Customs, yet again

[Tombstone]

So Im sittin here in Japan, spinning a Tanaka SAA in my hand and thinking to myself How the hell am i gettin this home?
So i go looking at US customs website.
Searched Unauthorized trademarks
And it says im allowed one item with unauthorized trademarks as long as its for personal use...which this is.
I.ve already cleared this with Narita airport, and now im wondering to myself
If it was this easy, why hasnt anybody done it before...what am I forgetting.

[Mobius]

Youre not forgetting anything its the plain and simple fact you are allowed ONE and a 1500.00 round trip ticket is a bit expensive for one toy gun

Good one on the SAA

Should we start calling you Ocelot?

[The Duke]

I will! But he has to growl to call us to him

[Mobius]

Bwahahahahahahahaha

[Fluffy]

I will! But he has to growl to call us to him

[Riddick]

you are forgetting that the tip must be painted orange (1/4" worth) "unremovable"

you don't have that they can/might seize it.

[Tombstone]

Hey Rick,
can i trouble you to link me to the page with the guidelines for transporting replicas? Japan google gives me japan results...in japanese...

[Jihad]

you can change the language of google by going to the main page and clicking language tools...

[Riddick]

§ 1150.2 Prohibitions.
top

No person shall manufacture, enter into commerce, ship, transport, or receive any toy, look-alike, or imitation firearm (“deviceâ€

[Tombstone]

many thanks Rick,
Off to the store to get some orange nail polish i guess.

[midnight_commander]

Could always ship it couldn't you?

I've done it before, but it was out of Taiwan. Probably different, but I didn't have any trouble.

[Bad Karma]

How packages are handled while shipping internationally really depends on the country. Japan has notably tighter import/export restrictions than many other Asian countries (Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, and French Polynesia come to mind off-hand). Also, US Customs inspects packages at the border. While most packages are not inspected, there is a chance that it could get picked. At that point, if some or all of your goods are found to be in violation of our import/export laws, they can hold them or destroy them. Customs is lovely like that.

/Package Analyst for international logistics corporation

[Kendodude]

There is an Asahi M60 in the depths of the UPS office in Chicago. And unfortunate soul purchased it from Endoshoji, who did request to paint the orange tip.

A classic beauty that may have been possibly executed.

[Tombstone]

Well, the tip is orange, and its in check luggage, I think im safe as far as i know. Ill know in 2 more days

[Steve]

I know this sounds ridiculous, but it might help to declare it to the airline as a firearm. I've travelled a couple of tims with airsofts via commercial air (strictly state-to state, never across a national border) and had to declare them as firearms and fill out the stupid tag and have the TSA guys verify that they were unloaded and the rest of the crap that goes along with it. Basically, by giving them a 'box' to put the concept of toy gun into their world in, they were a lot more comfortable with dealing with it.

But again, I have never crossed a border with one, so I am unsure whether or not you should do this.

The last time I flew with one, I was heading back to rejoin my unit before we deployed to Afghanistan. I had an MP-5K PDW replica complete with a half dozen mags and a suppressor and aimpoint in a locked hard case. I had unscrewed the orange flash hider to mount the suppressor and had just tossed the flash hider into my luggage. The one TSA screener turned into almost a dozen of them oohing and aahing over it, and I actually had to go into the screening area to pull the battery pack and suppressor to prove it wasn't real to settle a bet for a couple of them. I spent a good bit of time laughing about that. I have a feeling if I hadn't been travelling in uniform that situation probably wouldn't have been nearly as friendly, though. A visible orange tip and a locking case are your friends when dealing with folks outside of the community who can seize your replica.