importing a gun to the USA

[dekibg]

A father of my friend is a dual citizen of USA and a foreign country. He lives here for the last 20+ years, but still has a real estate and a handgun ( registered to him) overseas.
He is in his 60's, and he would like to bring that gun here while he is still sane and in good health, and to pass it to his adult son ( my friend) one day , who also lives here and is a US citizen.
Gun has not much of a monetary value ( Zastava M-57, a Yugoslavian version of TT-33), but it does have a sentimental value to him.
Without going into details what he will need to do first with a foreign government regulations, once and if that clears first, what are the American regulations?
Is this even doable according to our laws ?
Thank you for your replies, I just want to let him know so he knows if it is worth bothering at all, before he even starts the process overseas

 

[hdwhit]

You might want to start with the Frequently Asked Questions on the ATF website under the Firearms category. This one seems to suggest that it is possible, albeit cumbersome as you have to first get ATF permission by filing an ATF Form 6 and once it is approved work with Customs to get clearance.

https://www.atf.gov/firearms/qa/may...mporter’s-license-make-occasional-importation

The FAQ contains the citation to the applicable regulation(s).

 

[Rio Laxas]

His best bet is probably to employ the services of someone that already imports firearms on a regular basis. It is a lengthy process, and I believe it is somewhat expensive. It would probably cost more than buying a M57 that is already here, but sometimes that isn't the point.

I would check with Simpson LTD and MDW Guns.

http://mdwguns.com/imports.html

http://www.simpsonltd.com/information.php?info_id=4&osCsid=923c64d0230b8f94217b96ccc499f04c

 

[RPRNY]

Rio has got it. The monetary savings of attempting to import without an agent would be negated by the medical bills from the stroke.

 

[cjwils]

Deep within the Gunbroker list of rules is a link to a list of FFLs who do international transfers. That might help.
http://www.gunbroker.com/c/user/dealerinternational/

 

[Sunray]

"...need to do first with a foreign government regulations..." First, his dual citizenship makes no difference. What the other country is does matter. Lot of 'em don't allow exporting. The EU has very decidedly harsh rules too. Others have private companies that specialize in it. Cheap it ain't. I think there's a U.S. government ban on importing Warsaw Pact stuff too. Not entirely sure, but the ATF link will tell you. Or a phone call to your local ATF office.
As mentioned, it's probably going to cost more than the thing is worth.

 

[jrmiddleton425]

I'll be the third person to ask this question...unless there is some personal connection to THAT one pistol, it's not worth the time and money to spend what may amount to a couple thousand dollars to import a pistol that sells for $250 in the United States.

 

[dogtown tom]

I'll be the third person to ask this question...unless there is some personal connection to THAT one pistol, it's not worth the time and money to spend what may amount to a couple thousand dollars to import a pistol that sells for $250 in the United States.

It's nowhere near that expensive.
Simpsons Ltd has imported a number of firearms for a couple of my customers.
http://www.simpsonltd.com/information.php?info_id=4&osCsid=5228d2bf1359bdee1bf05247022d7481