Griffin & Howe can assist you in the import or export of sporting shotguns and rifles that you own, or are purchasing.  We apply for any necessary permit(s) through the federal government under our import/export license, and once approved, are able to proceed with the shipment of the gun.  Please note that Griffin & Howe does not deal with the import or export of handguns.

If we are assisting you to import a firearm please know that U.S. Customs Service will assess a duty tax of 2.6% on the value of a shotgun, 3.1% on rifles, and 13.3% on rifle scopes if the firearm has not previously been imported into the U.S. Griffin & Howe will pay the duty, insurance, age fees and freight on your behalf, and invoice you for these charges after the gun is shipped. Guns entering the country for the first time must be engraved with our name on the firearm.  This is done in small letters on barrel of the firearm as per federal law.

The total cost of importing a firearm into the U.S. is a minimum of $1000.00 USD. These charges may or may not include the fees assessed by the dealer/ in the country that the firearm is being shipped from. The fees can vary greatly depending on value of the gun and the duty that is assessed. Griffin & Howe must provide insurance on the declared value of the shipment unless the firearms are already insured. The insurance fee is $4.71 per $1,000 of declared value of the firearm. The owner of the firearm is responsible for the $1000 deductible.

If you are exporting a firearm, we will work with you to provide all of the necessary export documents the US government agencies requires to help you successfully export your firearm. The regulations regarding the export of firearms varies for each country and we ask that you please know and understand the laws in the country you wish to send the gun into so that you can obtain all of the necessary import documents needed to take possession of your firearm once it arrives there. The average cost to export is a minimum of $750.00 USD. This is for the fees that you will be charged by Griffin & Howe, and can be higher depending on the cost of airfare to the country the guns are being exported to. If you are exporting a rifle and it has a scope attached, please be aware that the export of the scope is controlled by the Commerce Department and may require a separate export permit.

Griffin & Howe charges a $400 license fee for up to 2 shotguns and $500 license fee for up to 2 rifles. If you have a large number of firearms that need to be shipped, please contact us for a price quote.  A non-refundable deposit equaling the license fee is required to initiate either the import or export process. We require a copy of a valid photo ID with your current address, and if we are importing a firearm either a hunting license or some sort of ID that verifies that you are eligible to own a firearm in the US.

In order to initiate the paperwork to either Import or Export a firearm you will need to supply us with the following information:

• Make of Firearm
• Model
• Manufacturer, model, power, and serial number of scope, if appropriate
• Serial number
• Gauge or Caliber
• Barrel Length
• Overall length
• Value of each firearm
• Name & Address of the foreign shipper
• Your name, address, telephone, and e-mail

Griffin & Howe will gladly do all that we can to assist you in this process. If you have questions please feel free to contact our Import/Export Manager, Shari Buchanan at 908-766-2287 or e-mail buchanan at griffinhowe