?? on shipping a totally stripped desert eagle to get plated

[bubbapug1]

I have a question about shipping a totally stripped down Desert Eagle to a plating company. The plating company is an FFL and has stated a stripped down pistol doesn't need to be shipped UPS red as its technically "machine parts."

Is this correct?

Can I send a totally stripped pistol Regular UPS of even USPS priority mail??

[kemasa]

It is technically still a firearm and a pistol at that. So, you would not be able to ship it USPS.

[GoingQuiet]

A frame is not considered a handgun but considered an "Other firearm" - so I'd ship it UPS to make it cheap

[kemasa]

Are you sure that a handgun that is taken apart is considered as an "other firearm"? For a frame or receiver that has never been assembled is other.

[GoingQuiet]

Are you sure that a handgun that is taken apart is considered as an "other firearm"? For a frame or receiver that has never been assembled is other.

Hmm. Good question. I'll put that into this month's letter to ATF.

[kemasa]

USPS seems to consider the frame of a handgun to still be a handgun:

http://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c4_009.htm

b The disassembled parts of a handgun or other type of nonmailable firearm that can be readily reassembled as a weapon are nonmailable, except as permitted in Exhibit 432.1 and DMM 601.11.1 or 601.11.2.

[kemasa]

BTW, I looked at the FedEx policies and learned something new today by calling them. While you can ship a non-handgun ground, if you ship ANY firearm by FedEx Express it must be shipped overnight (unless they want your money bad enough and make an exception for you).

[bubbapug1]

Wow Kemasa I really appreciate you looking into this.

I will send it UPS red. Its may DE after all. Its like a basketball to me....