Shipping a black powder pistol question......

[cciota]

My dad is sending or trying to send me a black powder pistol my grandfather gave him. My dad called UPS and told them he was wanting to send it and the girl said that they can't do it. Is it o.k. to send a black powder pistol via UPS of Fedex?. I figured Cabelas send them UPS why can't my dad? Any information would be useful. My dad lives in California and I'm in North Carolina if that makes any difference.

Thanks

[mriddick]

My dad is sending or trying to send me a black powder pistol my grandfather gave him. My dad called UPS and told them he was wanting to send it and the girl said that they can't do it. I told him he can and that I would send him some information on it. I figured Cabelas send them UPS why can't my dad? Any information would be useful. My dad lives in California and I'm in North Carolina if that makes any difference.

Thanks

He should be able to mail it or send it UPS, in most places it's considered a nongun and the person he asked probably took it as a modern cartridge firing revolver. It's pretty common to run into UPS and USPO employees who don't know the regs and then feel they need to enforce what they don't know. The best bet is to work a real UPS service center, not a drop box store front, talk to a supervisor if you don't get the correct info and make sure he's telling them it's an antique muzzle loading pistol, not a modern one. From what I've been able to find out on the net neither California or NC has an issue with black powder revolvers in general.

[Richard Simmons]

UPS will ship firearms so why woudln't they ship a black powder pistol which , by federal reulations is not considered a firearm? Whom ever your father spoke to is either full of shit, thought he wanted to ship BLACK POWDER not a black powder firearm or both.

This might help.

http://www.gunfancy.com/shipping_guns.htm

[cciota]

I've also looked all over the net and there is nothing that says black powder pistols cannot be shipped via common carrier or the postal service. They are considered an antique weapon and are mailable. I'm just thinking the person he talked to didn't know what they were talking about. Even the shipping rules from Gunbroker says they can be shipped and they should know better than anyone.

[Schuetzenman]

I don't believe that the USPS will ship a handgun even if black powder. UPS should not have any restrictions nor should Fed-X. I've shipped lots of modern weapons Fed-X ground though none were handguns. I generally don't tell them what is in the package and they don't ask, you just right down it's value and inusre it accordingly.

[Paladin]

My dad is sending or trying to send me a black powder pistol my grandfather gave him. My dad called UPS and told them he was wanting to send it and the girl said that they can't do it. Is it o.k. to send a black powder pistol via UPS of Fedex?. I figured Cabelas send them UPS why can't my dad? Any information would be useful. My dad lives in California and I'm in North Carolina if that makes any difference.Thanks

Had the same problem with the local UPS people a few years back while shipping an old caplock. And about a year ago, at the same UPS, I wanted to ship an upper and got the same "we don't ship firearms" stuff. Even after I showed them their own corporate policy and the federal statutes. This has only been a problem with this local UPS spot.

I quit using UPS and started using Fed-Ex. No problems so far...

[Paladin]

I don't believe that the USPS will ship a handgun even if black powder. UPS should not have any restrictions nor should Fed-X. I've shipped lots of modern weapons Fed-X ground though none were handguns. I generally don't tell them what is in the package and they don't ask, you just right down it's value and inusre it accordingly.

I always write on the box ahead of time "machined parts" after some trouble with UPS here locally, even though I now ship Fed-Ex...

[cciota]

I don't believe that the USPS will ship a handgun even if black powder. UPS should not have any restrictions nor should Fed-X. I've shipped lots of modern weapons Fed-X ground though none were handguns. I generally don't tell them what is in the package and they don't ask, you just right down it's value and inusre it accordingly.

That's basically what I told my dad.

[Paladin]

That's basically what I told my dad.

I don't believe that the USPS will ship a handgun even if black powder. UPS should not have any restrictions nor should Fed-X. I've shipped lots of modern weapons Fed-X ground though none were handguns. I generally don't tell them what is in the package and they don't ask, you just right down it's value and inusre it accordingly.

From the UPS website: http://ups.org/content/us/en/resourc.../firearms.html

"Shipping Firearms

Special Procedures for Shipping Firearms

Use These UPS Services for Your Firearm Shipment

Handguns, as defined by 18 U.S.C. § 921,will be accepted for transportation only via UPS Next Day Air® Early A.M.®, UPS Next Day Air®, or UPS Next Day Air Saver® services".

I think various UPS places have an unofficial policy discouraging the shipping of handguns.

[cciota]

From the UPS website: http://ups.org/content/us/en/resourc.../firearms.html

"Shipping Firearms

Special Procedures for Shipping Firearms

Use These UPS Services for Your Firearm Shipment

Handguns, as defined by 18 U.S.C. § 921,will be accepted for transportation only via UPS Next Day Air® Early A.M.®, UPS Next Day Air®, or UPS Next Day Air Saver® services".

I think various UPS places have an unofficial policy discouraging the shipping of handguns.

If you go to 18 U.S.C. § 921 it describes and excludes "Antique firearms".

[Ruskiegunlover]

maybe if gun owners wrote ups, and tried a complete ups boycott, they'd change their tune......even placing orders with distributers, insist on using fedex.......they'd change quick. I think they'd loose a ton of money........

[alismith]

I'm guessing the words, "black powder" is what confused (scared) the person you talked to. I've had UPS delivery BP firearms to my door. No problem.

I agree with Paladin; just have your dad write "machine parts" on the package and insure it for it's value and don't worry about it any more.

[O.S.O.K.]

Keep in mind that some states treat cap and ball revolvers the same as modern handguns... NJ comes to mind.

Just be cognizent of where you two are... and the state laws.

No, it shouldn't be this way, but it is...

If you want to get a good list of banned states - check Cabela's own notation as to where they can ship...