Re: Shipping a Curio
Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2012 9:55 am
The official ATF response:
Q: May a nonlicensee ship a firearm through the U.S. Postal Service?
A nonlicensee may not transfer a firearm to a non-licensed resident of another State. A nonlicensee may mail a shotgun or rifle to a resident of his or her own State or to a licensee in any State. The Postal Service recommends that long guns be sent by registered mail and that no marking of any kind which would indicate the nature of the contents be placed on the outside of any parcel containing firearms. Handguns are not mailable. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun.
[18 U.S.C. 1715, 922(a)(3), 922(a)(5) and 922 (a)(2)(A)]
and...
Q: Are curio or relic firearms exempt from the provisions of the GCA?
No. Curios or relics are still firearms subject to the provisions of the GCA; however, curio or relic firearms may be transferred in interstate commerce to licensed collectors or other licensees.
So, you may use the US Post Office (and I recommend it) to ship the rifle to a C&R FFL nearest the customer (let them do that legwork). The C&R will then transfer it to the customer. Make sure you put a copy of the C&R FFL in the box, and write the customer's name on it as a courtesy.
As for boxes....a UPS store can make you a box (don't bring them the rifle, just the dimensions), you can visit a local Wal-Mart or Academy and ask (Academy might have some to give you, depending on whether the manager is nice or not), or get one of the triangular boxes from the post office. If all of those fail, and you're near north Austin...I have a couple that might work. Oh, there's also this place: http://www.cameronpackaging.com/gun_boxes.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Q: May a nonlicensee ship a firearm through the U.S. Postal Service?
A nonlicensee may not transfer a firearm to a non-licensed resident of another State. A nonlicensee may mail a shotgun or rifle to a resident of his or her own State or to a licensee in any State. The Postal Service recommends that long guns be sent by registered mail and that no marking of any kind which would indicate the nature of the contents be placed on the outside of any parcel containing firearms. Handguns are not mailable. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun.
[18 U.S.C. 1715, 922(a)(3), 922(a)(5) and 922 (a)(2)(A)]
and...
Q: Are curio or relic firearms exempt from the provisions of the GCA?
No. Curios or relics are still firearms subject to the provisions of the GCA; however, curio or relic firearms may be transferred in interstate commerce to licensed collectors or other licensees.
So, you may use the US Post Office (and I recommend it) to ship the rifle to a C&R FFL nearest the customer (let them do that legwork). The C&R will then transfer it to the customer. Make sure you put a copy of the C&R FFL in the box, and write the customer's name on it as a courtesy.
As for boxes....a UPS store can make you a box (don't bring them the rifle, just the dimensions), you can visit a local Wal-Mart or Academy and ask (Academy might have some to give you, depending on whether the manager is nice or not), or get one of the triangular boxes from the post office. If all of those fail, and you're near north Austin...I have a couple that might work. Oh, there's also this place: http://www.cameronpackaging.com/gun_boxes.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;