Shipping Europe To The Us

[Lilleskit]

Hello!

 

I'm looking for advice/tips on shipping my swords from Europe to the states. It sounds and seems like it should be as simple as boxing them up and sending them home but I don't want to miss anything. Has anyone come across any issues with customs? Are there possible problems sending by air etc etc? 

 

Thanks in advance!

 

[Ken-Hawaii]

None that I'm aware of, Ken. You said swords, plural, & I strongly recommend sending them separately, if for no other reason that you can have sufficient insurance that way.

 

Ken

 

[Grey Doffin]

If the blades are mounted in koshirae with same' you might have a problem with the animal products control person, or maybe not.  Seems to be the luck of the draw, who it is that checks the package and how stringent he feels like being that day.  I think if you put the right tariff code number on the customs form

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/1860-importingexporting-and-customs-queries-and-advice/

you should be OK.

Grey

[drbvac]

 Is there any possibility of taking them in checked baggage - at least they are with you and can follow them - checked bags can have restricted stuff in them = even a box checked is better than shipping it and a checked package cheaper than a shipped package 

[Ed]

Ken,

Use EMS only.  

 

UPS and FEDEX will charge you much more and do nothing more.  Other than more hassle that is.  

If the value is over $2500, they will send them to an import broker.

 

As Grey said, you absolutely must use the correct tariff code.  For antiques it is 9706.00.00

 

Also, if you are bringing them to tampa for shinsa (?) state on the label "NOT FOR SALE".  

 

I would write a letter describing the swords accurately, including overall length, maker, date of manufacture and a small photo of the swords.  Include your name, address, e-mail, phone # and also this information of the receiver.  

 

I normally put this letter in an envelope marked" US CUSTOMS" and tape it to the outside of the box.

Another option is to place it inside the box attached to the swords, so in the event customs opens the box they can not miss the letter.

 

EXAMPLE:

 

Shippers name

address

e-mail

phone #

 

Recipents Name

address

e-mail

phone #

 

Contents: Two (2) Antique Japanese Swords.  Both are greater than 100 years old.

 

Harmonized Tariff Code: 9706.00.00

 

1.  Katana (Long sword), Overall Length (add),  signed "Hizen no Kuni Ju Fujiwara Tadahiro”. This sword smith worked in the mid 1600’s.

 

2.  Wakizashi (short sword), Overall Length (add), unsigned , but estimated to be approximately the same age as sword #1

 

These antique swords are NOT FOR SALE. They are being sent for restoration work and shall be returned upon completion.

 

PHOTOS HERE

 

**NOTE TO CUSTOMS OFFICERS:  Please do not place your hands or fingers directly on the blades.  The oils from you hands can cause damage to the surface of the steel.  This can be very costly and time consuming to repair.

 

**VERY IMPORTANT: These swords are very sharp and personal injury is possible without proper knowledge of handling them.  Thank you.

[Mark]

As Grey noted same' can be an issue, If shirasaya so can horn parts (trim or mekugi), also note any ivory parts on shirasaya are a big problem, be careful I have had some major issues with Fish and Game recently and they wanted to confiscate a nice gendaito I had mailed

[Gokaden]

Shipping restrictions is what kills the market for me atm

[Darcy]

Actually there are huge issues shipping from Europe to the USA. To get an antique out of Europe you need to get EU level permission and local level permission. Every country is different but most countries are now considering anything older than 50 years to be an "antiquity" which means some of you guys are going to have to start asking for permission when you buy your plane tickets. ha.

 

The issues are actually shipping from EU to anywhere not EU. 

 

They want to make sure:

 

1. this is not antiquities being used to fund ISIS

2. it's not items of local historical importance (i.e. shipping ancient Greek sculpture out of Greece, or I guess old Roman coins out of England)

3. that it's not some really *relevant* art to European identity, like if you were a high roller buying a Rembrandt you might not be able to get that out of Europe at this point... at the very least you need to clear it

 

Getting proper permission can take months to a year. The problem being that you're supposed to apply to one set of overlords who control your freedom and after they say yes, then you have to apply to the other set of overlords. And they may say no. 

 

I have not shipped anything from Europe except for swords that I bought at Christie's. My feeling is that the more correctly you try to do this the more you're going to shoot yourself in the face. Which is about how things work with European legislation. Catches the guys who are kindly filling out the forms and trying hard to follow the rules and ruins their lives. 

[Kronos]

I can honestly say I've never experienced anything like that, but maybe it's a little different in mainland Europe, seems very relaxed in the Uk except "weapons". If it's really high level stuff there's also the option of specialist antique shippers who handle everything but it can cost £400+ for a sword so not worth it unless it's of high value.

[paulb]

The only restrictions I have faced shipping to countries outside of the UK are those imposed by shipping companies such as FeDex. I now understand that Parcelforce have subcontracted their express service to FeDex (Thanks Peter F for the heads up) so that is subject to the same nonsensical policy. At the moment Parcelforce global priority still works but insurance is an issue.

Government restriction only kicks in if the stated value of the antique or art object exceeds £43000. At which point an export licence is required (may have changed in the past 12 months but thats what it was). This entails a great deal of form filling and time.

Regards

paul

[Darcy]

Whether people have encountered it yet... the laws are on the books. Be aware. Also I should have pointed out that value is part of it, there are thresholds and most people won't hit them but a lot of Juyo will qualify (50k euro is one of the thresholds, below this you probably don't need EU permission). 

 

France is actively trying to lower these limits and increase controls on antiques and art moving over borders so it is a moving target and people need to at least be aware of the laws.

 

This is relatively concise:

 

http://www.bada.org/p/services/recommended-service-providers/shipping-%26-packing

 

Also Fedex UK is now telling me that UK laws prevent them from having swords on the vans. Also their "US security specialists" have told them not to transport "weapons" at all anymore "and this is a weapon because it's more than 35cm and it has a curve".

 

Whether that is new or not or is just someone reinterpreting something old, I don't know. 

 

But it's nice to see all the governments of the world coming together and spending money to protect their citizens against the great threat of elderly collectors rampaging through the streets with 50,000 euro Juyo Token in each hand, slaying willy nilly. Meanwhile nobody ever got stabbed by a kitchen knife in the last 100 years I guess so those are not "weapons."

[pcfarrar]

 

Also Fedex UK is now telling me that UK laws prevent them from having swords on the vans. Also their "US security specialists" have told them not to transport "weapons" at all anymore "and this is a weapon because it's more than 35cm and it has a curve".

 

I shipped a sword to Germany from the UK recently and it went via Fedex. Arrived in 24 hours. Although it was technically by accident (I used Parcelforce Global Express which I didn't know at the time is sub-contracted to Fedex).

 

There is nothing in UK law that prevents them from shipping swords. The Royal Mail and Parcelforce in the UK will still ship them.

[Kronos]

Yeah, it's just Fedex (and most parcel companies) being mongs.

[paulb]

The problem with FeDex in the Uk is not a legal one (they tell me) Basically they bought a uK carrier and use them to move stuff around the UK. They have been told by their legal advisors that if any dangerous item (not only swords but garden tools, DIY goods cutlery etc) carried on their vans may be stolen and used for crime. If this happened and someone was injured FeDex could be liable for compensation to the injured party.

Sorry I am not making this up it is what the FeDex rep told me, surprisingly without bursting out laughing at the obvious stupidity of the policy.

I have tried on three occassions to take this up with FeDex but each time end up with the office junior stating the same policy. Noone above seems to believe that the loss of income is important to them