SilentScope Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 Im going to order a Tanaka SAA revolver from HK and without going into too much detail, I dont want anything changed on it. How often has anyone here in the US had run-ins with customs when ordering from overseas? Like package inspection, seizure, etc. I'm just wondering because I have never had any problems nor has anyone I know so I'm starting to wonder if its all just BS. Link to post Share on other sites
DrewLawson Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 Confucious Says: Customs may check your package, they may not, if the latter expect to pay alot. Link to post Share on other sites
SilentScope Posted May 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 This is kinda related, has anyone herd about the law stating that if the replica is of a pre-1898 firearm, no orange barrel plug is required? I remember hearing that somewhere. Link to post Share on other sites
Qhs Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 Whoa, thats a really old pistol. I ordered batteries and a charger from UNCo and Customs did not check it at all. Like what Antagon said to me in an e-mail awhile back, "...only 5% of packages are check by customs..." Link to post Share on other sites
HannibalSmith77 Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 I can't comment on the grandfather rule that you speak of... I can tell you that sometimes things will go through and you will never have a problem...sometimes that doesn't work. I ordered a SP M203 grenade launcher before I even knew anything about importing and really airsoft in general. I thought nothing of it...but when it came it had absolutely no orange and no covering on the trademarks. I just assumed that was the norm. Cut to a couple months down the road...I order a new TM M4 RIS. I ordered it 2 weeks before Thanksgiving and it came the Friday before Christmas. Why? Customs saw that the company I bought it from hadn't removed the trades and didn't have a large enough orange tip to suit them. I got lucky...they just checked it and refused the package...sending it back to the company. Hence the huge delay... I think it's always a risk, but if you talk with the people you're going to buy it from...they should be able to help you get what you want without losing anything. Uncompany has been wonderful for me to work with...they've always done the right thing to get it here without ruining it. Anyway...just my experiences. Hannibal Link to post Share on other sites
CZFan Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 Customs are yet to check anything of mine (airsoft or not)... but if you don't comply with the rules you are asking for it and have no grounds for objection. Link to post Share on other sites
Catchv22 Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 If it's a small package, it'll be less likely to be stopped by customs. Link to post Share on other sites
Shao14 Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 I don't think it's appropriate to discuss things like this here if you intend on taking your chances, and slipping through some packages without complying the importation law. Here's my experience. http://www.arniesairsoft.co.uk/forums/inde...topic=10512&hl= Link to post Share on other sites
Jun Wen Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 My friend and I ordered a KSC G19 from Hong Kong. When it arrived we found yellow tape on it saying that it had been checked by customs. It got here really fast, though. The gun did have an orange tip, but as I recall, nothing was done about the trademarks. then again, they weren't the "real" ones. Link to post Share on other sites
Redhawk Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 I've been ordering from Hong Kong retailers since 1999 and I've only encountered two customs incidences. The first was when I bought several GBB magazines from Redwolf that had the trademarks uncovered. Customs just so happened to inspect the package and they seized it because of the trademarks. Redwolf re-sent the magazines to me and everything went fine. The second incident was sort of odd. I ordered a WA Beretta M1934 Silencer Model (Limited Edition) from Redwolf and customs just so happened to inspect the package. I received a call from the US Customs and Border Patrol office and the lady said the barrel and silencer didn't have the orange tip. She told me it had to be sent back or something to that nature. Amazingly the gun arrived a couple of days later! The gun had the silencer removed, but there was in fact orange paint on the barrel. I guess the inspectors removed the silencer and spotted the orange and decided to let it through. The Beretta trademarks were uncovered, but they didn't mention anything about that. Interestingly enough, when my GBB magazines were seized, the letter of seizure they sent me listed Beretta as the offending trademark! Link to post Share on other sites
Hissing_Sid Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 A quick word of warning:- Recently I've heard of a few incidences of trademarks being "obliterated" by the use of a dremel or grinder. You might be better off asking your retailer to "obliterate" them using putty or tape (which you must leave on, of course) rather than risk the untouched gun arriving in the USA where a customs guy called Hank will practise his dremmeling skills on it. Link to post Share on other sites
ferg981 Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 rather than risk the untouched gun arriving in the USA where a customs guy called Hank will practise his dremmeling skills on it. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> LOL Thats funny. Why do you have to hide the trademarks anyway? FERG Link to post Share on other sites
SilentScope Posted May 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 I mentioned the pre-1898 replica law only because I'm ordering a Tanaka Colt single action revolver that would fall in this category. Link to post Share on other sites
Hissing_Sid Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 LOL Thats funny. Why do you have to hide the trademarks anyway? FERG <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Apparently US Customs are very big on unlicensed trademarks. Breach of copyright and all that. TBH, I have no idea how US customs know what is a licensed trade and what isn't. I mean, do they have an airsoft expert who knows that ICS are licensed to use Olympic Arms logos or that Classic Army is licensed to use Armalite? Link to post Share on other sites
visionviper Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 My friend ordered a few star mags for his m16 from someone on ebay. when he eventually got it, it had a customs report thingy taped to it. it also had more money in stamps than what the mags cost. it was funny. Link to post Share on other sites
Jonny Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 I had a 500$ STAR UMP Seized by customs recently. The box arrived empty at my house with some yellow customs tape on it. Well that was a fun ride awhile it lasted. *cries* Link to post Share on other sites
ColDaz Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 WTF, they just kept the gun? And why do they charge you for importing stuff anyway? Doesn't really seem fair if it isn't everyone that has to (5% if you're right). Link to post Share on other sites
FL_Racer Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 damn dude, i didnt even know you could get the UMP yet I had a 500$ STAR UMP Seized by customs recently. The box arrived empty at my house with some yellow customs tape on it. Well that was a fun ride awhile it lasted. *cries* <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Link to post Share on other sites
IronWolf Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 I had a 500$ STAR UMP Seized by customs recently. The box arrived empty at my house with some yellow customs tape on it. Well that was a fun ride awhile it lasted. *cries* <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Isn't that because importing airsoft guns into Canada is illegal unless done so through a licensed distributor? Link to post Share on other sites
SilentScope Posted May 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 Yeah I'm talking about the US, not Canada. Stuff like that happens there all the time. Same with Australia. Link to post Share on other sites
Catchv22 Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 Most retailers will just ask if you want trademarks obscured and an orange tip painted on. Also, Jungle Toy in the US also carry them without trademarks if you're interested in that. Link to post Share on other sites
Jonny Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 I ordered the rare pre-release one of a kind STAR UMP kit from Japan. I never once thought about seizure because the other side had assured me it would get through just fine. I am in the appeal stage and within 4 - 6 weeks will find out the fate of my UMP. Lessons learned, order NOTHING from outside Canada unless it is through a licensed retailer. Link to post Share on other sites
SilentScope Posted May 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2005 15 USC Sec. 5001 TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE CHAPTER 76 - IMITATION FIREARMS Sec. 5001. Penalties for entering into commerce of imitation firearms ... ''Look-alike firearm'' defined For purposes of this section, the term ''look-alike firearm'' means any imitation of any original firearm which was manufactured, designed, and produced since 1898, including and limited to toy guns, water guns, replica nonguns, and AIR SOFT guns firing nonmetallic projectiles. Such term does not include any look-alike, nonfiring, collector replica of an antique firearm developed prior to 1898, or traditional B-B, paint-ball, or pellet-firing air guns that expel a projectile through the force of air pressure. There it is in black an white. Tanaka SAAs are based off a handgun produced in 1873 so it shouldnt need an orange barrel. Link to post Share on other sites
skyler8158 Posted May 28, 2005 Report Share Posted May 28, 2005 There it is in black an white. Tanaka SAAs are based off a handgun produced in 1873 so it shouldnt need an orange barrel. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> The question is does the average Customs Agent know that? No. Link to post Share on other sites
SilentScope Posted May 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2005 So they hold it till you show them the law. Link to post Share on other sites
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