Transporting your collection overseas?

[VonLuck]

Has anybody had to do this?? I might be getting a job overseas in Europe (not a nazi-symbol ban country) and really wondering how I'm going to take my treasures with me. This move could be for a numbers of years and I don't want to leave them in storage in the US.
I don't think moving companies like to handle high-dollar collectibles. Its several helmets, guns, medals, etc.
Any advice would be truly appreciated

[Military]

Me too.

I might relocated to Asia this year and need to know about this. I have been told that some countries are rather strict about these items.

Not the safest way to put in a handcarry luggage.

Not sure about putting into a checked-in luggage, and maybe the best ways would still be to ship it over, insured.

[SSgentleman]

Fedex is the word.

Me too.

I might relocated to Asia this year and need to know about this. I have been told that some countries are rather strict about these items.

Not the safest way to put in a handcarry luggage.

Not sure about putting into a checked-in luggage, and maybe the best ways would still be to ship it over, insured.

[VonLuck]

Would FEDEX, UPS, DHL, etc. ship things like guns and TR stuff across borders though? I have way too much stuff to put into checked luggage so that option isn't for me.

[juoneen]

If i might make a suggestion. It depends on how long you are going to be away from the usa. If only a few years or less, id photo, list, and write an agreement with a friend to have them hold your items here . Relatives would be the best bet. Then pick them up when you come back. I would avoid internationally shipping guns etc. (costly, and dangerous, as you may lose some or all of them )Otherwise if you are moving forever id sell them, and buy new stuff where you end up. Just a thought.

[lieproo]

OR , YOU CAN LEAVE IT TO ME

[VonLuck]

If i might make a suggestion. It depends on how long you are going to be away from the usa. If only a few years or less, id photo, list, and write an agreement with a friend to have them hold your items here . Relatives would be the best bet. Then pick them up when you come back. I would avoid internationally shipping guns etc. (costly, and dangerous, as you may lose some or all of them )Otherwise if you are moving forever id sell them, and buy new stuff where you end up. Just a thought.

huh?

[SSgentleman]

check with FEDEX, they might be familiar with custom laws if they have an office in that country you are moving to. in some cases,they might help you handle the paperwork for clearance. but i do understand rules on importing guns in europe might differ...

[Massimo F.]

I have quite the same problem but the other way, I recently moved to the US to marry my fiance, now I'm residing here in Chicago with my wife and her family, I left all my collection in Italy ( I boxed and listed everything) at my uncle's home. I'm planning to have sent at least my Waffen-SS insignia and pictures collection since it's the most valuable part of it and wouldn't take a big box to ship. My fears are that it can get stuck at the US Custom and if I ensure it for the real value it might be stolen (it happened before)... to ensure the content I have to provide a list of the material and the receipt I've payed for each item it sounds to me like a free ticket to get into trouble with the Custom. Is there a reliable shipping service that wouldn't rip me off or make me pay custom duties on items that belong to me?
Any suggestion is welcome, thank to you all for your time.
Max

[VonLuck]

US Customs shouldn't be a big deal. They are not as strict as countries in Europe when it comes to politically incorrect items. However, if you insure the contents then I think you have to pay a hefty tax on their value. That's why a lot of internet merchants will label their packages as "fabric samples", curios, etc.
I'd be going to your neighboring country of Switzerland. Know of any issues with TR stuff there?

[Massimo F.]

Since Switzerland is a federation of 26 "Cantons" they might have different rules. There was a Nazi Party during the war in Switzerland and they had something like 700 volunteers in the Waffen-SS... therefore I don't know if they have strict laws on german militaria from the Third Reich era,
you can check this website
http://www.ch.ch/private/00093/00101...x.html?lang=en
which is from the Swiss Custom.
Also you can ask about it to forum member "polux" he lives between France and Switzerland I'm sure he can give you some advice on that.

good luck
Max

[bnz. 42]

I know for sure that the laws of some European countries are very strict about Nazi militaria for both ways: bringing in or out. Customs can easily confiscate your collection and even accuse you in breaking the law up to a jail time. No kidding, for example, Russia. I saw on Russian news myself about some guy who was stopped on the border because he was trying to bring with him just a few cheap medals (like KVK 2-nd class, etc). They said it is prohibited because first - it carries Nazi symbols, and second because it is valuable historical artifacts, something like art that needs to be declared in the custom declaration same way as if it was diamonds. They took all his staff and put him jail.
What I am even more confident about is that it is most likely will be impossible to enter any country with guns, even deactivated.
But I heard there is a way to get around it, but not with guns anyway. You can bring with you prohibited Nazi material if you get some special papers like it is for scientific research or something like that and that it is only for some time will be in their country and that you will eventually bring it back from there.

[Military]

does anyone know about bringing these stuff into Asia?

[Massimo F.]

Concerning guns I know for sure that even moving them from one state to another within the European Union is forbidden because each State has a different law with different specs on deactivation; for example I cannot buy a deact MP40 from Germany and have it shipped to Italy because the certificate coming with would not be considered valid and I could get into a LOT of trouble for that, the weapon confiscated and possibly destroyed.
So I suggest you to leave the guns in USA. Concerning medals, uniforms, helmets etc. specially for the ones bearing nazi symbols It's a gamble... Customs in Europe are very strict and if you get your stuff confiscated you won't get any compensation and other than that you'll lose not only money but collectibles that are mostly unique pieces and irreplaceable.
I've decided myself to leave everything in safe hands, too much risk even for the small stuff, this collectibles have a value for us only, for 99% of the ppl out there it's pure cr@p and many of them associate collectors of this memorabilia with nazis so the odds are against us and I don't want to waste years of researching and collecting. It hurts a little not having them close by, I know but you'll be better off leaving them in safe hands like somebody else already suggested.

take care

[Adrian Stevenson]

does anyone know about bringing these stuff into Asia?

"Asia" is a bit vague, which actual country were you thinking of? If you can be a bit more specific I think you will get more help?

Cheers, Ade.