Shipping part of a pistol

[oldfella]

I think I know about shipping firearms to the manufacturer, but I don't recall reading about shipping part of a firearm. I bought a new Kahr Elite 2003, and a set of wood grips for it. Problem: The screw holes did not lined-up; same thing with the second pair. Kahr says they can fit the grips by honing the holes to fit my gun, but I'll have to send them my gun. My question is, why can I send just the frame, without the "inners" - no barrel, no slide, no springs, not even the original grips... it is not a gun. It seems to me that I can send it via priority mail with having to disclose it is part of a gun. Does any one here have the answer to my question? Thanks.

Pete

 

[Majic]

Sorry Oldfella, but the good ol boys at BATF considers the part of the firearm with the serial number as the firearm. Since the frame of a pistol has the serial number then you have to ship it as it was a complete pistol.
That's why you can order every other part for your pistol and have it shipped straight to you, but not the frame. It has to go thru a dealer.

 

[BluesBear]

Majic is right on the money.

However you still can ship the frame with or without all of the parts to Kahr yourself and they can ship it directly back to you.
You do still have to inform the shipper that you are shipping a firearm but the shipper can not, per federal law, identify the exterior of the package in any way to indicate that it contains a firearm.

 

[oldfella]

Thanks, Majic, BluesBear, I appreciate the info. Regards,

The oldfella

 

[TheOtherOne]

You do still have to inform the shipper that you are shipping a firearm but the shipper can not, per federal law, identify the exterior of the package in any way to indicate that it contains a firearm.

I recently had to send a Walther P22 into S&W for repairs and they just sent me a prepaid sticker that I put on the box and dropped off at Fedex. I didn't say anything about what was in it and they guy at the counter didn't ask.

 

[TheOtherOne]

Here's the other thing that really gets me about shipping guns. This is my current project and the only part that had to be sent through an FFL for me to fill out all that fun yellow paperwork on was the part that looks least like a gun to me (top left). Everything else I ordered came straight to my door just like any regular product.

 

[EOD Guy]

Majic is right on the money.

However you still can ship the frame with or without all of the parts to Kahr yourself and they can ship it directly back to you.
You do still have to inform the shipper that you are shipping a firearm but the shipper can not, per federal law, identify the exterior of the package in any way to indicate that it contains a firearm.

Since he will be shipping back to the manufacturer (a licensee), he doesn't have to inform anyone about the contents of the package.

 

[BluesBear]

Since he will be shipping back to the manufacturer (a licensee), he doesn't have to inform anyone about the contents of the package.

YES HE DOES!

A nonlicensee may ship a firearm by carrier to a resident of his or her own state or to a licensee in any state. A common or contract carrier must be
used to ship a handgun.
In addition, Federal law requires that the carrier be notified that the shipment contains a firearm and prohibits common or contract carriers from requiring or causing any label to be placed on any package indicating that it contains a firearm. [18 U. S. C. 922( a)( 2)( A) and 922( e), 27 CFR 178.31]

 

[EOD Guy]

Sorry, but you are incorrect. The law and regulation only requires notification when shipping to a nonlicensee. The FAQ you are quoting is not correct about that part. See 27CFR478.31

TITLE 27--ALCOHOL, TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND FIREARMS

CHAPTER II--BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS, AND EXPLOSIVES,
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

PART 478--COMMERCE IN FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION--Table of Contents

Subpart C--Administrative and Miscellaneous Provisions

Sec. 478.31 Delivery by common or contract carrier.

(a) No person shall knowingly deliver or cause to be delivered to
any common or contract carrier for transportation or shipment in
interstate or foreign commerce to any person OTHER THAN (emphasis added) a licensed
importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector,
any package or other container in which there is any firearm or
ammunition without written notice to the carrier that such firearm or
ammunition is being transported or shipped: Provided, That any passenger
who owns or legally possesses a firearm or ammunition being transported
aboard any common or contract carrier for movement with the passenger in interstate
or foreign commerce may deliver said firearm or ammunition into the
custody of the pilot, captain, conductor or operator of such common or
contract carrier for the duration of that trip without violating any
provision of this part.


What the regulation says is that you must notify the carrier when shipping to OTHER THAN one of the indicated licensees. If shipping to one of the indicated licensees, notification is not required by the regulation. I have letters from BATF Hq confirming this and admitting that the anster to the FAQ is not entirely correct.