Open Forum

I saw the thread about overseas borrowing and thought some of our colleagues in the UK might be able to help me with an usual situation.

We have in our collection some ammunition cartridges (1 or 2, not a carton) from an obscure type of air rifle used on a British polar expedition. At one time in the past, we had entered into discussions with the British Museum regarding transferring these cartridges to them (they were interested) but we could not figure out how to ship live ammo to the U.K.

We are a university campus-based museum with access to an R.O.T.C. unit that detonates live ammo for us; unfortunately, their detonation leaves the artifacts obliterated.

Any suggestions on how we can proceed to ship these cartridges to the U.K. without running afowl of postal regulations, A.T.F., and British customs? We are a small facility with limited funding and cannot afford to send a courier to the U.K.

Thank you.

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Jonathan Plant
Museum Director
John E Conner Museum
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
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Maybe the Museum Weapons Group in the UK might be able to offer some advice?  The main contact is at Royal Armouries who are the UK experts in this field -  graeme.rimer@armouries.org.uk

http://www.museumsassociation.org/find-a-museum/organisations/ybo84?SORT=%40descending%20%24relevance&RECNUM=6&FILTER=ix_mode%20(rel%3D1%20imp%3D1)%20(rec%20ma_yearbook%20and%20((ix_identity)%20and%20with%20ma_yb_collection_type_th_h%20from%20UZZZZZZZZZVZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZYM%3F%20to%20UZZZZZZZZZVZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZYM%3F~)%20and%20((ix_identity)%20and%20with%20ma_yb_region_th_h%20from%20UZZZZZZZZZVZZZZSM%3F%20to%20UZZZZZZZZZVZZZZSM%3F~))%20sort%20%40descending%20%40collate%201%20(%24relevance)%20%40ascending%20%40icase%20(cms_con_core_title)&P=0&N=20&referrer=NODE262312

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Dana Andrew
Museum & Gallery Consultant
UK

Original Message:
Sent: 06-17-2016 10:34 AM
From: Jonathan Plant
Subject: Shipping Historical Armaments Oversees

I saw the thread about overseas borrowing and thought some of our colleagues in the UK might be able to help me with an usual situation.

We have in our collection some ammunition cartridges (1 or 2, not a carton) from an obscure type of air rifle used on a British polar expedition. At one time in the past, we had entered into discussions with the British Museum regarding transferring these cartridges to them (they were interested) but we could not figure out how to ship live ammo to the U.K.

We are a university campus-based museum with access to an R.O.T.C. unit that detonates live ammo for us; unfortunately, their detonation leaves the artifacts obliterated.

Any suggestions on how we can proceed to ship these cartridges to the U.K. without running afowl of postal regulations, A.T.F., and British customs? We are a small facility with limited funding and cannot afford to send a courier to the U.K.

Thank you.

------------------------------
Jonathan Plant
Museum Director
John E Conner Museum
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
------------------------------

What is the nature of the ammunition?  You said an "Air rifle", which seems to indicate no explosive propellant. I admit to a complete ignorance on the subject of early air rifles, but have made inert numerous rounds of live ammunition for museums.  A photo of the ammunition or link to photos would be useful.

------------------------------
David Beard
Director
Museum of the Gulf Coast
Port Arthur TX

Original Message:
Sent: 06-17-2016 10:34 AM
From: Jonathan Plant
Subject: Shipping Historical Armaments Oversees

I saw the thread about overseas borrowing and thought some of our colleagues in the UK might be able to help me with an usual situation.

We have in our collection some ammunition cartridges (1 or 2, not a carton) from an obscure type of air rifle used on a British polar expedition. At one time in the past, we had entered into discussions with the British Museum regarding transferring these cartridges to them (they were interested) but we could not figure out how to ship live ammo to the U.K.

We are a university campus-based museum with access to an R.O.T.C. unit that detonates live ammo for us; unfortunately, their detonation leaves the artifacts obliterated.

Any suggestions on how we can proceed to ship these cartridges to the U.K. without running afowl of postal regulations, A.T.F., and British customs? We are a small facility with limited funding and cannot afford to send a courier to the U.K.

Thank you.

------------------------------
Jonathan Plant
Museum Director
John E Conner Museum
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
------------------------------