Cotswoldshooter Posted May 24, 2018 Report Share Posted May 24, 2018 Short version: How do i courier a shotgun back from France to the UK? As per the title, i'm struggling to find an answer to this problem. My shotgun is currently located with my Uncle in southern France near to Toulouse. He has no intention of returning to the UK and no longer holds a UK shotgun certificate. I wish to bring the gun (which was originally bought in the UK and taken to France) back to the UK. I'm currently unable to travel to France to collect the gun and return with it to the UK, what are the alternatives? Despite speaking to my local FEO, local gunsmiths, clay pigeon shoots and also emailing a few gun shops in France near to the guns location in Toulouse, i've been unable to resolve. Surely there is a courier that i could pay to collect the gun, and deliver it to a gunsmith or RFD in the UK near to me? Any and all help appreciated. thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 24, 2018 Report Share Posted May 24, 2018 (edited) http://gundealer.net/import.htm https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/firearms-control-at-the-point-of-entry-into-the-uk is this info any good Edited May 24, 2018 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cotswoldshooter Posted May 24, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2018 2 hours ago, Swinton said: http://gundealer.net/import.htm https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/firearms-control-at-the-point-of-entry-into-the-uk is this info any good that information explains what needs to be done, i'm unable to find a company, RFD etc who are able and willing to actually do it. A local RFD said they needed a French RFD to use their export certificate, after emailing five different RFD in Toulouse, none of them offer the service. As for London Gun Services, they didn't reply to my email or form, and upon phoning they said they would get back to me but never did. Thanks for your reply though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaymo Posted May 24, 2018 Report Share Posted May 24, 2018 Easiest , notify local Licencing section of your ‘purchase’ and have it placed on you current SGC- at the same time as for a European Firearms Permit with this shotgun listed on it. Then, go pay your uncle a nice surprise visit using the cheapest EasyJet flight to Blagnac (Toulouse) having informed EasyJet Customer Services that you will be checking in a firearm ( lockable case remember) Its how I brought mine back ( not the EasyJet part though ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted May 24, 2018 Report Share Posted May 24, 2018 Why can’t you go get it? Would seem like the logical answer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cotswoldshooter Posted May 24, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2018 1 hour ago, Jaymo said: Easiest , notify local Licencing section of your ‘purchase’ and have it placed on you current SGC- at the same time as for a European Firearms Permit with this shotgun listed on it. Then, go pay your uncle a nice surprise visit using the cheapest EasyJet flight to Blagnac (Toulouse) having informed EasyJet Customer Services that you will be checking in a firearm ( lockable case remember) Its how I brought mine back ( not the EasyJet part though ) you seem to have missed the bit where i'm unable to travel, if it was as simple as flying over there and bringing the gun back then i wouldn't have posted and gone through all of the trouble i already have, as detailed above. ? # Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaymo Posted May 24, 2018 Report Share Posted May 24, 2018 (edited) Didn’t miss it, just didn’t realise ‘unable to travel’ was not just an inconvenience, but something more that hinders such a move. After all you could be there and back in less than a day. BTW, if you wish to use a Specialist importer then I hope the gun in question has some value as it’s often cost prohibitive, hence I went down the route that I did ,especially as I was to be charged per firearm and not as a ‘group’ Secondly, is your shotgun registered at the ‘Prefecture’?if it is that presents one set of problems as there is a request form to fill in to export. If it’s not listed then you had better get it place on an EFP pdq Edited May 24, 2018 by Jaymo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellors Posted May 25, 2018 Report Share Posted May 25, 2018 Have you tried some of the auction places.?. They do it from this side. I assume they'll have the answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snow white Posted May 25, 2018 Report Share Posted May 25, 2018 He as only joined pw the last couple of days now asking how to bring gun in to country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 25, 2018 Report Share Posted May 25, 2018 (edited) Why can you not travel .if you don’t like flying why not drive to France and get it if you get the relivent paperwork can you not bring it back that way Edited May 25, 2018 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gu5 Posted May 25, 2018 Report Share Posted May 25, 2018 Is this shotgun on any ticket? If it was on uncles but now expired how does the tracking of it go? Is it now an illegally held gun? Could this be why no local French dealers want to be involved? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaymo Posted May 25, 2018 Report Share Posted May 25, 2018 2 hours ago, Gu5 said: Is this shotgun on any ticket? If it was on uncles but now expired how does the tracking of it go? Is it now an illegally held gun? Could this be why no local French dealers want to be involved? Not quite, having lived and shot there for 10 years I got to know the system- could try and write/explain, but I would end up loosing myself ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matone Posted May 25, 2018 Report Share Posted May 25, 2018 Surely if uncle holds it on French documentation,HE can just send it to you via the approved channels ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted May 25, 2018 Report Share Posted May 25, 2018 Can you not have the gun posted in separate parts ie barrels posted then the woodwork and finally in another parcel the action. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted May 26, 2018 Report Share Posted May 26, 2018 21 hours ago, figgy said: Can you not have the gun posted in separate parts ie barrels posted then the woodwork and finally in another parcel the action. Is that not by passing the normal way to legally bring firearms into the country? I certainly wouldn’t want to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted May 26, 2018 Report Share Posted May 26, 2018 (edited) If he is going to put it on his ticket I don’t see as any different to carrying it over his shoulder. Its only getting around the couriers. As your only posting machinery or engineering parts. Whether it’s legal I have no idea. Edited May 26, 2018 by figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mighty Ruler Posted May 26, 2018 Report Share Posted May 26, 2018 I seem to remember reading this story before, or maybe the details are just similar. In the previous story the gun was his late fathers and has a low value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AYA117 Posted May 26, 2018 Report Share Posted May 26, 2018 On 25/05/2018 at 08:19, snow white said: He as only joined pw the last couple of days now asking how to bring gun in to country. Yes and now he has gone very quiet indeed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benkent Posted May 30, 2018 Report Share Posted May 30, 2018 Why can't you go and collect it either drive or fly that's the easiest way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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