Information regarding sending firearms abroad for repair

[Dark Skies]

A little less than nine months ago I bought a brand spanking new Pietta 1851 Navy.
Whilst cleaning it the other day I noticed the cylinder arbor (pin) has barely perceptible movement- a hint of wiggle.
Where it's staked or peened into the frame there appears to be a tiny crack either side (to my eyes at least).
The pistol has been babied and only shot the lightest of loads so I contacted Pietta with a view to having it looked at under warranty.

No quibble from Pietta (thus far) and they've passed my details on to an authorized repair centre they use.
The trouble is it's based wayyyy over in California USA. I'm in the process of querying this as I'd have thought sending it back to the factory in Italy would have been more practical and a lot less expensive on my pocket.

However, assuming that is the nearest repair centre, does anybody know what's involved in sending a firearm out of the country for repairs? Us being in the UK I'm sure it's very formal and not inexpensive.

Thanks in advance.

[Mattnall]

Have you tried the UK importers?
Might be able to help.

[rox]

I would definitely wait until the end of the shutdown before sending firearms to or via the USA. I know of one competitor who, after 3 years of training and preparation, will not be able to take his rifle to New Zealand for the World Championships because he transits through USA (even though the rifle will never leave the plane - it still has to be processed as an import, and that processing is not happening at present). He was also due to attend the South West Nationals in Pheonix on the return leg.

[Dark Skies]

I would definitely wait until the end of the shutdown before sending firearms to or via the USA. I know of one competitor who, after 3 years of training and preparation, will not be able to take his rifle to New Zealand for the World Championships because he transits through USA (even though the rifle will never leave the plane - it still has to be processed as an import, and that processing is not happening at present). He was also due to attend the South West Nationals in Pheonix on the return leg.

Good point! Hadn't even thought of that to be honest.
Now that I've got Pietta's blessing I'm going to contact the vendor with a view to returning it under warranty - now that I've found the paperwork for it. It's too much of a faff for a customer to be expected to deal with all that flummery on a fairly recent purchase.

[bradaz11]

sending to the US would probably cost more than buying a new one

[Dark Skies]

sending to the US would probably cost more than buying a new one

That's my take on it too.

When I received the email my immediate thought was "shurely shome mishtake?"

[Mattnall]

Where/who did you buy it from? Surely there would be some comeback from them or the importers.

[ovenpaa]

Matt, I was about to say the same, if it is 9 months old so return it to the point of purchase. If anyone is sending it back to the USA it will be the importer not the owner, especially at under a year old.
Pietta, isn't that Kranks?

[Dark Skies]

I managed to dig out the paperwork on it discovering the dealer that sold it to me - had a brief word with them over email and they're happy to take it and pass it onto the importer. It possibly will be Kranks but I'm not sure.

[Mattnall]

Kranks are the importers.

Only 9 months old, how did you forget who you bought from?