How to ship a gun off to a gunsmith?

C

CZ_Todd

Inactive
I'll be shipping mine off soon and the gunsmith recommended Fed Ex two day, and they said to not insure it for more than $500 and to NOT identify it as a firearm, because it increases the chance of it getting stolen.

If the gun is worth more than $500, and it is identified in some generic term that doesn't specify what it is, then I can see this being a problem if it does get lost or stolen. If I have to provide proof of value, will the receipt for the gun do, since the declared contents didn't say "gun". Plus, the full value wouldn't be covered.

What do you think? I've never shipped a firearm before, but I'm sure the gunsmith has been through this lots of times, so they must know what they're talking about.
 
There's no need to mark the package as such, but you are required by law to inform the carrier that the package contains a firearm.
 
I found this on the Fed Ex web site, in case anyone else finds this thread in the future:

Firearms
Carrier will transport and deliver firearms as defined by the United States Gun Control Act of 1968, between areas served in the U.S., but only between:
Licensed importers; licensed manufacturers; licensed dealers; licensed collectors; law enforcement agencies of the U.S.or any department or agency thereof; and law enforcement agencies of any state or any department, agency or political subdivisions thereof; or
Where not prohibited by local, state and federal law, from individuals to licensed importers, licensed manufacturers or licensed dealers (and return of same).

Carrier cannot ship or deliver firearms C.O.D.

Upon presenting the goods for shipment, the person tendering the shipment to Carrier is required to notify Carrier that the shipment contains a firearm. The outside of the package(s) must not be marked, labeled or otherwise identify that the package(s) contains a firearm.

The shipper and recipient must be of legal age as identified by applicable law.

The shipper and recipient are required to comply with all applicable government regulations and laws, including those pertaining to labeling. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives can provide assistance.
Carrier will transport small-arms ammunition when packed and labeled in compliance with local, state and federal law, and the Hazardous Materials section of this Service Guide. Ammunition is an explosive and must be shipped separately as hazardous materials. You agree not to ship loaded firearms or firearms with ammunition in the same package.

Found here: http://www.fedex.com/us/freight/rulestariff/prohibited_articles.html
 
I avoid shipping whenever I can. I have only had one pistol stolen over the years. I would always insure it for it's exact value, but keep your fingers crossed. If you can't afford to lose it don't ship it.
 
If it is a long gun the USPS is the best bet. Put it in a box, take it to the PO and mail it. I'd insure it.

Handguns must go FedEx or UPS and are much more expensive to ship. I have used UPS simply because the closest FedEx office is much farther away.
 
CZ Todd said:
Any thoughts on the "don't declare it to be worth more than $500" instruction from the gunsmith?
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The gunsmith also advised you not to indicate that the package contains a firearm, which would be a violation of Federal law. He's trying to get you to play games, at your risk.

The law requires you to inform the shipper that the package contains a firearm. There is nothing to be gained by insuring it for less than its actual value. If you ship a $1500 firearm and it gets lost, if you insured it for $500 you'll lose $1000 right on the spot.

That doesn't seem like a good idea to me ...

Are you sure you even want to deal with a gunsmith who either (a) doesn't know the laws pertaining to his own profession, or (b) is so lacking in scruples that he knowingly advises his customers to break the law, but doesn't TELL them his advice is illegal?
 
I found out why. He was trying to save me money.

I wanted to ship it 2 day. The guy looked up a list of "exemptions" and the gunsmith wasn't on it. That meant that it's Fed Ex policy to ship a firearm only next day air. It cost $91.88 to ship it.

I asked about the exemption list and the clerk said it was all big name gun manufacturers. I suspect they paid a lot of money to be on that list.
 
I've shipped some things by UPS that I simply labeled "machine parts"
I never said what the "machine" was made to do
 
Snyper, that was the idea in order to save me some money.

I feel like Fed Ex has this policy to screw the honest firearm owner. I made the mistake of being honest/cautious. OK, mistake was too strong a word, but I really feel like I'm being taken advantage of.

If I ship to Smith & Wession 2nd day, that's fine, but shipping to XYZ Gunsmithing isn't?
 
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  1. I always ship "Next Day Air." It might be more expensive, but the carrier keeps a closer eye on it, and the less time it is in possession of the carrier the less time there is for something to go wrong.

  2. "Next Day Air" is also required under the carrier's tariffs. So is verbal notice that it's a gun (FedEx) or a handgun (UPS). If you don't comply with the carrier's rules you are violating your contract with the carrier. That contract incorporates those rules. And violating the contract will allow the carrier to deny out-of-hand an insurance claim if anything goes wrong. (So Snyper's little dodge, as well as being dishonest, is foolish.)

  3. I also always insure for full value.

  4. And the "ship to" address should not in any way suggest that the package might contain a gun. So don't address the package to "Fred the Gunsmith"; address it to "Fred Jones." You will, however, need to establish for the carrier that old Fred is an FFL. I've done that in the past by showing the clerk a printout from the gunsmith's website.
 
I've shipped some things by UPS that I simply labeled "machine parts"
I never said what the "machine" was made to do
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If it didn't include a firearm (receiver/frame), that's fine.
But, if you were technically shipping a firearm, it is illegal. You shouldn't be doing it anyway; but if you get caught, or something goes wrong with the shipment, you're screwed.


In 2012, I ended up having to ship several barrels and some gun parts through UPS, because the buyer had an extremely remote, temporary address, to which USPS and FedEx would not deliver. Every time I handed over the package, they threw a tantrum about my answer to their "what is it" question. Twice, they refused the barrel shipments. I showed them their own company regulations and Federal regulations, to show them that the parts in the box were unregulated, but the idiots at the counter couldn't remove their heads from their own elimination site.

They went absolutely crazy, and refused the shipment, when I took in a rifle stock in a box marked "Boyd's Gun Stocks". :rolleyes:

I really wanted to just ship the stuff via USPS, but I had no choice. So, I changed the barrel packaging a bit, went back in, and told them the packages contained "high pressure steel tubing". ...no problem.

A couple days later, I took the Boyd's box back in, and waited for their question. .... "Is that a gun!?"
I replied, "It's a piece of laminated wood for use in stabilizing high speed lead injection systems." ...no problem. :rolleyes:


I may not have been 100% clear about the contents, but the shipments were perfectly legal and I did not lie. I was not shipping in any manner that was against company policy, nor was I breaking the law. But, if you ship a firearm as "machine parts", you're guilty on both counts and no one is on your side.
 
I wanted to ship it 2 day. The guy looked up a list of "exemptions" and the gunsmith wasn't on it. That meant that it's Fed Ex policy to ship a firearm only next day air. It cost $91.88 to ship it.
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The high cost of shipping is why I always recommend trying to find a smith within decent driving distance that you can work with, if possible.

If that's not feasible try to find an FFL that will mail the gun for you.
I just mailed a handgun to another FFL, with $1200.00 insurance the total cost was $23.05.

Best regards
Bob Hunter
www.huntercustoms.com
 
The gunsmith also advised you not to indicate that the package contains a firearm, which would be a violation of Federal law
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you are required by law to inform the carrier that the package contains a firearm
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Just to be clear, it is a company policy, not federal law.
Federal law only requires you to notify the shipper if sending the gun to a non FFL.
See last paragraph on ATF letter below:

Jim

 
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Ah! Thanks for the heads-up, Layton. For some reason, that's been bandied around as "common wisdom" and I'd never checked up on it.

Of course, every time I learn new things, old things get pushed out. What's the capital of Texas, again?
 
A true account of sending a firearm to a gunsmith....

In the spring of 2007, I took my brand new Beretta 96D Brigader .40S&W with 03 11rd factory Beretta magazines(one in the pistol) in a unlocked Plano gun case to a FedEx Office location. I insured the package & boxed/sealed it myself. No FedEx office staff or managers asked me what the contents were or if they could inspect it.
I paid to have it express(overnight) mailed to AZ, www.RobarGuns.com . I had plans to get the 96D & 03 magazines treated with NP3. This is considered gunsmithing(custom work).
I got the same Beretta 96D pistol & all items about 04 months later. The FedEx package was sent directly to me without any problems.
Gunsmithing & custom work isn't anything to get worked up over. Just review the SOPs & be polite/calm/professional.

Clyde
 
I'd insure it for what it's worth. I've no idea why you'd need to declare a lesser value.
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Because if its an irreplaceable item, they can (and will) refuse to ship it. I ran into this problem when I was shipping a Colt Python back to Colt for a refinish. The clerk kept coming back asking me strange questions about value, whether it is one of a kind, whether it was still made, etc. I got her to explain why she was asking all these questions. I thought (mistakenly thought) she was some kind of anti that just wanted to give gun owners a hard time. She explained that if it is too valuable or irreplaceable, then they can refuse to ship. Interestingly, another customer walked in while I was dealing with the clerk on this, wanting to ship an antique per an ebay auction - she ran into the same problem! I ended up just lying about the value - said it was worth $300 and that Colt churns them out by the thousands. No problem after that.

I believe I used USPS, not FedX.
 
Skans said:
...I believe I used USPS, not FedX.
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If you did, you committed a federal felony. You (unless you're an FFL and fill out the right forms) may not legally mail a handgun. Handguns must be shipped UPS or FedEx.
 
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