Transporting your collection overseas?

[kompanie]

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.

You could leave your stuff at my house ill look after it

[Scott A. Hess]

A word of ADvice

Quick advice for what its worth, I spent two years in Russia, and did not dare bring my collection with me, I think I brought a photo album and one piece of insignia by mistake, I would advise NOT to bring it and ship it all over the world unless your stay is permanent or for decades or more, leave it at home, store it in a high tech facility insure it, and sleep better at night, moving it around the world by fed ex, container (depdnding on the size) etc etc is only going to cause problems in my opinion, you have to declare this stuff with customs, you need to insure the move, and it can cause a lot of headaches, I checked into it, and thought better safe than sorry, just my advice, at the very most, take ONE piece you like, NOT your favorite piece in the world, to have some thing to admire while you are away, but I would NOT do it, also remember many countries are corrupt like no one's business, and you might get a customs agent who clears the stuff who helps himself/herself to a large portion ofyour stuff, or declares them somehow contraband, etc etc, the laws of some countries are quite fluid, and I just dont think its worth the risk, add to the that the potential of theft overseas/and or loss, and your inviting trouble.

[Norman LaBarge]

You might want to check with the State Department/U.S Embassy. They could probably give you more specific information with a particular country.
Another option would be to work with someone in the U.S. military that might be in the country you are going to. U.S. military mail is U.S. mail and may be easier t work with. The U.S. mail still will not ship guns, so, firearms may have to stay in the U.S.

[afrikasandman]

I don't like moving with it, hell i only went from MN to hawaii and I left all of it at my bro's place. I don't konw what the hell im gonna do with the stuff I have bought since here. Suppose its gonna have to get boxed up and inventoried. Matt

[VonLuck]

Thanks for all the opinions guys. I'll probably take a few items that I can stuff in a duffle bag and fly with them myself. The more delicate items will probably have to stay with a good friend of mine. The mover mentioned that guns were not a problem for Switzerland so I'll let them move my mausers. They're not matching or anything so as long as they're insured I should be OK.

Cheers

[W.Unland]

Regarding the "ASIA" question: Japan, Korea, Taiwan, could care less about Third Reich items, BUT no guns, swords, or daggers. It would be unwise to carry in your luggage from the US since you can't lock it and baggage handlers like to open up and look for trinkets. Anything valuable I carry on the plane with me. If I carry in my luggage I secure the case with a belt that has to be untied. To much trouble for the casual thief, and if customs cuts it off I'm out a couple bucks.

When I moved to Japan the collection was shipped through a moving company and declared as "old hats and uniforms...no commercial value" but insured through the carrier. I had no problems at all. The only thing the Japanese customs looks for is drugs using dogs and gun parts using x-rays. They didn't open any of my boxes except one with metal tools, and another with old videos (to make sure no porn).

There are NO laws prohibiting possession of TR materials over here. Hell, guys dress up and walk around Tokyo in SS uniforms for kicks.

A point to always remember is that insurance is a JOKE. NO carrier is going to pay your declared value for "collectibles". Nobody. Fair trade items, furniture, tv's etc yes, but that old medal that's worth $1K to you is a trinket to the insurance carrier and you will never collect. The Post Office, DHL, Fed EX all have "collectible" waivers if you read their terms. Don't count on insurance. The only thing it does is provide tracking, and helps keep the workers honest since they know it is being tracked.

W.Unland