In the past some people mentioned that when they ship a gun to someone else or to a gunsmith, they inform the carrier that its parts, machine tools, tools , sporting goods or other items.

Just a not, it is against federal law not to notify the carrier that it is a firearms. This law has nothing to do with the carriers own regualtions. Its federal.

John Boyd
Quality Arms

John,
It is my reading that the notification is only required for "common or contract carrier". USPS shipping does not require notice.
Further, 27CFR 178.31a, requires the notice be written.
Bob Jurewicz

I just tell the Postmistress it's a gun and that it is NOT loaded, and is going to an FFL holder, and away it goes. For handguns I pay my local FFL to ship via USPS and come out about $40 ahead.

Q: May a nonlicensee ship a firearm by common or contract carrier?

A nonlicensee may ship a firearm by a common or contract carrier to a resident of his or her own State or to a licensee in any State. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun. In addition, Federal law requires that the carrier be notified that the shipment contains a firearm and prohibits common or contract carriers from requiring or causing any label to be placed on any package indicating that it contains a firearm.

[18 U.S.C. 922(a)(2)(A), 922(a) (3), 922(a)(5) and 922(e), 27 CFR 478.31 and 478.30]

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)]

Hand guns are mailable if you are are an FFL holder. This is from the USPS rules for mailability.
Cheers,
Laurie

Exhibit 432.1
Mailability Requirements for Firearms

Unloaded Handgun
Handguns — e.g., pistols, revolvers, and other firearms capable of being concealed on the person — are nonmailable UNLESS mailed by a licensed manufacturer of firearms, or a licensed dealer of firearms, or an authorized agent of the federal government or government of a state, territory, or district, and ONLY when addressed to a person in one of the following categories for use in the person’s official duties AND upon filing the required affidavit or certificate, as applicable (see DMM 601.11.1.3–7):
Addressee: Officer of Army, Coast Guard, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, or Organized Reserve Corps.
Affidavit or Certificate Requirements: Mailable with affidavit signed by addressee and certificate signed by the commanding officer.
Addressee: Officer of National Guard or militia of a state, territory, or district.
Affidavit or Certificate Requirements: Mailable with affidavit signed by addressee and certificate signed by the commanding officer.
Addressee: Officer of the federal government or a state, district, or territory whose official duty is to serve warrants of arrest or commitment.
Affidavit or Certificate Requirements: Mailable with affidavit signed by addressee and certificate signed by the head of the agency employing the addressee.
Addressee: Postal Service employees specifically authorized by the Chief Postal Inspector.
Affidavit or Certificate Requirements: Mailable with affidavit signed by addressee and certificate signed by the head of the agency employing the addressee.
Addressee: Officer or employee of a U.S. enforcement agency.
Affidavit or Certificate Requirements: Mailable with affidavit signed by addressee and certificate signed by the head of the agency employing the addressee.
Addressee: Watchman engaged in guarding federal, state, district, or territory property.
Affidavit or Certificate Requirements: Mailable with affidavit signed by addressee and certificate signed by chief clerk of department, bureau, or independent branch of the government agency employing the addressee.
Addressee: Purchasing agent or other designated member of an enforcement agency employing officers and personnel included in c, d, or e above.
Affidavit or Certificate Requirements: Mailable with affidavit signed by addressee and certificate signed by the head of agency stating the firearm is to be used by an officer or employee cited in c, d, or e above.
Addressee: Licensed manufacturers and dealers of firearms.
Affidavit or Certificate Requirements: Signed statement on PS Form 1508, Statement by Shipper of Firearms.
The mailer must be a licensed manufacturer or dealer mailing to another licensed manufacturer or dealer.
Handguns may be mailed without regard to the requirements noted in items a–h if the addressee is the FBI (or its Director) or a scientific lab or crime detection bureau of any agency whose members are federal law enforcement officers, or state, district, or territory officers authorized to serve warrants of arrest or commitment.
Manufacturers or dealers must complete PS Form 1508, Statement by Shipper of Firearms, and file with the postmaster.
Postmasters may forward an unsatisfactory mailer statement to their PCSC for a ruling.

correct,they are mailable as a FFL,the "Handguns are not mailable" part is under the:
" May a nonlicensee ship a firearm through the U.S. Postal Service"

Bob:

yes the notice has to be written. As far as the PO not sure how that is considered

Other carriers you must tell

john Boyd
Quality Arms
houston, TX

John:
I have the FedEx guy pick up at my shop; I would think you do too. What do you do about the written declaration? Would I just hand the driver a scrap of paper saying there is a firearm in this box? Not to be sarcastic, but I know my drivers pretty well and I guarantee they don't care what's in there. Thanks for any advice.
Craig Libhart

In the Q&A quoted by Dave K, there is no reference to a written notice - but I have not read the statute. I sent two doubles by FedEx today. On one slip I put "NECG" and the clerk asked what that stood for. I told him, he confirmed that NECG was in their database, printed a shipping label that said "New England Custom" and didn't ask me another question about that or the other package (which was going to Griffin & Howe). Does that constitute notice?

In my experience, FedEx is much easier to deal with than UPS. The UPS stores I have tried to use to ship shotguns all insist that I ship firearms through a special facility which is not conveniently located. All my FedEx experiences have been consistent with that described above.

If you ever have to try to collect on the insurance, the USPS is MUCH easier to deal with. UPS and FedEx act like it's their money.

Doverham,
Dave's reference is from the Q&A. The Law section I sited earlier is where you find the "written notice", its the law.
Bob Jurewicz

I have shipped many times to NECG by UPS.....I have to drive to the Sagamore beach from Plymouth, drop it off and put " NECG" which is what NECG tells me to do. I am asked what is in it...I tell them a beat up old shotgun.....I even asked NECG because of this thread if they have had any delivery problems with stolen guns and they have told me they have not ....as of yet.....it it sent overnight and comes back overnight when shipped. But the distance for me is only 4 hours away. They told me they know their delivery guy and he knows them ( I did not ask but I bet he gets a nice modest Xmas bonus which is what I would do )...when it come back to me...the delivery guys knows me too....and tells me it's back.....by the way , I give him a bottle around Xmas.... As I used to do with my mail man....but none of this guarantees anything.

We are a registered shipper with both UPS and fedx. They know what we do.

Its federal law that you must give written notice to the carrier.
Generally the drivers do not care. Its the higher ups that do.

Here is something interesting that has just happened to me.
I just shiiped some ammo via UPS, something I have done before. I write on the box in several places, ORM-D. Which by law is required. I would just use a very broad marker, vesy to see. Well, my driver just returned the ammo and said security said it was not properly marked. I told my driver that I have done that any times before and he yes, he knows. But I have to have the proper DOT aproved labels to attached to the box. Which I had to get (not supplied by UPS) and then I attached they to the box. Now ok.

John Boyd
Quality Arms
Houston, TX

Ask them about the UPS guy when they where in Plainfield

Absolutely true, send it Registered Mail and should it get lost you will get paid. Not so with UPS, not sure about Fedex.