Author Topic: Shipping flintlocks to Germany (Read 3079 times)

Dennis Glazener · « **on:** May 14, 2019, 08:46:20 PM »

Can anyone give me a good carrier to use to ship a flintlock rifle and flintlock pistol to Germany. Preferably one that will provide full insurance coverage.

I tried to use https://www.ipsparcel.com/ which I have used in the past but this time I was rejected saying that FEDEX rules did NOT allow the shipping of firearms even if they were muzzleloaders. (Note IPS Parcel uses FEDEX and UPS to ship international, evidently they have a contract and their rates are usually cheaper than going direct to UPS or FEDEX. They had no problem with the flintlocks but FEDEX would not accept the shipment.
Dennis

mbriggs · « **Reply #1 on:** May 14, 2019, 10:06:02 PM »

Dennis,
I have shipped over a dozen antique (pre-1898) firearms in both percussion and flintlock form via UPS, but none out of the U.S.

All but one arrived without any shipping damage.

Michael

BruceH · « **Reply #2 on:** May 14, 2019, 11:01:00 PM »

Dennis, if memory serves me correct, years ago for a short period Fedex was not shipping guns. However, they have been shipping them in my part of the world for awhile now. Now Internationally, I can't speak to that with Fedex.

Dennis Glazener · « **Reply #3 on:** May 15, 2019, 01:47:09 AM »

Thanks guys, FEDEX rejected the shipment said no firearm allowed, even after explaining flintlocks wee not firearms per Federal Firearms act. I may end up having to use UPS but the last time I compared their rates a they were over $200 higher than FEDEX on international shipment ( still not sure why FEDEX rejected thus one!,

lexington1 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 15, 2019, 05:33:55 AM »

Thats weird. I use Fedex quite a bit and have never had a problem with them. Maybe it has to do with sending them to Germany? I bought a few originals from a guy who bought them at an auction in Germany from a castle that was liquidating their collection. He said he would never do it again, due to the bureaucracy. They were tied up in customs for almost a year after he bought them. Of coarse they were coming from Germany and not going to Germany, but maybe related?

Anonymous · « **Reply #5 on:** May 15, 2019, 05:50:56 AM »

Different game, but CMP uses FedEx to deliver M1 Garands. Odd that they wouldn’t ship a flintlock.

Chris_B · « **Reply #6 on:** May 15, 2019, 06:25:07 AM »

I cannot understand FedEx´s policy at all....
Received a couple of antique caplock and flintlock arms over the years from
different sources in the USA that FedEx shipped to Germany with no problem at all,
just recently my Gillespie Rifle (that was actually sent by Dennis, too).
So why do they reject two flintlock arms now?

You do not need any permission to own them in Germany or import them to Germany.

Huntschool · « **Reply #7 on:** May 15, 2019, 07:15:36 AM »

Just speaking off the top of my head (which can be a strange place to be) I would contact FedX home office and ask them what the situation was. I would not just talk to a phone guy but perhaps some further up the food chain. As mentioned above, if they will ship a Grand why not a pre 1899 or replica which is not applicable to our gun laws.

Just a thought.

Monty59 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 15, 2019, 08:43:35 AM »

Dennis ask Jim Kibler or Jim Chambers how it works best ! Normal it is not that big problem we'll get a new weapons law soon and then also replicas of historical weapons are to be registered.
But all real antique guns like wheel look flint look and percussion still without any registration but it must be a single shot one.

Monty

dogbest · « **Reply #9 on:** May 15, 2019, 03:46:58 PM »

Did you go to a Fedex depot or a Fedex (privately owned) store?
Sometimes the stores make up their own rules.
We had this happen at a UPS store but never at a UPS depot.

smokinbuck · « **Reply #10 on:** May 15, 2019, 07:27:14 PM »

As Dogbest indicated, FedEx stores do their own thing. Shipping from a depot is usually cheaper than a store.
Mark

Dennis Glazener · « **Reply #11 on:** May 16, 2019, 12:45:03 AM »

Quote from: lexington1 on May 15, 2019, 05:33:55 AM

Thats weird. I use Fedex quite a bit and have never had a problem with them. Maybe it has to do with sending them to Germany? I bought a few originals from a guy who bought them at an auction in Germany from a castle that was liquidating their collection. He said he would never do it again, due to the bureaucracy. They were tied up in customs for almost a year after he bought them. Of coarse they were coming from Germany and not going to Germany, but maybe related?

Yes it's strange to me, the first one I shipped went through in a week, front door delivery! Second shipment rejected by FEDEX (the shipper I used has contracts with FEDEX and UPS).

I have an account with FEDEX but their online (discounted) international forms are so complex I can not get a shipment to clear their edits and their online help is almost non-exsistant. I priced UPS and their online quote was
rediculas. Going to local FEDEX office tomorrow morning.
Dennis

Dennis Glazener · « **Reply #12 on:** May 16, 2019, 12:50:26 AM »

Quote from: dogbest on May 15, 2019, 03:46:58 PM

Did you go to a Fedex depot or a Fedex (privately owned) store?
Sometimes the stores make up their own rules.
We had this happen at a UPS store but never at a UPS depot.

I never use any of the stores other than to maybe drop off a prepaid online shipment.

Used an online shipping service that uses several different common carriers. The one I shipped Chris B before went via FEDEX but FEDEX not the shipper rejected the last one. Tge shipping service had no restrictions other than what the carrier imposes.

Dennis

Monty59 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 16, 2019, 10:11:51 AM »

I get Flintlook rifles from Allen Martin he send it via USPS than I get one from Don Getz OK a few years ago he send it via UPS and I get two from Track of the Wolf there send it with Fedex. Scott Sibley try to send one last year and it did not work. I also heard that there are different rules applied from place to place.

Monty

Dennis Glazener · « **Reply #14 on:** May 16, 2019, 09:34:48 PM »

OK it looks like I have gotten to the crux of the problem. I was using ipsparcel.com which has some type of bulk contract rates with several common carriers (you might want to check them out) THEY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH MY PROBLEM. The first thing I did wrong was to list the items as antique percussion muzzleloaders. Evidently the first time I shipped to Chris that description slipped through the FEDEX audit but on this last shipment they caught it and rejected the shipment for being firearms. No amount to explaining Flintlocks aren't firearms helped

Then after checking with an auction house that shipped to Germany they told me to list as Antique Art by so and so. I tried to then use my online FEDEX account and could not get the proper answers to their many questions for tariffs and codes to clear the audit! This morning I went to the local FEDEX office and they gave me a reasonable quote on the antique art but they said NONE of their services to Germany could be insured for more than $1000 and that was not enough for this shipment.

I then called Barbie Chambers and she told me they used UPS, Antique Art and gave me the tariff to use and told me they had never had a cap on insurance. On the way home I stopped by a UPS store and they gave me a quote with full insurance but it was several hundred dollars more than what FEDEX charged!

I decided to try ipsparcel.com again using their UPS option and send as antique art. Rate was not much more than FEDEX with low ins coverage and was several hundred less that UPS store! So the moral of this story is BE CAREFUL when shipping, try different options if you are shipping international.

Oh, if sending international your first check should be USPS Priority Mail BUT they have a max length/girth rule and this package was way over that limit. They are USUALLY the cheapest way to ship longarms, careful with pistols (even antique pistols are a no no with USPS. Yes I know almost everone ships them that way but read the postal regulations, IT SAYS NO Pistols and does not exclude antique ones).

Dennis

rich pierce · « **Reply #15 on:** May 17, 2019, 12:49:13 AM »

You have the patience of Job and the persistence of a beaver chawing on a big cottonwood!

Dennis Glazener · « **Reply #16 on:** May 17, 2019, 02:34:00 AM »

Well Rich I am also a chespskate😋

Chris_B · « **Reply #17 on:** May 17, 2019, 09:42:10 AM »

Quote from: rich pierce on May 17, 2019, 12:49:13 AM

You have the patience of Job and the persistence of a beaver chawing on a big cottonwood!

And this is why I am sooooo thankful for what Dennis did.
as I already mentioned elsewhere: What a great guy!!

Carl Young · « **Reply #18 on:** May 17, 2019, 06:07:16 PM »

Thank you Dennis for a very useful posting. Congratulations on your victory!
Carl

mountainman70 · « **Reply #19 on:** May 18, 2019, 03:45:23 AM »

I don't believe Job has a thing on Dennis.hahaha Good ol fashion mountain obstinance. We didn't get grey beards by bein a pushover. Way to go,bro. Have a goodun. Dave F

Chris_B · « **Reply #20 on:** May 28, 2019, 04:11:20 PM »

Now here is the very unhappy end to the story....

I received the package today, it had been held about ten days at customs.
By looking at the box I could tell at once it had a pretty rough treatment.
The rifle was tumbling inside, the fillings partly missing.
The box was closed with customs banderoles, you would think a 4-year-old had done it.

What can I say: The wrist of a beautiful Melchoir Fordney rifle is shattered......
The pistol accompanying the rifle is fine, but they had unwrapped it and thrown back into the
box with no shelter whatsoever!
The Journal with an article of that very pistol is gone, too, only the envelope left.

I´m pretty outraged right now....
UPS will check on the damaged rifle in a couple days, hope they will cover some of the financial
damage. The damage to the great old stock can never be made good for

stuart cee dub · « **Reply #21 on:** May 28, 2019, 08:35:46 PM »

Tragic. Just a crying shame too.
It's a message.

The rules are getting tightened over in Europe ( let's say the EU) re antique guns and replicas there of .If I read the rules correctly replicas are now to be considered modern unlike here. It's the law of the lowest common denominator .

I once had a can of roasted Christmas nuts held up by the German post office going to a client because of an over zealous new post office inspector. Guess she thought they were nuts and bolts not pecans and cashews.

All I could think of was General McAlliffe (sp) replying to the German general ''Nuts'' ...in his response to German offer asking for his surrender during the battle of the Bulge .Some long held grudge against nuts in general I guess.

News:

Author Topic: Shipping flintlocks to Germany (Read 3079 times)

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dogbest