doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Shipping antique firearms through UPS

I have been using ups since 1980. I had one gun damaged last year. They broke the stock. Its been so long since I had anything else damaged I can not remmember. I get guns in from individuals, generally poorly packed. Towels?


John Boyd

Among other mentioned benefits of shipping USPS is they will honor the amount the item was insured for without much hassle. UPS and Fedex have elevated dodging insurance claims to the level of an art form.

Bradford:

Bubble wrap and plastic packing wrap will leave marks on nice wood finishes and some other finishes, ESPECIALLY IN HOT AREAS LIKE THE SOUTHWEST, it is not worth the risk, barrels and actions/stocks wrapped with bath size towels are cushioned and fit movement free in hard cases.........The masking tape keeps the towels in place and the masking tape is very easy to remove from cotton towels on the receiving end....

Most of the plastics manufactured today are NOT acid free and do not breath......


When I ship newly refinished guns, I oil well, wrap the barrels tight with clear food wrap (which keeps the oil film in place), then wrap with clean bath size towels for cushion and movement security......cotton towels will not damage wood or other finishes or leave marks as cotton can breath.........I've been packing customer guns this way for years and have yet to receive a complaint or any damage........and I always ship via the UNITED STATES POST OFFICE PRIORITY MAIL INSURED.......MY CUSTOMERS SEND ME THEIR GUNS PACKED THE SAME WAY VIA THE SAME UNITED STATES POST OFFICE PRIORITY MAIL INSURED..........

Most dealers that use Brown Truck UPS use them because they pick up from their door for a monthly fee.........and they don't want to bother going to the post office.........

I have witnessed from other dealers/sellers numbers of damaged guns shipped via Brown Truck UPS and listened to all the horror stories......from broken stocks to delivery arrivals with bolt handles sticking through the cardboard box, crushed and broken hard cases and contents etc......

Best,

I use the USPS Registered Mail exclusively for C&R long guns.

Recoil Rob:
And I do so as well. I wish the postal authorities would wake up and allow C&R pistols to be shipped this way as well. You would think that an operation that's losing billions of dollars would be looking for alternative revenue sources.
Jim

In the last two weeks I have received two guns a Win M52 target and CG Bonehill that were both broken in half at the wrist from UPS. Both were packed well. The M52 was even in a UPS gun box. Ya just never know.

I also stopped using UPS after they severely dented the barrels on an L.C. Smith. It took me a long time to get the Claim money and they would only deal/communicate with the shipper and would only send the money to the shipper. After that I always use USPS and I try to request that sellers shipping to me do the same.
ATF regulations state that you do not have to disclose the contents to the post office if it is a long arm. But you do have to do so with a contracted carrier (such as UPS and FedEx).
Some postal offices will ask what the contents are if you are insuring the package, but mine never does. And technically they cannot deny to ship if you say it is a gun. If they do, just use another office or ship via the on-line click and ship service.

USPS is also faster and easier to deal with in the event of a claim.

I always ship my guns in heavy welded aluminum cases. Some might argue it's a dead giveaway what's inside but I've never had any problem with theft and I've shipped a lot of guns.