doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Recent English gun import stamped

I certainly am thrilled that my newly acquired vintage Sir Joseph Whitworth pressure steel barrels now proudly display my US importers name which is apparently required by US law...... NOT!!! What a drag.

It is certainly legally required. I always stamp mine under the wood if at all possible. Where is yours stamped?

The importer's stamp is located on the underside of the barrels just ahead of the lumps and is hidden by the forehand when attached; nevertheless, wish they weren't there.

Buzz it's requied by law. I made my stamp as small as possible. But, like you, I hated to do it.

Why? Is this American Customs gone mad?
Do you have to stamp the Space shuttle after every journey?
What on earth does stamping the importers details serve?

We had ours neatly engraved, another solution.

Well Salopian, why did the London proof house have to stamp their marks all over the topside of the barrels of my Boss over and under for all the world to see? Personally, I kind of like the marks but people like "Buzz" are apparently more particular.

Its not required by customs like salopian inquired, its a BATF requirement.

John Boyd
Quality Arms Inc

There is an exception for occasional importation which means if you're in the business of importing and are licensed to do so you must stamp, but A local gun shop that doens't do imports can still import a gun on occasion for a customer and are not required to stamp because they're not a "licensed importer". Of course using a shop that's never done it before can also cause hiccups if they don't know the process. I'd be more comfortable with a place that does it all the time. Pick your poison I guess.

From the ATF site:

Q: May a licensed dealer who does not have an importer�s license make an occasional importation?
Yes. A licensed dealer may make an occasional importation of a firearm for a non-licensee or for the licensee�s personal use (not for resale). The licensee must first submit an ATF Form 6, Part I to ATF for approval. The licensee may then present the approved Form 6 and completed ATF Form 6A to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Contact the Bureau of ATF, Firearms and Explosives Imports Branch for forms, or download them from the ATF Web page at http://www.atf.gov/forms/firearms/.

Marking for LICENSED IMPORTERS:

Link

I nearly exploded when I encountered a small, discrete Dremel-applied address under the fore-end of a Dickson I purchased last year. I then found out it was our government at work, not some mad elf. Don't you love it?