Buying from overseas

M

MarcoG

Inactive
Hello everybody!

I'm a Swiss dude with a small problem I hope you folks can help me with.

As it always happens to me with every hobby, I have my eye on the 'special' things that are not all that common. In this case, that would be a Marlin 1984C, a Coonan and a Auto Ordnance Thompson semi automatic.

Now Switzerland has a pretty active shooting community, but the problem is it's mostly centered around the SIG 550 and 220, which are used by our milita. Indoor shooting ranges that allow you to shoot most of the more interesting stuff are available but not all that common. That being said, we have a problem with availability.

The Marlin does have a distributor but it seems that Remington sends Marlins overseas whenever they they have nothing better to do. Even ordering one will not guarantee that you get one. Coonan does not sell outside the US and Auto Ordnance does not have a distributor.

So you see my pickle. I've thought about importing myself and am in the process of educating myself about the prerequisites and cost for that. On the other end of the trade, I do need a company in the US that could actually sell and ship the mentioned arms to me.

And thus my question: Are there traders specialising in my kind of business? Do you know what paperwork I'd have to fill out for the US government?

I'm thankful for every piece of advice and knowledge.
 
Dunno if this will help but I wonder? Can, or will those companies suggest a potential middle man? Maybe find a larger gun store that will take an order for what you want and then ship it? Just a thought.
Paul B.
 
It's a rather arcane subject and involves detailed legal knowledge and familiarity with regulations that most of us lack. Do not be discouraged, there are people who can advise you, be patient.
 
There are individuals (or companies) in the U.S. who specialize in doing one-of-a-kind imports. Not being a lawyer I would be guessing, but my guess is that an import license is not an export license. That said, it's possible that an importer may also have an export license, or might be persuaded to get one.
 
There was a user on here who was looking to import an Enfield .22 rifle to America from another country - it might have been France.

In that thread, there were a lot of people saying that it was possible to import it from another country, but that import costs might be as much as the rifle or more, and that many of our Federal Firearm Licensees wouldn't import a firearm because of the costs and hassles involved, but that it was possible if you were willing to pay the money.

Best of luck though! I always love to see the global shooting community growing.
 
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