shipping antique handguns

Trying to figure out the cheapest legal way to ship 4 pre 1899 handguns from Arizona to Michigan.
Inherited and need to be sent.

Suggestions

You should call local gun shops or firearms appraiser to ask but I believe anything manufactured - that is the serial number puts date of manufacture - not the year of the model i.e. Win Model 1892 or 1894 - prior to Jan 1, 1899 is considered an antique and does not need an FFL involved. Ship direct. Just insure it I suppose if they are of value.

What federal law considers an "antique" is not, by law, a firearm and therefore does not fall under such restrictions.

True, but, the carriers have differing regs

Also some States have stiffer requirements and I believe MI doesn't consider any fire arm that uses a center fire cartridge to be an antique.

- Dave

https://www.atf.gov/resource-center/docs/0813-firearms-top-12-qaspdf/download  May provide answers. 

The best way is USPS express Overnight...or FedEx

I'm thinking having them sent USPS by an FFL ( no transfers needed) to my FFL.
That way they can ship USPS.

Here's Michigan's definition of antique firearms:  As used in this section, "antique firearm" means either of the following:
(i) A firearm not designed or redesigned for using rimfire or conventional center fire ignition with fixed ammunition and manufactured in or before 1898, including a matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap, or similar type of ignition system or replica of such a firearm, whether actually manufactured before or after 1898.
(ii) A firearm using fixed ammunition manufactured in or before 1898, for which ammunition is no longer manufactured in the United States and is not readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial trade.

I have used this service a couple of times.

www.shipmygun.com

Quick, cheap and reliable.

Virgil

hp246, it's not an issue for Michigan. There my guns. the issue is a reasonable way to ship them here without violating USPS/UPS/FEDEX rules.

My local FFL guy will send guns USPS overnight for $50. Way cheaper than me doing it via UPS. Check with some local FFLs.

That's what I'm thinking.

james r chapman wrote:I'm thinking having them sent USPS by an FFL ( no transfers needed) to my FFL.
That way they can ship USPS.

That's what I do with my non-antique firearms. They usually charge me $30.00 for a handgun. I'm sure that four guns would cost more, but it would still be cheapest in the long run, I'd bet. I'm not up to date on Curio & Relic regs. and laws. If you aren't, it might not hurt to look over the current regs on the ATF website. https://www.atf.gov/firearms/curios-relics

Again, the issue is not BATF regs. It's shipping restrictions by the carriers.
An FFL may ship handguns using USPS, an individual may not.
It all sucks.

I might suggest you do a little checking into state law when shipping to that state. What the Feds say is a firearm and what the state says can be different. Back when I lived in NJ air guns were not legal! Later when they passed a law requiring that a resident have a purchase permit to buy long guns air rifles were then allowed, pistols required the same permit as gun powder pistols. They also changed the law to require black powder guns (percussion cap and flint) required permits, later long guns were excepted but pistols need purchase permits. I'm not sure since I now live in PA but heard air is again outlawed. I'm sure some of the NJ residence here can give a better report on NJ law. I'm also surprised to see a few catalogs selling Air rifles that they will not ship to certain states and PA is included yet I can go to Walmart and buy Air Guns the same as buying anything else such as a can of paint.