There are posters who are very experienced in importing guns from UK. However, for those less experienced contemplating doing so here are the charges for a gun bought from Holts in August 2025 which has just arrived.
Holts:
Hammer:. . . . . . .£400.00
Premium: . . . . . . £120.00
Total. . . . . . . . . .£520.00 = . . . . . . . . . $ . 680.41
Holts associated exporter:
1st Item Non-Licensed 260 GBP x 1.34 = . .$ . 348.40
Cased Gun 45 GBP x 1.34 = . . . . . . . . . . $. . .60.30
Import Duty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$. . . .9.06
Import Tariffs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$. . .76.65
UPS Shipping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$. . .75.00
Optional insurance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $. . .45.00
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $. . 614.41
Totally costs: $1,294.81
So it appears exporting a UK pre 1898 gun which cost 400 pounds costs 70% of the cost of the gun for shipping (1.34 is the exchange rate used by the shipper) plus duty, tariffs, shipping, insurance. (if the cost of the gun includes buyer's premium that would be 50%).
I do not know if this applies to every gun as a fixed charge - i.e. charge of shipping is related at 70% to the cost of the gun - or whether there is a discount for multiple guns being shipped. If the charge is automatically pro-rated to the gun cost rather than weight or some such, well, that doesn't seem quite cricket.
I understand other importers on our board also use the Holt's associated exporter. However, perhaps some competition could be found. Welcome comparative rates others have found.
Last edited by Argo44; 11/20/25 08:47 PM.
