Could a Yank buy a gun in the UK to bring home?

Savage 110 Carbon Tactical - Unmatched Precision - Viking Arms
jimmer.13 said:
Go for it. Any particular maker in mind.

I have a Fred Beesley. Bought with a snapped stock. A good friend re stocked it for me and made new screws and hinge pin. Barrels are sleeved but it matters not to me. Just means it will last longer and hopefully be cherished by another generation.
Circa 100 years old and shoots and operates beautifully. 1 of a pair. I often wonder what happened to number 2
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I'm not well versed in English guns,. so just hoping for something beautiful that shoots well. I am partial to Greener though as they have built quite a Western myth. It was rumored that Doc Holliday carried a Greener at the OK Corral and then there is always John Wayne in "Big Jake" asking Maureen O'Hara for his Greeners (which weren't actually Greeeners btw). Would be a treat to own and shoot a 100 year old shotgun and think that it might continue to be used for another 100 years after I am gone.


Scott
 
Mountain Bug said:
I've read many times about your RFDs having a glut of beautiful shotguns that few people want because they are not proofed for steel. Was wondering what the chances might be of finding a properly fitted side by side while I'm over this Fall and bringing it home. I've not done any research on the the legality of it yet, but thought I would throw it out there. What do you fellas think?


Scott
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Awesome idea. What a fun project! Do you know what dates you're over and where in the country you'll be?
There are several gun auctions per year which offer a bit of a "kid in the candy shop" opportunity.
Holts auctions are the most prominent, but also Harper Field, Bonhams, Southams, a couple in the North West etc.
There are also the London makers shops.
 
Mountain Bug said:
I'm not well versed in English guns,. so just hoping for something beautiful that shoots well. I am partial to Greener though as they have built quite a Western myth. It was rumored that Doc Holliday carried a Greener at the OK Corral and then there is always John Wayne in "Big Jake" asking Maureen O'Hara for his Greeners (which weren't actually Greeeners btw). Would be a treat to own and shoot a 100 year old shotgun and think that it might continue to be used for another 100 years after I am gone.


Scott
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This sort of thing? It's not fully genuine, but a good looking gun
W.W. GREENER A 12-BORE 'L50' SIDELOCK EJECTOR, serial no. 66066, for 1921, 27in. replacemen...
 
Mountain Bug said:
I'm not well versed in English guns,. so just hoping for something beautiful that shoots well. I am partial to Greener though as they have built quite a Western myth.
Click to expand...
Here's another American myth Greener ....the harpoon gun from Jaws.
www.the-saleroom.com

JAWS (1975) - Quint's (Robert Shaw) Screen- and Photo-Matched W. W. Greener Light Harpoon G...

JAWS (1975) - Quint's (Robert Shaw) Screen- and Photo-Matched W. W. Greener Light Harpoon Gun Mark II with Screen-Matched Case and Custom SFX Shark Dart - Qu...
www.the-saleroom.com www.the-saleroom.com
Mountain Bug said:
It was rumored that Doc Holliday carried a Greener at the OK Corral and then there is always John Wayne in "Big Jake" asking Maureen O'Hara for his Greeners (which weren't actually Greeeners btw). Would be a treat to own and shoot a 100 year old shotgun and think that it might continue to be used for another 100 years after I am gone.


Scott
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Get a UK shotgun certificate holder to buy what you want then invite them to the USA on your cost for a few days bringing the shotgun with them on a BATF #6 form then they leave it with you and fly back to the UK then they register it as having been sold in the USA.
I did this often to cover my flight costs in the 1990-2000s and my local FEO never raised an eyebrow.
It might be a cheaper option? Much quicker for sure.
 
Apthorpe said:
Awesome idea. What a fun project! Do you know what dates you're over and where in the country you'll be?
There are several gun auctions per year which offer a bit of a "kid in the candy shop" opportunity.
Holts auctions are the most prominent, but also Harper Field, Bonhams, Southams, a couple in the North West etc.
There are also the London makers shops.
Click to expand...
I too think it will be quite fun and has really brightened my days just thinking about it. We will be in Scotland near Thurso in early October after reds and any other sport we can find. Also hoping to visit the Orkneys on invite by some new friends that we made on our last trip, along with a some general touring to and from who knows where.


Scott
 
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Mountain Bug said:
I've read many times about your RFDs having a glut of beautiful shotguns that few people want because they are not proofed for steel. Was wondering what the chances might be of finding a properly fitted side by side while I'm over this Fall and bringing it home. I've not done any research on the the legality of it yet, but thought I would throw it out there. What do you fellas think?


Scott
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As Heym says get a sponsor to apply for a Visitors Permit on your behalf..this will solve your problems,just read the instructions on it.
 
Mountain Bug said:
I too think it will be quite fun and has really brightened my days just thinking about it. We will be in Scotland near Thurso in early October after reds and any other sport we can find. Also hoping to visit the Orkneys on invite by some new friends that we made on our last trip, along with a some general touring to and from who knows where.


Scott
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W W Greeners seem popular in USA, selling for very strong price compared to UK. Especially guns like mine, 16 gauge with rare 30” barrels and 2 3/4” chambers. There are lots of grades of these guns from basic empire models through to sidelock models. This is a FH50 and was 60 Guineas in 1936.
I do think that you would need to go through a firearms dealer because a private seller would need to see a shotgun certificate to transfer. Good luck
 

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Mountain Bug said:
I too think it will be quite fun and has really brightened my days just thinking about it. We will be in Scotland near Thurso in early October after reds and any other sport we can find. Also hoping to visit the Orkneys on invite by some new friends that we made on our last trip, along with a some general touring to and from who knows where.


Scott
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If ur up Thurso might be worth doing some honework wot ur after and phobe up Mcloeds of Tain.
A very good gun shop and by all accounts would bend over backwards to help.
He may well have something suitable in stock.

Most gunshops will have back rooms stuffed full off S/Ss.

Im pretty sure Americains have bought a lot of the old famous 'named' fowling guns.
Some of the historic 6 and 8 bores.

Just to add.
Someone already mentioned it ( but i cant find the post)
U will have ur hammer price + commision + vat @ 20%.
So depending on ur commision rate which can be 15-20%,.
Just remember to read the charges and allow for possibly an extra 40% over hammer ptrice.
 
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Stimo444 said:
W W Greeners seem popular in USA, selling for very strong price compared to UK. Especially guns like mine, 16 gauge with rare 30” barrels and 2 3/4” chambers. There are lots of grades of these guns from basic empire models through to sidelock models. This is a FH50 and was 60 Guineas in 1936.
I do think that you would need to go through a firearms dealer because a private seller would need to see a shotgun certificate to transfer. Good luck
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Thats a beautiful gun you have there, if only they were still 60 guineas haha. Thank you for this info, it helps me find a starting point as I don't really know what I'm after yet.


Scott
 
countrryboy said:
If ur up Thurso might be worth doing some honework wot ur after and phobe up Mcloeds of Tain.
A very good gun shop and by all accounts would bend over backwards to help.
He may well have something suitable in stock.

Most gunshops will have back rooms stuffed full off S/Ss.

Im pretty sure Americains have bought a lot of the old famous 'named' fowling guns.
Some of the historic 6 and 8 bores.

Just to add.
Someone already mentioned it ( but i cant find the post)
U will have ur hammer price + commision + vat @ 20%.
So depending on ur commision rate which can be 15-20%,.
Just remember to read the charges and allow for possibly an extra 40% over hammer ptrice.
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Thank you. I'm familiar with MacLeods and did look at their online catalog but didn't find much of interest. I've also looked at Graham's in Inverness. Unfortunately, they don't have their used inventory listed. I do remember seeing alot of shotguns in their racks but that was four years ago. Looks like I may have to search further south or at one of your auction houses.


Scott
 
Must admit ive never boight at a firearms auction.

But their not that often in scotland, so might be a struggle getting it to tie in with ur trip.
And usually Glasgow or Edinburgh.
Not even sure how often they are down aouth in Eng.

I dont know if u can contact a dealer or buyer to buy a gun at the auction?
But u would need to know roughly wot u were after.

But their will be heaps of seriously beautiful old english guns coming up for sale over the next few years.

Is their a local gunsmith to u in USA that could alter the stock if u bought 1 of photos?
 
Heym SR20 said:
@Edinburgh Rifles has had plenty of Americans buying really nice guns. So too do many other dealers.
If they have a visitors permit it allows them to acquire a gun and then take it with them and they then have to deal with paperwork, otherwise they are sent across. Plenty of UK gun dealers and auction houses are regularly shipping guns to the US. If you are sending one gun it’s expensive, but if it’s part of a consignment of several guns the cost is much less per gun.
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I've bought shotguns on my Visitors Permit and no issues at all, I think it doesn't matter to the dealer too much whether its a SGC or a visitors permit, they still have the fill out the same paperwork. However, some dealers are not too familiar with the Visitors Permit or have only seen it for the first time, so will need a couple of minutes to read into it. But you'll be able to walk out of the door with your newly acquired guns.

Also, when applying for the visitors permit, make sure you fill in the calibers you want to acquire your shotguns in.

Rifles is a different story unfortunately, if you're on a visitors permit you can't acquire rifles in the UK, only the ammo you applied for.
 
Mountain Bug said:
Thank you. I'm familiar with MacLeods and did look at their online catalog but didn't find much of interest. I've also looked at Graham's in Inverness. Unfortunately, they don't have their used inventory listed. I do remember seeing alot of shotguns in their racks but that was four years ago. Looks like I may have to search further south or at one of your auction houses.


Scott
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Drop a line to Holts Auctions who deal with a lot of overseas buyers and ask them how to do it from the US and how shippinh is dealt with. You may be able to get an regular exporter to handle all the legalities for you.
 
Here's an update on my progress. First, a big Thank You to @kenbro who has put me in contact with a friend in the States who is trying to do something quite similar. His friend has been at this for three years now while trying to figure this out and has helped me immensely.

What I need to do is first apply for Type 03 Federal Firearms License (Curios and Relics) as you must have an FFL to import any guns made after 1898 and this license allows me to import guns that are at least 50 years old and considered collectible. Sporting shotguns can be imported with this license and it is the cheapest and easiest non- commercial FFL to acquire.

Next, I need to buy a shotgun or at least know all the particulars of the gun I plan to buy including overall length, barrel length, maker, country of make, serial number, caliber/gauge/chambering and any other identifiers. I can then use this information to obtain an ATF form 6 (import permit) which can take 3-6 weeks for approval.

When I have an approved Form 6, then I need to send it to the appropriate authority in the UK in order to obtain a UK export permit surely adding a few more weeks.
With the Type 03 FFL, the ATF Form 6 and the UK export permit in hand I can then fly from the UK with the gun assuming that I have a temporary shotgun permit which allows me possession abroad (unless the export permit covers that).

Then I need to find an airline that will allow firearm transport and a connecting airport from Inverness that allows the same. Usually I've flown BA through Heathrow because options are limited to H&I in Inverness. Paperwork in hand, a secondary customs visit in Denver should have me headed home

I could skip all this and use a shipper in the UK plus a customs broker in the states for about $1000 for just one gun. Savings are to be had if shipping more than one gun. Downside to this is that a US licensed broker/ importer has to engrave my new gun with his ATF approved identifying marks thus ruining it.

Its all quite simple really :rofl:



Scott
 
Mountain Bug said:
Here's an update on my progress. First, a big Thank You to @kenbro who has put me in contact with a friend in the States who is trying to do something quite similar. His friend has been at this for three years now while trying to figure this out and has helped me immensely.

What I need to do is first apply for Type 03 Federal Firearms License (Curios and Relics) as you must have an FFL to import any guns made after 1898 and this license allows me to import guns that are at least 50 years old and considered collectible. Sporting shotguns can be imported with this license and it is the cheapest and easiest non- commercial FFL to acquire.

Next, I need to buy a shotgun or at least know all the particulars of the gun I plan to buy including overall length, barrel length, maker, country of make, serial number, caliber/gauge/chambering and any other identifiers. I can then use this information to obtain an ATF form 6 (import permit) which can take 3-6 weeks for approval.

When I have an approved Form 6, then I need to send it to the appropriate authority in the UK in order to obtain a UK export permit surely adding a few more weeks.
With the Type 03 FFL, the ATF Form 6 and the UK export permit in hand I can then fly from the UK with the gun assuming that I have a temporary shotgun permit which allows me possession abroad (unless the export permit covers that).

Then I need to find an airline that will allow firearm transport and a connecting airport from Inverness that allows the same. Usually I've flown BA through Heathrow because options are limited to H&I in Inverness. Paperwork in hand, a secondary customs visit in Denver should have me headed home

I could skip all this and use a shipper in the UK plus a customs broker in the states for about $1000 for just one gun. Savings are to be had if shipping more than one gun. Downside to this is that a US licensed broker/ importer has to engrave my new gun with his ATF approved identifying marks thus ruining it.

Its all quite simple really :rofl:



Scott
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Holy Christ! At first, I thought to myself- interesting thread, maybe I need an older bespoke English shotgun. Then after reading all the nonsense of acquisition, I thought- no way, too much hassle I’ll just buy American. That way, weblyish will still have guns to choose from…
 
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