Can I ship a take down tool to Greece?

Mike B · 11-02-2006, 06:22 AM

Please, I need some advice. I sold a take down tool to a person who lives in Greece. The USPS website is listing among the prohibitions this statement "Firearms, swords, and any articles containing them". What is the thinking of forum members of shipping the item to Greece? Thanks,
Mike

George Anderson · 11-02-2006, 07:50 AM

Declare it a screw driver and ship it. No problem.

Vlim · 11-02-2006, 08:08 AM

Hi, usually the shipping of non-essential gun parts (like springs, pins and other small items) is no problem. But as the takedown tool is just that, a tool, with no direct relationship to the functionality of a firearm you shouldn't have any problems at all.

Just don't put 'luger takedown tool' on the package. George's 'screwdriver' tip is a very good one.

John Sabato · 11-02-2006, 09:33 AM

I concur, mark the package as a pocket screwdriver, and ship it. As long as there is not a swastika on it, there should be no problem.

Edward Tinker · 11-02-2006, 09:40 AM

I shipped two magazines and a tool to the russian area, I made the mistake of saying luger take down tool. They were returned after 2.5 months...

I believe it was the mags, but less info is better than more info...

ed

Strider · 11-02-2006, 02:08 PM

You could also call it a "skate key". I have seen loading tools called that a time or two.

Ed, As for the magazines you could call them "brass storage boxes".
What do you think?

Sid.

Pete Ebbink · 11-02-2006, 02:34 PM

Mike...

I have had several overseas transactions with a luger magazine...in which the item is declared as "an old magazine"...and shipped in one of those flat book boxes.

"An old magazine" is not a lie...

George Anderson · 11-02-2006, 03:13 PM

The key to shipping anything to another country is to not have some government employee open the package. Secondary is to not get yourself or the recipient into any trouble.

I can only imagine a covey of bored Greek bureaucrats digging through their Greek/English dictionaries to find the translation for "skate key". In my mind that is the sort of tease that leads to packages being opened. The other tease is a high value.

As stated above, if I were shipping a loading tool I would declare it as a screwdriver, which it is. Secondly I would note that it was a gift and worth only $10.

One more thought, call it an "antique" screwdriver. That answers the question in the customs guy's head as to why it would be shipped internationally.

The whole game is to get these guys to just pass it on through. As a kid, my buddy Skippy Durgan moved to Italy with his parents when his dad was transferred in 1957. As a Christmas present for Keoki his Mom picked up a Knights Cross in a flea market in Rome and sent it through the military postal system to yours truly. It was declared as a "nice German cross". Needless to say I never got it.

Luke · 11-02-2006, 03:19 PM

I have shipped, at two different times, takedown tools to Finland without any problems. On the "Customs" form where description of item shipped is required, I simply wrote "Metal Takedown Tool." The tools arrived safely with no problems by US or Finnish customs officials.
Luke

11-02-2006, 06:22 AM	#1
Mike B Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 979 Thanks: 1 Thanked 272 Times in 100 Posts	Can I ship a take down tool to Greece? Please, I need some advice. I sold a take down tool to a person who lives in Greece. The USPS website is listing among the prohibitions this statement "Firearms, swords, and any articles containing them". What is the thinking of forum members of shipping the item to Greece? Thanks, Mike

11-02-2006, 09:33 AM	#4
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	I concur, mark the package as a pocket screwdriver, and ship it. As long as there is not a swastika on it, there should be no problem. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

11-02-2006, 09:40 AM	#5
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,966 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,595 Times in 2,116 Posts	I shipped two magazines and a tool to the russian area, I made the mistake of saying luger take down tool. They were returned after 2.5 months... I believe it was the mags, but less info is better than more info... ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

11-02-2006, 02:08 PM	#6
Strider User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Posts: 256 Thanks: 26 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	You could also call it a "skate key". I have seen loading tools called that a time or two. Ed, As for the magazines you could call them "brass storage boxes". What do you think? Sid. __________________ Sid. Patience is a bitter plant, but it has sweet fruit. ~German Proverb If it is made before 1930 ..........It is a prototype.

11-02-2006, 03:19 PM	#9
Luke User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: NC - USA Posts: 1,239 Thanks: 0 Thanked 19 Times in 7 Posts	I have shipped, at two different times, takedown tools to Finland without any problems. On the "Customs" form where description of item shipped is required, I simply wrote "Metal Takedown Tool." The tools arrived safely with no problems by US or Finnish customs officials. Luke __________________ "Peace, if possible; truth, at any cost." . . . Martin Luther

11-02-2006, 07:50 AM	#2
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,531 Times in 788 Posts	Declare it a screw driver and ship it. No problem.

11-02-2006, 08:08 AM	#3
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,990 Times in 1,205 Posts	Hi, usually the shipping of non-essential gun parts (like springs, pins and other small items) is no problem. But as the takedown tool is just that, a tool, with no direct relationship to the functionality of a firearm you shouldn't have any problems at all. Just don't put 'luger takedown tool' on the package. George's 'screwdriver' tip is a very good one.

11-02-2006, 02:34 PM	#7
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Mike... I have had several overseas transactions with a luger magazine...in which the item is declared as "an old magazine"...and shipped in one of those flat book boxes. "An old magazine" is not a lie...

11-02-2006, 03:13 PM	#8
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,531 Times in 788 Posts	The key to shipping anything to another country is to not have some government employee open the package. Secondary is to not get yourself or the recipient into any trouble. I can only imagine a covey of bored Greek bureaucrats digging through their Greek/English dictionaries to find the translation for "skate key". In my mind that is the sort of tease that leads to packages being opened. The other tease is a high value. As stated above, if I were shipping a loading tool I would declare it as a screwdriver, which it is. Secondly I would note that it was a gift and worth only $10. One more thought, call it an "antique" screwdriver. That answers the question in the customs guy's head as to why it would be shipped internationally. The whole game is to get these guys to just pass it on through. As a kid, my buddy Skippy Durgan moved to Italy with his parents when his dad was transferred in 1957. As a Christmas present for Keoki his Mom picked up a Knights Cross in a flea market in Rome and sent it through the military postal system to yours truly. It was declared as a "nice German cross". Needless to say I never got it.