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Air rifle and air pistol imports

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 1:35 pm
by panks
Guys,
Please share your experiences here. Whoever has imported air rifles or air pistols through post, please write the detailed experience here, which will help other people thinking of buying.

As i said, talking theories reading import laws is no good till we hear live experiences

Thanks

since my name was taken in vain'

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 12:58 pm
by dev
Okay my experience is if its a .177 air pistol that walks, talks and sqauks like a target pistol you are in no trouble. Customs will inspect it and politely send it to your house. Mine was for about $345, so I think they didn't even charge duty.
From which I infer that it is the same rule as when you travel overseas, your duty free limit on goodies is Rs.20,000.
I hope that clears the air for you. It is safe to import a.177 by post from what I know. If anyone has imported a.22 please report.


Regards,

Dev

Hookay experiment time again...

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 11:27 am
by dev
Okay armchair airgun fanatics, I have my QB 78, .177 air rifle Mac1 Version stuck in Delhi customs and have been issued a show cause notice. I have 25th as the date for the opening of the parcel. Naturally, I am now in need of prayers so let us see.



Regards,

Dev :twisted:

Re: Hookay experiment time again...

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 5:13 pm
by Mack The Knife
dev wrote:I have 25th as the date for the opening of the parcel.
Hi Dev,

I have had show cause notices from postal customs in the past but a given date for opening of the parcel is a new one.

Did they not permit you to give a reply in writing along with all the supporting documents?

Are you supposed to be present at the opening of the parcel?

Either way, just a few days to go and here's hoping it all goes smoothly.

I would be interested in seeing a scanned or a digital pic of this show cause notice if possible.

Mack The Knife

show cause /call for documents

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 11:37 am
by dev
Hi Mack The Knife,


On a closer reading it is call for documents plus show cause notice. What I didn't know earlier is that mistaire commissionaire is sitting in a cabin close by.

So my plan is to have all documents on hand and then reach out to him if clerk tries Palm Sunday technique.

The document has no options about ending paper work and I am suppossed to be present for the opening ceremony. I am at present lifting mountains to get the Delhi State buggers to get off their posteriors and dig out my membership card and last tourney participation certificate.

I can scan the notice and all but how do I shove it in here or I could email it as an attachment to you.

Regards,

Dev

i also have a kinda notice

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 2:36 pm
by panks
hi guys,
i also received a kinda notice. I havent seen it myself as i am away and my Dad got it.

It gives a list of documents to be provided which is Firearm license, import license, prrof of purchase, invoce copy and a few mor things.
Now the fun part is that i ordered a crossman 1377 in .177 bore.

Who is to explain to the commissioner of customs that this is not a firearm and just a air pistol.

Now here is my experience of importing it.

They have given a notice of 15 days to be present in Mumbai wheras the address on the parcel if of madhya Pradesh.


This is how ridiculous it gets when importing it through post.

Cheers

Re: Hookay experiment time again...

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 6:27 pm
by Mack The Knife
Then my show cause notice might also be on way as I experimented with ordering two tins of pellets from Target Sports :shock: :shock:
Count on it.

Apparently you cannot import pellets via post or at least it was so a few years back. I did not know this when I had a friend send me four tins of pellets from England about five years ago and this lead to my first show cause notice.

I wrote back and they released the pellets. I had to go to the local post office to pay the duty and a very small fine. Unfortunately, they did not re-seal the pellet tins and this lead to the pellets falling out into the envelope, getting mixed and getting crushed - almost without exception.

Hope yours arrive safely.

Mack The Knife

Re: i also have a kinda notice

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 6:39 pm
by Mack The Knife
It gives a list of documents to be provided which is Firearm license, import license, proof of purchase, invoce copy and a few more things.
I assume you wont have an import licence. Well you do not need one. Tell them this is for your own personal use and not for any commercial purposes.
Now the fun part is that i ordered a crossman 1377 in .177 bore.
Who is to explain to the commissioner of customs that this is not a firearm and just a air pistol.
Assuming they have called you to Bombay, then you will have to get a NOC from the Arms Section from the Mumbai Commissioner of Police's office. Also take a certified copy of the amendment that permits you to import airguns in .177" calibre.
They have given a notice of 15 days to be present in Mumbai wheras the address on the parcel if of madhya Pradesh.
You could write to them enclosing all the necessary documents. If that does not work ask them if they would send the parcel to Postal Customs Indore as it would make things easier for your father.

Mind you, this is all theoretical stuff so feel free to disregard it. :wink:

Mack The Knife

Mack The Knife email

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 7:15 pm
by dev
Me very embarressed but me mucked up on your email. Could you please put it here. One more request I have misplaced the amendment copy ...the one which allows you to import .177 caliber airguns. I held it close to me through out the Baikal experiment but now its somewhere else.

Thanks for your Indian angler link but I have been lurking there and had read what had happened to your stuff and how your reply read like a cold glove smacking across the customs boffin's kisser.

The Delhi state guy dug out my certificate but won't move his butt on my membership card till next week. By which time I may have given up on the QB78 or be ready to pepper the likeness of his silhouette with it. :twisted:


Regards,

Dev

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 9:46 pm
by Sujay

documents

Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 10:45 am
by dev
Hi Mack The Knife and Sujay,

Thanks for the ideas. Hey Sujay thanks a ton , I really feel that I have a decent chance after downloading the page from the gazzette. To answer your query Tim uses the U.S. posts parcel service that is compatible to our speed post, so that you can track the parcel etc.
I was thinking about aborting the QB out of sheer panic, but now my old spirit is sneaking back, after all six years ago yours truly had sneaked a Crosman thru by sheer lube power.
Its just that you so desperately want the system to work and then pound your head in despair when it doesn't.

Mack The Knife I shall scan and email a copy of the notice today.

regards,

dev

docu drama

Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 1:12 pm
by dev
Thanks for the counters to the boffins, I have almost all the documents that you have suggested. But the credit card bill will probably in the package.

Good tip about the letter to the customs commissioner. Now the only flaw is that the Siri Fort Club guy can't find his seal.

Let's see if he has it by evening. I think even the last one said dept. of customs and not postal customs.


Regards,

Dev

Re: docu drama

Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 2:44 pm
by Mack The Knife
Boffins? Bunch of twits if you ask me!
But the credit card bill will probably in the package.
It will be stuck to the outside of the box in a clear plastic packet. There may be one copy inside as well. However, just in case these are absent, it would be adviseable to have a copy of your credit card statement - original and photocopy.
Good tip about the letter to the customs commissioner.
Address it to the Deputy Commissioner of Customs because that's whose office it came from. See rubber stamp.

The best of Irish to you.

Mack The Knife

D-Day

Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 3:46 pm
by dev
Okay guys just a few hours till I face the govt.employees from hell.

If I don't post by tomorrow evening...

'Tell them that for their tomorrow I gave my today' :cry:


Whattta load of fresh bovine.

Instead its what my little girl usta say,"Ready or not here I come."


Thanks a ton Mack The Knife.

Regards Dev

This is Nero the Matrix has changed

Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 7:18 pm
by dev
'You may not want to hear this but..."

Just got back from the International Post Office...Maaan do I have news.
Firstly, it took the whole day from 11.00 a.m till past 5.30. First the guys opened the pack this took almost 1 1/2, the guy at the other side of the counter one of the officios don't know if he was a senior clerk etc. was beaming at me being a shooter. He dropped names of Abhinav Bhindra, Jaaspaaal oye woh bhi ate hain etc. Then the junior flunkie pulls the QB out and like all twerps points it in the direction of the guy he doesn't like and goes 'tha' just like a kid.

Anyway the first guy asks him to put it back while a third guy is noting down what it is. Then I display a few certs luckily no one minds my position less participation certs. Now, Mack The Knife was instrumental in getting me to photocopy all Docs and write a letter to the Deputy Comm. I did all this like a good boy and Sujay had armed me with the post powerful document of our lives-the government annexure of the amendment.

So then I follow customs officer down almost weaking with fatique and looking for an easy way out. But heck, damn if he wasn't a righteous soul, he said that he would look at what cases had come up for air guns. I wanted to now bribe him or run away. Since too many people stood close I inquired about the further course of action, he recommended meeting after lunch. It was now 13:05 and way past what I expected a civil servant to do.

Had lunch at Dhaba outside all the while feeling very stupid and cursing my greed for the QB, after all I did got a Baikal already. Anyway lunch was dal makhani and roti (hard as a mule's kick) but I had thought of fasting to appease the God's but...

Inside I got a chit that had my file number and the number ten on it. And the hours crawled as some guy was importing parts for a plasma machine, some had sewing machine parts and somebody had got a Sony Laptop and number 8 had a residence transfer thingie. Man was I ready to quit and play dead. Anyway it slowly crawled to 4.45 p.m. and I stared down at number 9, poor sod confessed he only had one item. So I became pally again. The customs guy was actually real hardworking he finished this guy off in ten minutes.

And there I am in a day dream, the man wants to discuss how much duty to put...resisting the urge to smooch him, I wait to still my pounding heart..he has actually checked three other files where guys have got in AG's and wanted to double check on the documents. I had submitted my write up from the Siri Fort club- a year old and squaking about importing an IZH Baikal, a copy of the annexure, two air pistol shooting certs...that's it and luckily everyone else had the same except for one SOd who had a Nrai cert plus a national position.

Anyway the man smiled added fair duties 23%+15% etc. I entreated him for discount(hey when the luck's turning why not), he smiled and asked me to try with dar commissar. Anyway from there a another guy signed on a document and then I go to deputy Commissioner's room and surprise...

Its a woman and actually a beautiful one, she's actually hot enough to be whistled at (man as the sardar's would say joh sohni to woh sardarni basically something to the effect of none are as beautiful as a Sardarni). Gawd I say this must be a trick,(my mind has got dulled by the humidity) so I again try pleading for a discount and (I must be better looking than b***ugly) she actually asks her junior if anything can be done. All this while I try to look like Steve Martin on the wheel chair (dirty rotten scoundrels). So she signs her beautiful name across the paper(could be revealed for a consideration) and I am good to go. But this India no!!!! the last hurdle is the audit guy. He takes an instant dislike to me,"this can't go he says...this is a restricted import." So doing my Steve Martin bit I modestly pimp out about the change in the gazzette etc. But he flips his customs book latest edition looking for the nail...but alas its not there.

And he puts his fat finger on the first line of the amendment which talks about firearms he ignores the airgun bit. He rushes mightly to the last office (where the kind man had asked me to get into the Commonwealth games). But now I start to lose it and so I shout at him for reading the fireams bit only...the s.o.b asks me why I was getting into it. Why...I'll give you why(my fists are cocked for a lethal Tae Kwon Do backfist to his underlip area)...then kind man asks me leave room for a second. Clerk is cajoled for not writing .177 down. How could he Tim at Mac1 had decided to help me out by writing toy gun on the invoice? Now I quickly realised that the owners manual had .177 written somewhere. I shoved this under the clerk's nose and he jotted it down.(Some more stuff happened in between but your's truly is tiring now...the QB 78 is made in .22 and .177 the owner's manual is general for both and so I quickly stabbed at the .177 muzzle velocity bit).

So the slip is signed by sob at audit and I shake hands with clerk and leave him my card (I have promised to take him shooting sometime), I actually felt better making this offer than trying to corrupt his soul.
Just then the retard who had pointed the rifle at his friend returned with some mighty salaams promising to wing the rifle across on Monday. I slap him a hunner and sail off to office to pen this for you guys.

Will post pics through Mack The Knife when its in and Sujay yes it was too beautiful to let go. Rejoice guys, Delhi postal customs rocks.

Regards,

Dev :lol: