Any UK members ordered from abroad recently?

Post by Phobus

I see RSOV HK have REVERSED their decision about posting RIF s to UK on the understanding that it is at the buyers discretion , so if seized by UK customs they don,t want to know .

They ask that you sign a disclaimer first which says you are a legitimate airsoft user

Very tempting when they go and release a tasty ACM Metal Bell gas revolver that uses brass cartridges and costs about the same as a Mars bar , and best of all a copy of the Marushin gas shotgun M 500 IN 8MM and full metal which costs only a little bit more .

Check it out !!!












You know you want one

Cheers

CARL
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Marmite enthusiast

I've ordered and received some parts and accessories without any problems from Japan recently but I don't think I'd be too keen to attempt privately importing RIFs just yet.

As far as I'm aware, the Home Office will allow certain people to buy RIFs but the dealers are required to ensure the buyer is legitimately allowed to do so. UK based dealers won't risk prosecution will they so you can bet they will be checking first. HK dealers or elsewhere put the onus to comply with the Law on us, the buyers.

Re-enactors will have Membership cards that can be checked up with the Group, the Airsoft skirmishers will have to be registered with UKRetailersAssociation and a site registered and approved by the sport's organising body.
Relatively easy to "police" within the UK.

But, if HM Customs happen to scan your privately imported RIF what are the chances they'll read the paperwork looking for a disclaimer that you've told the Hong Kong dealer you're allowed to buy?

If rsov have now added that disclaimer don't forget that practically every US dealer has big disclaimers stating it's up to the buyer to ensure that the goods purchased comply with National and State Laws.

It is difficult isn't it especially when RIFs of all types are so much cheaper abroad !

Cerwyn
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Hobby collector of mainly WW2 era uniforms, headgear, field equipment and replica weapons.

Post by GZ22

There's a thread on another forum about HMRC and RIF's which is quite informative:

http://www.arniesairsoft.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=124558

Post by Phobus



HHmmm , won,t let me in , link don,t work !!

Carl.
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Marmite enthusiast

Hiya Carl

It wouldn't open for me either until I logged in as a registered user of the site.
Only takes a minute and you'll be ok

It would be nice to think things may be as simple as the message implies but it still requires proof that the buyer is either an Airsoft skirmiser or a Reenactor.

I don't know if the VCRA's exemptions take note of the fact that a pfc replica modelgun isnt any good for Airsoft skirmishing or if they just treat ALL RIFs the same?

Cerwyn
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Hobby collector of mainly WW2 era uniforms, headgear, field equipment and replica weapons.

Post by Phobus

Thanks Cerwyn and GZ22 ,

I just had to log into arnies first to get in , but I can,t say I am any clearer after reading that , and still nobody actually stated they had imported RIFs without incident ( or not )

Also , they are VERY rude to each other on that forum arn,t they ?
I get the feeling that they are all about 13 years old .

I am tempted to make a small order to RSOV to test the water and if I lose the lot then its bye bye £100 or so which I can live with , I,m sorry but this VCR is just PLOP - afaic .

Thanks CARL.
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Marmite enthusiast

It has to be said that some of the other forums I look up from time to time, Airsoft related in particular, come accross as rude, arrogant, intolerant of newcomers etc etc that it makes me wonder too why they bother? Maye they rile each other up to such a fever pitch they can shoot the crap out of each other without remorse

I'm taking this opportunity to thank everybody that contributes on this superb forum for being so friendly, welcoming, enthusiastic and ever helpful. Long may it continue!

The article we've read is still a bit ambiguous though isn't it? I think I'd be happier if I had a letter from the HO stating all this as being true rather than rely on hearsay, (all due respects to the guy who wrote that in the first place)
Courts only accept hard evidence and facts after all.

It could be worth a try though, but what if that article had it all wrong and it's meant for Retailers and Wholesalers only for instance?

One small parcel might slip through but the next one may not.

Cerwyn
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Hobby collector of mainly WW2 era uniforms, headgear, field equipment and replica weapons.

Post by Phil_D

Carl,
Be careful, its not just the goods you may lose, its also an offence to "cause the importation of a RIF"
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Too many to list now and the collection has stopped still growing.

Post by figaro

In the spirit of being kind to the uninformed, what is an RIF?
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www.thebutcher-movie.com

Post by Spencerman

Realistic Immitation Firearm. RIF.
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Post by MadMike

Have to agree with Cerwyn, when I started on this forum I had a Marushin kit I could not assemble, so I sought help. Everyone was so kind, helpful and friendly and no-one was offended by stupid newbie questions. I am quite sure this is the friendliest place on the internet and I found some true friends here. I am visiting it almost on a daily basis and enjoy meeting you guys very much.

Regarding the imortation of RIFs, I would recommend to keep low profile as I am expecting customs to look very closely right now. Time will show what will be possible and what not. What authorities will accept and what will be regarded as an offence. To be frank I have not yet seen many laws being so vague like the VCRA ...

Keep sharp!
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"It's a hardball world, son. We've gotta keep our heads until this peace craze blows over."

Post by GZ22

Yes Carl - please don't be the first person to be made an example of - importing a RIF will land you in hot water under the VCRA. A few years ago I did some intensive reserach on BF's and saw that under the law, no one had actually been prosecuted for buying or having a forward-venter. So, I decided to be the one who would test the whole 'readily convertible' thing - I was even ready to do the 5 years if I was found guilty - but as long as there was a chance that I could be found innocent, and therefore clear the way for the purchase of such models, I was happy to bet he sacrificial lamb. So I placed an order with a retailer, and the whilst still researching, I discovered that Operation Bembridge had been carried out - which resulted in a number of UK based buyers of such models (from the same retailer as my potential one) being raided and in all cases the models were seized, proven to be readily convertible, and destroyed. And in a few instances, people were given the 5 stretch.

In response to that, I immediately retracted my order and left it at that. My intense study and research of UK Firearms Law leaves me in no doubt that the Stautory Instruments embodied in the VCRA will be effected and the first person to breach them will be very publicly hung out to dry.

Please don't take the risk.

Post by Doc

Update on importing

A member of the group I`m in was importing a metal replica pistol , HM customs rightly detected it and stopped it and sent him a letter to say so .
He phoned them and said he was part of a long standing group with full PLI ..they asked for proof ( which I was able to do on his behalf by providing his membership details and our PLI policy number)
They released his pistol and it just arrived with him yesterday (with no additional tax/charges )
Only point I`ll make is that it was a WW2 era pistol but as far as Im aware HM customs made no mention of this as they readily admit they are not firearms experts but they can point at a replica gun and a banana and tell you which is which .

DOC
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We need guns...lots of guns....

.... well anything mechanical that can kill people is interesting ...

Now here is something with a bit more credence!
Sounds like there's hope yet...
Thanks DOC,

Cerwyn
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Hobby collector of mainly WW2 era uniforms, headgear, field equipment and replica weapons.

Post by ricks

At least they're aware of when they're holding their bananas
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Rick