Mail Order Legalities. Law-abiding adult citizens are eligible to purchase firearms through the mails. Federal law requires, however, that modern guns be shipped care of a local dealer for transfer to the purchaser. A modern gun is one built after 1898. Pre-1899 guns may be shipped directly to purchasers; they are not considered firearms under law. See the complete legal Definition of an Antique Firearm.
For us to ship a modern firearm, we must first receive a copy of a local gun dealer's Federal Firearms License (FFL) signed in ink. (Faxed and scanned email copies are now acceptable.) There are about 100,000 licensed dealers in the USA. Every gun store must have a license and will usually be happy to receive a gun for you either as a complimentary service or for a small fee. If you do not know a dealer, just look in the Yellow Pages under Guns and Gunsmiths. When we receive your order, we will pack, insure and ship your purchase to your dealer. You may collect it there, completing the yellow Federal form 4473, the instant check, if applicable, and any other paperwork required in your area.
A Federal C&R license will suffice for shipment of curios or relics directly to and for the license holder. Curios or Relics are defined as any firearm over 50 years old or any specific make and model of gun judged by the BATF to be of collectible interest and appearing on their published list: http://www.atf.treas.gov/firearms/curios/index.htm
Shipping. For all US orders over $750, we pay shipping by US Registered Mail. US Registered Mail takes a little longer than a first class letter because it is signed for and locked up along each step of the way. Bearer bonds and cut diamonds are shipped by Registered Mail because it is the safest way of shipping anything. The charge for shipping of items under $750 is $20 for each handgun and $30 for each long gun.
Sales Tax. CT and NY residents, please add applicable sales tax or provide a valid resale certificate. (Having been established originally in Connecticut, we remain a CT corporation. CT and NY have a reciprocal sales tax agreement.) There is no sales tax in Montana. We do not collect sales tax for other states.
Payment. We accept bank checks and money orders. (We accept personal checks but allow them two weeks to clear prior to shipment.) If you tell us you would like to buy a particular gun, we will hold it for you a few days while your paperwork is in transit.
Returns. If you like the gun, keep it and use it safely and in good health. If you do not want it, for any reason at all, notify us and return it to us within three days of its arrival at your receiving dealer, in the same condition as sent. We will refund your money promptly and in full for guns returned within this period, in the same condition as sent. If we have paid the shipping to you, we will absorb that cost. You should cover the cost of return shipping should you decide to ask for a refund. Shipping charges for guns priced below $750 are not refundable.
Layaways. A 1/3 deposit will hold any gun for 60 days. We cannot, however, accept returns on layaways.
Prior Sale. Due to the nature of the vintage gun business, each gun is effectively unique. As such, each is subject to prior sale.
Trades. We are happy to consider trades towards anything we have for sale. While we try to specialize in high grade guns, we recognize that all guns are not 1930s Boss over & under 20 gauges in time-warp-new condition. We are, however, far more interested in collectible and sporting guns in fine condition at any price level than in old, worn, modified, abused firearms, regardless of their original level of quality. Although a preliminary communication and perhaps even some photos may save useless shipping back and forth, ultimately we will have to examine your trade before we can determine exactly what we can allow for it.
Exports. We are happy to export any of our guns. Exporting sporting shotguns is relatively straightforward. Rifles and pistols, however, require a US export license. For this purpose we use an export broker. For handling the export license paperwork, he charges 15% of the shipment value up to $3000 with a minimum of $125 to a maximum of $300; or 10% of the shipment value over $3000, per item. This must be for your account. After you pay us for your purchase and for cost of the export license, we will send you an invoice. With that, you may apply for an import license from your country. Then, when you send us the import license, our export agent will obtain a US export license. When that is granted (usually 2 to 4 months) we will ship the gun. We pay the cost of delivery to our agent. He will ship to you, Federal Express, freight charges collect---usually somewhere in the $150 - $250 range.
Please contact us if you have any questions at all.
Hallowell & Co., Inc., PO Box 1445, Livingston, MT 59047
Tel: 406 222-4770 Email: morris@hallowellco.com
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