Buying from overseas

MarcoG · November 20, 2014, 03:50 AM

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.

MarcoG · November 21, 2014, 07:39 AM

I take it nobody has any experience in this regard. Well, that's a shame. Thanks for reading though.

Paul B. · November 22, 2014, 03:40 PM

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.

SIGSHR · November 22, 2014, 05:54 PM

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.

**Aguila Blanca** · November 22, 2014, 09:36 PM

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.

dakota.potts · November 22, 2014, 10:36 PM

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.

**Aguila Blanca** · November 23, 2014, 08:59 AM

http://www.gunbroker.com/Support/Sup...1110&NoCount=1

http://johnsonfirearms.com/export/

http://weexportguns.com/

wogpotter · November 23, 2014, 09:52 AM

I think he's exporting to Switzerland & importing there, not from Switzerland to the USA.

November 20, 2014, 03:50 AM	#1
MarcoG Junior Member Join Date: November 19, 2014 Posts: 6	Buying from overseas 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.

November 22, 2014, 03:40 PM	#3
Paul B. Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 1999 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,802	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. __________________ COMPROMISE IS NOT AN OPTION!

November 22, 2014, 10:36 PM	#6
dakota.potts Senior Member Join Date: February 25, 2013 Location: Keystone Heights, Florida Posts: 3,084	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. __________________ Certified Gunsmith (On Hiatus) Certified Armorer - H&K and Glock Among Others You can find my writings at my website, pottsprecision.com.

November 23, 2014, 09:52 AM	#8
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	I think he's exporting to Switzerland & importing there, not from Switzerland to the USA. __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

November 21, 2014, 07:39 AM	#2
MarcoG Junior Member Join Date: November 19, 2014 Posts: 6	I take it nobody has any experience in this regard. Well, that's a shame. Thanks for reading though.

November 22, 2014, 05:54 PM	#4
SIGSHR Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2005 Posts: 4,700	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.

November 22, 2014, 09:36 PM	#5
Aguila Blanca Staff Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: CONUS Posts: 18,468	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.

November 23, 2014, 08:59 AM	#7
Aguila Blanca Staff Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: CONUS Posts: 18,468	http://www.gunbroker.com/Support/Sup...1110&NoCount=1 http://johnsonfirearms.com/export/ http://weexportguns.com/