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Tips on importing parts?

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teletech

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I'm looking at a armorer's tool kit in Canada that is mostly hammers, wrenches, and screwdrivers, but also includes some small firearms parts (springs, screws, a firing pin, etc.) and wondering if I need to file a form 6 with the ATF to appease customs.
The whole kit is about $400, and it occurred to me that perhaps having the seller ship the spare parts separate might be safer. or not....
I've read some conflicting blurbs, from all parts need a form-6, to anything under $100 is exempt, to after 2020 anything under $500 is exempt. Who has practical experience here?
 
I have experience in the regard that I worked for a company years ago that sent scope rings to Canada and since they are classified as "Gun Parts" we got hit with a fine in the THOUSANDS. Lesson learned? Buy American.
 
I remember that Ranch Products, maker of .45 moon clips, once got into big trouble for sending clips out of the country without an export permit for gun parts. That was about 15 years ago. I would think that common items like pins, springs and screws would be OK so long as it is not recognizable as a gun part.
 
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Seriously, they are under ITAR. You will have to be on file as an importer with the DDTC. This is way more trouble than it is worth for 400 bucks worth of stuff in my opinion. Hoping they won't notice is a bad, bad plan.
 
Norton 750 said:
Seriously, they are under ITAR. You will have to be on file as an importer with the DDTC. This is way more trouble than it is worth for 400 bucks worth of stuff in my opinion. Hoping they won't notice is a bad, bad plan.
Click to expand...

Only if they are for resale.

"An unlicensed person may obtain a permit to import sporting ammunition (excluding armor-piercing, tracer, or incendiary ammunition) and firearm parts (other than frames, receivers, firearm barrels, or barreled actions) without engaging the services of an FFL, provided the items are for personal use and not for resale."

https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/g...nsed person may obtain,use and not for resale.
 
teletech said:
I'm looking at a armorer's tool kit in Canada that is mostly hammers, wrenches, and screwdrivers, but also includes some small firearms parts (springs, screws, a firing pin, etc.) and wondering if I need to file a form 6 with the ATF to appease customs.
The whole kit is about $400, and it occurred to me that perhaps having the seller ship the spare parts separate might be safer. or not....
I've read some conflicting blurbs, from all parts need a form-6, to anything under $100 is exempt, to after 2020 anything under $500 is exempt. Who has practical experience here?
Click to expand...
To smooth all issues, contact the Company and ask who in America offers their products


Then just buy it here. Even if it is a few dollars more you are ahead of the game
 
I was recently contacted by a new Forum member in Italy...he had ordered an C&H RDO adapter plate for his pistol, but the USA shipper refused to send it to Italy because according to EAR/ITAR it was listed as a "gun part" and could not be exported. The member asked if I would accept the part and then forward it to him in Italy. Although I agreed with him that this C&H metal plate should not be considered a gun part, I politely declined, letting him know that I would not circumvent federal restrictions and face fines or jail time! I suggested that he double check with the shipper because they may have mistakenly interpreted that the plate was listed as a gun part, but who knows. He understood.
 
colt_saa said:
To smooth all issues, contact the Company and ask who in America offers their products

Then just buy it here. Even if it is a few dollars more you are ahead of the game
Click to expand...
If only it were so simple, but when looking for scarce antiques, you take it where and when you find it.
 
teletech said:
If only it were so simple, but when looking for scarce antiques, you take it where and when you find it.
Click to expand...
If this Tool kit is not a commercial item and it contains "scarce antiques", then yes, you need a Form 6 to Lawfully do this yourself

Your original post just mentions "springs, screws, a firing pin" so that is why I answered as I did. The way you phrased it sounded like you were looking at an Armorer's Tool kit
 
Norton 750 said:
But even if he is not reselling it, he still has to get the license to import it.
Click to expand...

No FFL08 and AECA license as an importer are necessary. ATF Form 6 needs to be filed to comply with ATF regulations, that can be done as an individual in the described case. With an approved Form 6 import is then legal but a lot of common carriers will not accept gun parts for international shipments.

Further we will have to separate import from export! Export is handled by the State Department and requires an annual license that costs $2,000. Import of firearms is handled by ATF and AECA is cheap in comparison at $200 each year.
 
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There's always a risk with the laws. You could get BIG fines, or maybe something worse.
To be sure, I always consult with this firm: Corporate Investigation Consulting. They're experts in the fields of importing/exporting.
 
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Andyd said:
No FFL08 and AECA license as an importer are necessary. ATF Form 6 needs to be filed to comply with ATF regulations, that can be done as an individual in the described case. With an approved Form 6 import is then legal but a lot of common carriers will not accept gun parts for international shipments......
Click to expand...

Could the importation of an Armorers Kit be a yes or no legality if the Kit is Military Surplus item or not?
just wondering..
 
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