My son is an active duty US Army officer and he is getting ready to ship off to Germany very soon. I suggested to him at some point in time during his tour to vist Krieghoff in Ulm. I am not sure if a purchase can be made directly from them or not, but I hope he can at least take a long weekend off and drive to Ulm and visit. Has anyone out there have any experience with bringing back to USA a Krieghoff or even a Perazzi from Italy? What are your thoughts/or your experience, if any, on purchasing a Krieghoff in Germany and bringing it back to USA along export fees/taxes, etc and government paperwork vs making a purchase in the US from Krieghoff dealer. Which way would be cheaper or not? Is the paper work, taxes, fees too much of a hassle? Waiting periods, if any? Of course, customs inspections, probably.
JackRyan
1 - 20 of 58 Posts
Joined
·
291 Posts
My son is an active duty US Army officer and he is getting ready to ship off to Germany very soon. I suggested to him at some point in time during his tour to vist Krieghoff in Ulm. I am not sure if a purchase can be made directly from them or not, but I hope he can at least take a long weekend off and drive to Ulm and visit. Has anyone out there have any experience with bringing back to USA a Krieghoff or even a Perazzi from Italy? What are your thoughts/or your experience, if any, on purchasing a Krieghoff in Germany and bringing it back to USA along export fees/taxes, etc and government paperwork vs making a purchase in the US from Krieghoff dealer. Which way would be cheaper or not? Is the paper work, taxes, fees too much of a hassle? Waiting periods, if any? Of course, customs inspections, probably.
Joined
·
19,051 Posts
There tends to be little if any discount given on firearms in Europe. I travel there often and my experience is that, in general you can buy the same firearm here for less than you can in it's country of origin. You might save a bit up front, but the process of getting the firearm back to the USA eats those savings rather quickly.
Not saying the idea of visiting the factories isn't a good way to spend some time off, and he might find a good deal (Perazzi especially caters to Americans - but again, I'm not sure how much he might save).
Remember too that European rules for obtaining a firearm are much more stringent than here. He most likely will have to ship the gun directly to a US importer rather than carry it home himself. Rules and regulations for all of Europe are being wildly tightened after the attacks in Paris - where they used 'deactivated' firearms that had been restored to firing condition.
With this in mind great bargains can be had. With rules getting tougher fewer and fewer people allowed to own firearms - the market has lots of second hand guns sitting in shops. The desirable guns will be snapped up, but the odd guns or 'off' names are in abundance and he might just find a 'steal.' Again, he needs to be mindful of the costs of getting the firearm from Europe to the USA...
Please thank him for his service.
Not saying the idea of visiting the factories isn't a good way to spend some time off, and he might find a good deal (Perazzi especially caters to Americans - but again, I'm not sure how much he might save).
Remember too that European rules for obtaining a firearm are much more stringent than here. He most likely will have to ship the gun directly to a US importer rather than carry it home himself. Rules and regulations for all of Europe are being wildly tightened after the attacks in Paris - where they used 'deactivated' firearms that had been restored to firing condition.
With this in mind great bargains can be had. With rules getting tougher fewer and fewer people allowed to own firearms - the market has lots of second hand guns sitting in shops. The desirable guns will be snapped up, but the odd guns or 'off' names are in abundance and he might just find a 'steal.' Again, he needs to be mindful of the costs of getting the firearm from Europe to the USA...
Please thank him for his service.
Joined
·
1,257 Posts
Jack, if you end up needing an importer (in the USA), I recommend that you contact Charles Schneible at British Sporting Arms BSA Contact Information.
Joined
·
291 Posts
Ja, ya got that right! :xpb_nut:
Joined
·
5,484 Posts
Not sure how long it's been since you have been active duty, but as a current Active Duty Naval Officer, I can tell you that most overseas gun clubs have died a long time ago. As are most here in CONUS.
Joined
·
5,484 Posts
In order to buy a gun in Germany, he will need to have whatever registration the Germans require people to have to possess a firearm. When I was stationed in Spain, you had to have a GIA (or GHIA) to have a gun. Waiting for that paperwork took forever.
I've completed 3 overseas assignments, 2 years each in Spain, Italy, and Japan. Pricing of a gun is set on what the market will pay. So the MSRP of a K-80 in the states is different than what the MSRP is in Germany. (And that's not just based on the conversion rate.)
But then, you do need to consider the conversion rate as well. When I was stationed in Italy, I was a big Harley guy. With a strong dollar vs. the Lira (and then Euro during that tour) I could buy a Harley in Italy much cheaper than i could in the states. But since I already had one there, I decided not to.
Will be interesting to see if your son can even get a gun in Germany, and what the price would be. When I was in Spain, service members had to be E-4 or above to have a gun. I was a brand new Airman, so I did not qualify. I bought a gun at the Base Gun Club (those days are over..) and kept it with my buddy, an E-7.
Best of luck to your son on his overseas assignment, I hope he gets to experience a lot that Germany has to offer. I did a 2 month temporary duty to Stuttgart, and it was a really great place!
I was stationed in Germany on two different tours. Last one ended in 1988. At that time Rod and Bottle Clubs were at just about all installations. It was a great place to purchase all types of fire arms. On my first return I hand carried my guns with me, second time shipped in House Hold Goods. I have heard there have been changes but not sure as to what, each Service member should check with local Installation Commands and US Customs for accurate information. I totally enjoyed my shooting and Hunting experience in Germany. On my second tour I went to School and became a German Certified Hunting Instructor. Jake
Joined
·
291 Posts
I left active duty in 1994. The ship I was on dropped anchor in Trieste, Italy twice during my last deployment. Toured Munich and Salzburg on two separate 4 day weekends. *** What a shame. I did not know that. Political correctness is killing German/European culture. But, I'll save that for another thread. Anyway, what I do know is that GIs at his base in Germany have some kind Welfare and Recreational office on the base where they can sign up for training and to apply for German hunting license and understanding German hunting laws and assistance on how to legally apply purchase hunting arms and storage at home and that sort of thing. Then, finding a place to hunt. Most of you may already know there is an indoor shooting range in Ulm. > MSZU - Müller Shooting Range Ulm So, I suggested that to him; take a long weekend off and go rent a Krieghoff and spend a weekend shooting trap. He scored an aggregate 80/100 in his first fun shoot at my club using my Browning BPS Trap pump. Not bad for a beginner.
Joined
·
5,484 Posts
Jack, I have an online acquaintance from many moons ago who is a civilian employee of the Army. He does rotations to Germany for years at a time, and hunts over there. I'll reach out to him to see if I can put you in touch with him. For all I know, he might be there now. he could help your son out I am sure!
Joined
·
291 Posts
Thanks John H. Will keep you in mind. He just arrived over there. He is a newly minted 0-1/2ndLT, so he has some learning to do...German culture, customs, language, laws etc.
Joined
·
5,484 Posts
You can sure be proud of him for serving! I was a newly minted O-1 in 1995! And an E-1 in 1984.
I guess I need to figure out what I want to be when I grow up!!
I guess I need to figure out what I want to be when I grow up!!
Joined
·
291 Posts
Oh, yea, I'm just bursting with pride! He graduated from college this past May and he was in the Army ROTC program at his college and I pinned (smacked them on, actually) his shoulder boards on him real hard...made him feel the pain at his commissioning ceremony! Once in a lifetime experience for me!
Joined
·
15,842 Posts
I would take mortum's advice and contact Pacific Sporting Arms, Krieghoff International or duPont/Krieghoff - Things have changed Drastically in Germany since I was there in the 1980s. The German Gov. has gone full blow socialist and regulations are a lot tougher on gun transfers now. The Rod and Gun Clubs are almost all closed from what I hear. Also the Marc/US dollar exchange rate is TERRIBLE compared to what it used to be. When I was at Altus AFB OK. We had a Lt. Col. who was the gun club president. In 1969 he brought back a custom made K-32 with 4 skeet barrels and a trap barrel. It had diamond inlays and the most gorgeous wood I ever say on a gun. It cost him 2,000 American (quite a sun on 1969)!
Joined
·
715 Posts
I have a friend that went to Italy and had Perazzi fit and build his new gun. Had it in his hands a week later with all documentation to get it thru Customs and Duty paid. Brought it back on his flight home. Don’t know the cost compared to purchasing in US. He was able to select wood, receiver plus fitting along with week in Italy.
Joined
·
14 Posts
I think you need federal importer license
Joined
·
715 Posts
Perazzi made all of the arrangements to get the gun into the US. Probably thru Perazzi USA.
1 - 20 of 58 Posts
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
