How did it get here?

Dwight Gruber · 07-16-2017, 06:50 PM

Country of Origin stamp (GERMANY) for imported manufactured goods: McKinley Tariff Act of 1891, revised in 1923 to add "made in".

Importer identification stamp: Gun Control Act of 1968. Firearms imported before this date had no importer stamping requirement.

Firearms brought back by servicemen as war trophies were not "imports" within the terms of the tariff act.

All imports of firearms with a military origin must be imported by a licensed importer, and so stamped. It is possible for an individual to import a non-military firearm by oneself. It requires reams of paperwork, months of time, and probably a fee or two, but it can be done. The purchase must not be intended for resale, and since it is not being imported by a licensed commercial importer, no import stamp is required.

This supplies three possible answers to the wellspring question of this discussion: serviceman's bringback, commercial importation before 1968, or importation by a private individual (police are not military, and a thorough knowledge of proof marks to demonstrate this is required).

No good answer for Alvin's post, except to note that the "experts" at this auction house display the kind of ignorance which could get one into some trouble.

--Dwight

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07-16-2017, 06:50 PM	#15
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,330 Times in 435 Posts	Country of Origin stamp (GERMANY) for imported manufactured goods: McKinley Tariff Act of 1891, revised in 1923 to add "made in". Importer identification stamp: Gun Control Act of 1968. Firearms imported before this date had no importer stamping requirement. Firearms brought back by servicemen as war trophies were not "imports" within the terms of the tariff act. All imports of firearms with a military origin must be imported by a licensed importer, and so stamped. It is possible for an individual to import a non-military firearm by oneself. It requires reams of paperwork, months of time, and probably a fee or two, but it can be done. The purchase must not be intended for resale, and since it is not being imported by a licensed commercial importer, no import stamp is required. This supplies three possible answers to the wellspring question of this discussion: serviceman's bringback, commercial importation before 1968, or importation by a private individual (police are not military, and a thorough knowledge of proof marks to demonstrate this is required). No good answer for Alvin's post, except to note that the "experts" at this auction house display the kind of ignorance which could get one into some trouble. --Dwight