Need counsel on getting to a grudge Bell Target Match in the UK

[45flint]

While working in Indy, I saw a boxed Webley Premier in a Pawn shop (Dock Bros)......I declared it as a firearm on check in when roating back home, and the Homeland guys came to look ...."Hell boy, that's just a BB gun" one said.....The other asked me how it worked, picked it up and felt the weight / had a look and said (paraphrased) "sure is a nicely made thing, better than anything I have ever seen for an air gun".

I got a G+P sticker for the case (Give protection / firearm or similar) and off it went.

At Heathrow, everybody was away to their cars while I waited at the carosel for my case which did not arrive.........then the tannoy said "would Mr X make himself known to customs please"

I went over and two guys were there behind a counter, one with a ream of papers.

"we are given to understand you are importing a fiream sir, can you open the case and stand back please"

Case opened, Webley box removed from rolled up clothes.

"Oh it's just a bleedin' air pistol says one"

Other one "How powerfull is it, and do you have a certificate etc." (this had me worried)

First (older) one.."don't be daft, this would not hurt you at 30 feet, I had a few of these as a youngster......It's in very good condition, how old is it?"

And that was that!......maybe I was lucky in who I dealt with on both sides of the pond, but was painless and a bit of banter for me at least

ATB, Ed

How long ago?

[edbear2]

How long ago?

Was 2014 according to Flikr folder. I think it's all about how you behave and your attitude as well to be fair, on flights I was on I saw other work staff getting shirty when bags were checked as they had put Snap On tools in etc. so then they waited longer as everything was checked



At customs, or at an Airport, especially in the world now, I have no problem at all with any security checks but some folk just can't seem to accept the slightest delay. Usually the ones who have been in a queue staring at the remove belt / shoes / etc. etc. signs for 10 mins, and seemingly not noticing everyone around them getting ready for the checks, untill it's their turn and then it's all huffing and puffing and holding everyone up.


Carrier was Delta by the way, out of Indy, direct to LHR.

Firearm guidence here;

https://basc.org.uk/firearms/visiting-the-uk-to-shoot/

I took the decision to declare a firearm myself as obviously it would not get past the scanner (you would hope) and also you get better care of your case as it is personally loaded / unloaded (at least on Delta);

https://www.delta.com/us/en/baggage/...sives-firearms

They are more used to folks cutting about with full bore hunting rifles / pistols and crates of ammo.......so a lil'old airgun was almost like a joke for them



ATB, ED

[WebleyWombler]

LOL.
Not a gun but a mate of mine went to Canada on one of those Survival course holidays a couple of years ago. He took with him a rather large Bowie knife. At UK customs there was a bit of a panic but he was eventually allowed to take it in hold luggage.

On arrival in Canada, he declared it and was asked to open his bag by a rather nice little customs lady. She picked up the knife and , laughing, said " That's not a knife! it's the kinda thing we give our kids to play with. Thank you for declaring it but I've got better things to do so pack your bags and move along. Have a nice vacation sir."

How much embellishment there is, I don't know. But it struck me as funny

[edbear2]

LOL.
Not a gun but a mate of mine went to Canada on one of those Survival course holidays a couple of years ago. He took with him a rather large Bowie knife. At UK customs there was a bit of a panic but he was eventually allowed to take it in hold luggage.

On arrival in Canada, he declared it and was asked to open his bag by a rather nice little customs lady. She picked up the knife and , laughing, said " That's not a knife! it's the kinda thing we give our kids to play with. Thank you for declaring it but I've got better things to do so pack your bags and move along. Have a nice vacation sir."

How much embellishment there is, I don't know. But it struck me as funny

The trouble is that in the UK firearms and the like are rarely seen, and also the H+S / box ticking squad have taken over, do you recall the street closed because someone found a few .22 LRs in an alley...no gun, but I suppose they needed the bomb squad

My last experience was selling a 1930's or so Kilgore cap gun on the bay a few years ago;

https://www.icollect247.com/item/155...t-Iron-Cap-Gun

I had pushed a bit of red plastic onto the muzzle on the listing and explained why to bemused American bidders. It sold so I packed it up with the loading panel swung up so anyone could see it was just a hollow item, and sent it Royal Mail Airsure.

Watched the tracking, seemed to be taking it's time, seller said he had not seen it after 2 weeks so rang Royal Mail.

Eventually I managed to talk to someone who said it had been intercepted, and had been re-routed by sea as could not be flown due to the security implications

To this I replied;

"It would be in the hold....The only way it would a threat would be if someone took tools on board, unbolted their seat during the flight, lifted the carpet and unbolted the floor then cut their way into the hold and some how found it, before re-appearing to wave it about....I think they may well have been noticed before that!"

It went all quiet, and he spluttered something about people not taking things seriously, to which I replied "It's hard to really listening to that nonsense", he then got quite shirty!

In my defence I was in a lot of pain at the time from various issues and not my normal self

I explained all this to the buyer, and we both had a laugh over it...he was aghast at the fuss and said it had caused great hilarity with his friends, but it arrived safe with an "opened and checked" lable on it in the end about 3 weeks later.

ATB, Ed