write a letter to the Home Office explaining what you want to do etc. and specifically ask the question of "What are your requirements in exporting a restricted handgun from the UK to the US" at least then you have the start of some documentation that can be kept with the Webley while you jump through all the hoops and over all the hurdles to get the job done by the Webley owner etc. ?
(5) There are several international firearms courier companies who would undertake this type of transfer but I would imagine that the cost of employing their services would exceed the value of the Webley.
(6) As long as you can truthfully demonstrate that the Webley is now legally held by ? you are more than half way there to having a RFD couriering the Webley out of the UK.
(7) I understand that there is a written protocol between different countries in accepting the evidence of "British Proof Marks/Stamps" worth treble checking in case of ???. etc.
(8) There would be less obstacles and it would be more straightforward in couriering/sending a Webley out of the UK to a European Union country that still allows the private ownership of that type of pistol/handgun etc.
(9) Goggle "International Firearm Couriers" and fire off a few emails, they would have all the answers to all the questions
Thank you Phil.
Re: Exporting a handgun from Britain.
It's a live WWI Mk VI on a special exception certificate,currently being held by the police.
Re: Exporting a handgun from Britain.
Me again
Just copied this extract from www.vintageguns.co.uk
Old weapons which "should not benefit" from the exemption as antiques under section 58(2) of the Firearms Act 1968
NB: This list is not exhaustive and there may be other types and calibres of firearms that should be considered ‘modern’ rather than ‘antique’.
a) Shotguns and smooth-bored guns, including shot pistols, chambered for standard shot gun cartridges, .22 inch, .23 inch, 6mm and 9mm rim-fire cartridges;).
b) Rifles and handguns chambered for 4mm, 5mm, .22 inch, .23 inch, 6mm or 9mm rim-fire ammunition;
c) Revolvers, single-shot pistols and self-loading pistols which are chambered for, and will accept, popular center-fire cartridges of the type .25, .32, .38, .380, .44, .450, .455 and .476 inch, or their metric equivalents including 6.35, 7.62, 7.63, 7.65 , 8 and 9mm, unless otherwise specified;
Can you find out the exact wording on the "special exception certificate " which might read "exemption" not "exception"
the .455 calibre is not a obsolete and exempt calibre as far as vintage handguns are concerned here in the UK ? What is the history of the Webley that it is now in the possession of a UK police force ? You need to know the exact details of "HOW" and "WHY" the Webley is being retained by the police as it is the usual practice for a illegal handgun to be destroyed or for a RFD holder too hold the handgun depending on the "OWNER" being able to make any lawful arrangements.
Was the Webley used by a "slaughter man" or in our words a "kackerman" for the humane killing of horses or farm stock.
Not enough information for you to work out how to get the Webley from whichever police force to either a RFD or a RFD export courier company. All the i's will have to be dotted and all the t's will have to be crossed because it is not going to happen unless the proposed wish to send the Webley to the US meets all the requirements of the UK firearms laws etc.
Was it handed in to the police ?
Was it seized by the police ?
Was it used to dispatch horses or farm livestock etc.
Once someone has managed to arrange that the Webley can be collected from whichever police force by the holder of a RFD license there is not a lot stopping the Webley being sent out of the UK but you have still got to know all the rules and regulations about a vintage handgun being allowed into the US etc. You need to fire a few emails off to a US collector who has done the same type of transaction recently. Thanks for now I going to have tea now Phil
Just copied this extract from www.vintageguns.co.uk
Old weapons which "should not benefit" from the exemption as antiques under section 58(2) of the Firearms Act 1968
NB: This list is not exhaustive and there may be other types and calibres of firearms that should be considered ‘modern’ rather than ‘antique’.
a) Shotguns and smooth-bored guns, including shot pistols, chambered for standard shot gun cartridges, .22 inch, .23 inch, 6mm and 9mm rim-fire cartridges;).
b) Rifles and handguns chambered for 4mm, 5mm, .22 inch, .23 inch, 6mm or 9mm rim-fire ammunition;
c) Revolvers, single-shot pistols and self-loading pistols which are chambered for, and will accept, popular center-fire cartridges of the type .25, .32, .38, .380, .44, .450, .455 and .476 inch, or their metric equivalents including 6.35, 7.62, 7.63, 7.65 , 8 and 9mm, unless otherwise specified;
Can you find out the exact wording on the "special exception certificate " which might read "exemption" not "exception"
the .455 calibre is not a obsolete and exempt calibre as far as vintage handguns are concerned here in the UK ? What is the history of the Webley that it is now in the possession of a UK police force ? You need to know the exact details of "HOW" and "WHY" the Webley is being retained by the police as it is the usual practice for a illegal handgun to be destroyed or for a RFD holder too hold the handgun depending on the "OWNER" being able to make any lawful arrangements.
Was the Webley used by a "slaughter man" or in our words a "kackerman" for the humane killing of horses or farm stock.
Not enough information for you to work out how to get the Webley from whichever police force to either a RFD or a RFD export courier company. All the i's will have to be dotted and all the t's will have to be crossed because it is not going to happen unless the proposed wish to send the Webley to the US meets all the requirements of the UK firearms laws etc.
Was it handed in to the police ?
Was it seized by the police ?
Was it used to dispatch horses or farm livestock etc.
Once someone has managed to arrange that the Webley can be collected from whichever police force by the holder of a RFD license there is not a lot stopping the Webley being sent out of the UK but you have still got to know all the rules and regulations about a vintage handgun being allowed into the US etc. You need to fire a few emails off to a US collector who has done the same type of transaction recently. Thanks for now I going to have tea now
Phil
Last edited by hairyyoda on 13 Sep 2015, 18:42, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Exporting a handgun from Britain.
Me again
Here is a bit of light reading that will save you counting to many sheep 
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/firearms-an ... trol-forms
As arnie might suggest "I will be back with more help" when I find more information for you Mr Librarian Jr.
Thanks Phil
Here is a bit of light reading
that will save you counting to many sheep https://www.gov.uk/guidance/firearms-an ... trol-forms
As arnie might suggest "I will be back with more help" when I find more information for you Mr Librarian Jr.
Thanks Phil