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I'll be going to the States in a month. I rather fancy buying a black powder revolver and bringing it back to the UK. I have a spare slot.

Is this possible and what paperwork would I need?

Yes it's possible, you'll need a fac authorising you to possess/acquire. AFAIK there should be no issues stateside. Can confirm by asking my mate who did this last year. No import licence required if personal import.

Andy632 wrote:Yes it's possible, you'll need a fac authorising you to possess/acquire. AFAIK there should be no issues stateside. Can confirm by asking my mate who did this last year. No import licence required if personal import.

If you could ask him what sort of rigmarole I can expect at airports etc that'd be very gratefully received info.

I expect States side it will need to be in a locked firearm case and obviously TSA inspected. As it's personal property bought on my holiday I imagine there will be no import duties to pay this side of the pond as it ought to easily be within the £390 allowance. I suspect I will need to show my FAC as I go through customs.

When the TV programme was on last year regarding how easy it was to obtain an obsolete calibre revolver, a journalist travelled to the states, attended a gun show, bought a S&W 44 Russain and all he ahd to do was buy a peli case for it to go in his suit case.

This side, it is UK customs that actually enter the revolver on your certificate and notify your issuing force of the importation.

Can you even buy a firearm in the USA if you are not a resident or US citizen?

I believe muzzle loading blackpowder guns are not regarded as "firearms" as they are here. A friend of mine who has a thing for handmade Kentucky flintlocks has had several sent through the post to him, he is an RFD, without him requiring export licences from the US.

Rockhopper wrote:Can you even buy a firearm in the USA if you are not a resident or US citizen?

I can't speak for the situation in all states (there may be a few that take a different stance, places where shooters wouldn't want to live anyhow) but on the whole muzzle loading revolvers are not subject to the same rigmarole as modern firearms. In Washington (state) on my last visit a month back a number of dealers offered to sell me BP revolvers I'd taken an interest in right there over the counter. No paperwork or checks or concern that I was a foreign tourist.
This visit I'll be buying a few BP revolvers as my girlfriend has been drawn into shooting sports. At some point we'll be driving out into the countryside where there are designated sites you can shoot, setting up some bean cans, and doing our best to put holes in them. All completely legal.
I know! I was surprised too! We're so used to being fettered and controlled in this country that we actually feel a bit cautious of freedom when confronted by it and tend to gingerly poke it with sticks, "Don't trust it. Where's the catch?"

Sim G.
So what's the situation regarding filling in my purchase on my FAC?
Does the US seller not have to record the sale on my cert? Do I just leave that for Customs to fill in when I show them the bill of sale and firearm in question?

I've looked around on various government websites including Border Control and there's never any clear procedure to follow.
Just the usual waffle about restricted items etc etc. You'd think such an important subject would have some official guidence on the process but there's none that I have found.

When you get back to the UK, declare your purchase to UK Border Force via the "Red Channel" at customs. Show them your FAC which will act as an import licence for personal firearms not intended for trade. Once they are satisfied that the firearm is covered by your FAC, they'll calculate the duty and enter the revolver on you ticket and you'll pay what's required there and then and you'll leave with your gun. Inform your force in the usual way within 7 days that you imported the revolver. Sorted.

It's really very simple, believe it or not. The biggest difficulty is going to find a Border Force Officer with the confidence to fill in your Certificate! You might have to walk them through the process. The US dealer has nothing to do with your UK FAC.

Dark Skies wrote: I've looked around on various government websites including Border Control and there's never any clear procedure to follow.
Just the usual waffle about restricted items etc etc. You'd think such an important subject would have some official guidence on the process but there's none that I have found.

Oh, check out chapter 28 of the current Home Office Guidance.