Buying parts from USA, for UK is customs an issue?

[The tankster]

Do you have a shop ?

 

[Oldtime]

M8 I get grips from Russia sent over put on the forms as grips

Yes, but BIG BIG difference between grips, and grip frames..

 

[Oldtime]

It's a risky business and you have to weigh the pros and cons! If they are "antiques" and maybe the last one we have available, that's a big risk. But if we have dozens and one shipment gets hijacked... well, insurance will cover the loss and you could try again. Honestly, we rarely have issues with European customs. The shipment may be slow to be delivered but rarely lost or stolen. Maybe once a year out of 10s of 1000s of orders. South America, it's about a 50/50 shot it gets stopped at the border. Metal grip frame would just be listed on paperwork as metal handle or metal frame.

Yes, that is all very well, but if they check a package labelled "handles" and it is ACTUALLY what THEY would class as pistol frames [frames count as parts of firearms, and parts of firearms are classed AS firearms, and handguns get you an automatic 5 years here] the next thing, would be the police at first light, with a search warrant to kick the door in, and take anything they like. [which you will either never see again, or if you do, it will look like it had been thrown down concrete steps a few times...

i am not running the risk..

 

[JGAirguns]

Do you have a shop ?

We have a webstore for airgun parts (jgairguns.biz) and we have an in-house machine shop. We don't take custom machine shop orders, but we do make a lot of our own screws, nuts, bolts, washers, pins, etc to keep up with high demand. For really high demand/quantities or extremely complex metal parts, I outsource to a ton of local machinists, who do great work. We also make a lot of our own seals (leather, plastic, synthetic, etc) in house and outsource for high volumes. We've been doing this for over 40 years and I THINK we are the largest dealer of antique airgun parts in the US and one of the only ones who ship internationally.

 

[JGAirguns]

Yes, that is all very well, but if they check a package labelled "handles" and it is ACTUALLY what THEY would class as pistol frames [frames count as parts of firearms, and parts of firearms are classed AS firearms, and handguns get you an automatic 5 years here] the next thing, would be the police at first light, with a search warrant to kick the door in, and take anything they like. [which you will either never see again, or if you do, it will look like it had been thrown down concrete steps a few times...

i am not running the risk..

I completely understand. I can say again, that in the last 40 years, I have never had an issue shipping parts (not guns) to UK, as far as customs go. But like I said, you have to way the pros and cons and each country has its own set of restrictions and limitations. Also a lot depends on the daily mood of the customs officials and their moral character.

 

[JGAirguns]

Just stunning in appearance. I'm glad they handle well and feel good. Looks and sounds like a very high quality part/manufacturer. That's great to hear. Thanks for sharing the pics.

 

[Oldtime]

I completely understand. I can say again, that in the last 40 years, I have never had an issue shipping parts (not guns) to UK, as far as customs go. But like I said, you have to way the pros and cons and each country has its own set of restrictions and limitations. Also a lot depends on the daily mood of the customs officials and their moral character.

I might need some Crosman bits soon. Can you order parts from them, or do you only have what you stock on your website??

You will be glad to know that will not be "contentious" parts [like frames or barrels]

 

[Drachir]

I might need some Crosman bits soon. Can you order parts from them, or do you only have what you stock on your website??

You will be glad to know that will not be "contentious" parts [like frames or barrels]

What parts are you looking for, if you don’t mind me asking?

I recently purchased hard to find parts for the Fortitude from Precision Pellets in Pennsylvania.

 

[ToonD]

It seems so, the postage charge is there and..
It looks like the VAT is collected by Ebay too.
“Goods shipped to the UK from abroad
Effective 1 January 2021, eBay is required to collect VAT on certain orders delivered to UK addresses:

• Orders up to £135 sent from outside the UK
• Orders of any value where the item is located in the UK, but the seller is not a UK seller

For higher value items, VAT and duties are also likely to apply. However, VAT on purchases valued at over £135 will be payable directly to the UK customs authorities by the buyer.”

That text in the quotes was linked from the postage info. And its loads less than £135 so no import taxes?

@flatrajectory good point.. the Gents got 100% positive reviews for 2000+ ebay sales.
He reshapes a newer valve to fit my old gun. Theres only the wrong newer part available in UK and he's charging about the same for a modified one.

As long as there is no mention of “for gun” on the declaration, it seems to work.
At least to the Netherlands.
With the ebay shipping, all costs are calculated when you pay for the item.

Not a lot of US sellers seem to take the trouble, good to see some still do.

 

[Bluezorro]

If i could just hijack your post a little..

If i were to order a crosman 2240 grip frame from the US, can you see it being siezed by customs in the UK ?? Or is that sort of thing generally ok??

You won't have any issues with this.

When ordering stuff, don't ask them to describe it in weird, creative ways. Just be honest about what it is. But there should be no issues with importing this.

 

[Bluezorro]

That's my understanding, as well. But again, when it comes to Post and Customs there aren't really any guarantees. Not to mention that "rules" can be interpreted differently by individuals and it depends what kind of mood they are in!

There's definitely an element of truth here.

Unfortunately, Border Force aren't what they used to be. Poor staff retention and high staff turnover often means that there are people making decisions about items coming through the ports, who don't necessarily have the knowledge or experience to make the right decision.

As its something to do with a firearm, this usually leads to them 'erring on the side of caution' and seizing. Can't blame them for that I guess, but frustrating. Especially when there are mechanisms in place where they can check these things....

 

[Drachir]

I’m not too sure, but I think I saw a Buck Rail 22xx trigger housing, the AR-type, posted by a European guy somewhere.

It’s not metal, so it shouldn’t be too blatant, especially sans grip.

 

[Oldtime]

What parts are you looking for, if you don’t mind me asking?

I recently purchased hard to find parts for the Fortitude from Precision Pellets in Pennsylvania.

Not sure yet, got to wait for my first shipment to arrive, to see if i need any more bits!! I will post back when they get here!

 

[Oldtime]

As long as there is no mention of “for gun” on the declaration, it seems to work.
At least to the Netherlands.
With the ebay shipping, all costs are calculated when you pay for the item.

Not a lot of US sellers seem to take the trouble, good to see some still do.

Yes, but you put false info on the paperwork, then it is x-rayed, and looks to them to be parts for a prohibited weapon [here in the uk] and the poor recipient will have their doors kicked in by the police, and anything remotely gun like, taken, never to be returned, or if it is, it will be severely damaged..

 

[ToonD]

There's definitely an element of truth here.

Unfortunately, Border Force aren't what they used to be. Poor staff retention and high staff turnover often means that there are people making decisions about items coming through the ports, who don't necessarily have the knowledge or experience to make the right decision.

As its something to do with a firearm, this usually leads to them 'erring on the side of caution' and seizing. Can't blame them for that I guess, but frustrating. Especially when there are mechanisms in place where they can check these things....

When you ask the seller not to use the magic word “gun” on the customs declaration, but -for instance- ‘parts for tools’ it works well -to the Netherlands.
Please do nòt let them state it is a gift, they see that too often.

Yes, but you put false info on the paperwork, then it is x-rayed, and looks to them to be parts for a prohibited weapon [here in the uk] and the poor recipient will have their doors kicked in by the police, and anything remotely gun like, taken, never to be returned, or if it is, it will be severely damaged..

Maybe the UK customs are more technical educated than the Dutch..
As long as there are no barrels or revolver frames in the parcel, they seem to let it pass -overhere-

But I do understand that when the suspicion is raised they are alarmed to the max. They cannot be too safe in this world.

 

[Bluezorro]

When you ask the seller not to use the magic word “gun” on the customs declaration, but -for instance- ‘parts for tools’ it works well -to the Netherlands.
Please do nòt let them state it is a gift, they see that too often.

This is going to have the opposite effect. You might get away with it once or twice, but if you're found to be 'mis-describing' contents, you're only going to draw unwanted attention. If you're not doing anything wrong and importing anything you shouldn't, you shouldn't have anything to worry about

 

[ToonD]

This is going to have the opposite effect. You might get away with it once or twice, but if you're found to be 'mis-describing' contents, you're only going to draw unwanted attention. If you're not doing anything wrong and importing anything you shouldn't, you shouldn't have anything to worry about

I only buy from the USA since 1988-89, not monthly but more than twice a year.

But, I must add, never items that fall under the Dutch law as non-licensed.


I do buy stuff for ‘real’ firearms - I have a license- but (my) US sellers do not ship stuff they think it illegal.

 

[mucker1066]

OK, im in the uk, ive been ordering from alliance hobbies, discosRus (now gone), magnum air power llc and some other guy... my last shipment was for a discovery valve, the 3000psi stainless screws and the gauge port bypass, merely described as what they were on shipping, from america. With no problems. Arrived monday.

I am waiting for an original backpacker tube, ordered the same week last month. So I should know, within the next week, if its been held

 

[Drachir]

OK, im in the uk, ive been ordering from alliance hobbies, discosRus (now gone), magnum air power llc and some other guy... my last shipment was for a discovery valve, the 3000psi stainless screws and the gauge port bypass, merely described as what they were on shipping, from america. With no problems. Arrived monday.

I am waiting for an original backpacker tube, ordered the same week last month. So I should know, within the next week, if its been held

I like dealing with Bill, the owner of Magnum Air Power.

Like I always do when buying parts, I beseech them to handpick the best for me, as in no dings and scratches, and Bill does just that with no qualms

Speaking of MAP’s gauge port bypass, I just bought a plug from one the Grainger stores near my workplace for 0.70 cents, bandage it with a milspec teflon tape, then screwed it into the port.—-I installed it in a way that the plug faces the belly of the breech. Definitely saved me more than 20

 

[mucker1066]

I like dealing with Bill, the owner of Magnum Air Power.

Like I always do when buying parts, I beseech them to handpick the best for me, as in no dings and scratches, and Bill does just that with no qualms

Speaking of MAP’s gauge port bypass, I just bought a plug from one the Grainger stores near my workplace for 0.70 cents, bandage it with a milspec teflon tape, then screwed it into the port.—-I installed it in a way that the plug faces the belly of the breech. Definitely saved me more than 20

Yeah bills a good egg, setting up my reg, valve spring n hammer spring today, I cant hit that sweat spot just right, cut one hammer spring a bit short, the second one legal, just... the difference between spring return is horrendous, cut quartet coil, it'll drop .25 ft lbs, cut another 1/4 it'll drop .5ft lbs, another quarter .75 ft lbs... I want her bang on 10.5ft lbs so shes under 12 with Bisley magnums