When you list your firearms on the 4457 exactly how much detail do you go into when decribing each firearm and scope? Also, which additional items in addition do you you list on the 4457?

Make, Model, Ser #. I also list the type of scope

Make model and ssn on gun, make model on scope. You want to have a separate 4457 for each rifle. Theoretically you should have a 4457 for any items of value Camera lap top jewelry exc to prove that you bought them in the USA. Avoiding any argument with customs that you bought them over seas incurring duty charge. On my 4457 I just have the Make model and ssn of the gun never have had any problems. In addition most countries accept a 4457 as prof of ownership and a US license for the fire arm. They cannot get their head around the fact that US citizens do not need a license to own firearms

quote:

Originally posted by Trapper Tom:
Make, Model, Ser #. I also list the type of scope

+1

I also list the caliber of each firearm and also list any other high value items I am taking (like my Swarovski Binoculars)

I do a separate 4457 for each gun and scope.
That way, if I upgrade my optics or change my scopes my 4457's are accurate to what I am taking.

It could be hard to explain why your 4457 has one scope and your rifle has another.

quote:

Originally posted by Bob Bixby:
I do a separate 4457 for each gun and scope.
That way, if I upgrade my optics or change my scopes my 4457's are accurate to what I am taking.

It could be hard to explain why your 4457 has one scope and your rifle has another.

Not at all hard to explain. "That scope was sold and the scope on it now is new and is listed here on this other 4457". That explains it well and I've done exactly that.

I know many guys state you need a 4457 for each gun but I've not found that to be the case. In fact, the customs agent that has signed the majority of mine has insisted all the guns or other items I'm adding be on a single 4457 so that she doesn't have to sign and process more than one form. As long as the item in question is listed on a 4457 somewhere, you are good to go. If you run into a hassle, ask for a supervisor. I have several 4457's and they all have multiple guns, scopes, cameras, computers on them. Whatever gear I'm taking, I just make sure I have that particular item covered on one of the 4457's somewhere. I've never had a problem with that. I hear some guys have, but I haven't now on 11 overseas hunting trips, carrying multiple rifles on each trip and clearing customs in Anchorage, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami, Washington DC, as well as Los Angles.

I carry more than one scope per rifle, so I do separate forms for rifles and scopes. They are good for life, so laminate them and keep them year after year.

Question: I have an Elephant hide secretary that would be great to organize my hunting stuff. If I get a 4457 on it would I have a problem? Or, would I just be better off using my usual redwells and plastic folders?

I have never put a scope on my 4457 and have never been asked about it. I have traveled internationally with firearms 19 times coming into to washington dulles mostly, but also Jfk, atl, la, and have never had any issues with 4457 and only having my rifle on it..as a matter of fact half the time they never even look at ot, just see that i have it. In dulles they often do not even ask to see weapon and just say welcome home.

quote:

Originally posted by brent ebeling:
I have never put a scope on my 4457 and have never been asked about it. I have traveled internationally with firearms 19 times coming into to washington dulles mostly, but also Jfk, atl, la, and have never had any issues with 4457 and only having my rifle on it..as a matter of fact half the time they never even look at ot, just see that i have it. In dulles they often do not even ask to see weapon and just say welcome home.

I have had exactly the same experience at Dulles. The agent asks me if I have my guns on a 4457, but they have never asked to see the form or my guns....and they always do say "welcome home".

What Brent and subsailor74 said. Around 20 international trips without having a single scope listed on a 4457. Never asked and don't ever expect to be.

The purpose of the 4457 is to be able to prove to USCustoms that the article departed the US and is not a "new" item being brought into the US and hence subject to collection of duty (import tax). If you buy an item in the JNB Duty Free concourse, for instance, that item is dutiable upon return to the USA.

I don't do binos or cameras or any items other than firearms on 4457. If the item shows marks of being used, it is unlikely to ever be questioned by USCustoms. You can put as many items onto a single form as you can squeeze onto it. BTW, a receipt showing the item was purchased in the USA will suffice in lieu of a 4457.

Now, some african agents only like to see one item per form - this started in RSA a few years ago, apparently at the whim of some RSA agents who didn't want to look through multiple items on the same 4457 - but that is NOT a USCustoms requirement. Africans regard the 4457 as a "license" for the firearm, which it is not. No copy of the form 4457 is retained by nor entered into a database by USCustoms. It is solely for the use of the item owner.

Hope this helps clarify the purpose and use of the 4457.

I don't list my scopes.

The 4457 is a gov't knee jerk reaction to 9-11; prior to that I never traveled with them and never got any crap for not having one.

Didn't list my scopes either.
Couldn't hurt to have them on their own separate forms, but unlikely to be used.

One rifle per form.

My experience at the customs office was very good. Filled out about a half dozen forms for any rifle I might take abroad anytime soon.

I list my scopes by serial number.

And I have a seperate 4457 for Binos, cameras etc...

I put multiple rifles on a form. Notice that this is not a registration as it has been mentioned in the past. It is on a single piece of paper and there is no carbon or digital copy.

Mike is right that other countries have been using them as a license. So in that case a single rifle per form may be easier. However, I have never had any trouble in jburg, bulawayo, windhoek, any Asian country or anywhere else for that matter.

quote:

Originally posted by subsailor74:

quote:

Originally posted by brent ebeling:
I have never put a scope on my 4457 and have never been asked about it. I have traveled internationally with firearms 19 times coming into to washington dulles mostly, but also Jfk, atl, la, and have never had any issues with 4457 and only having my rifle on it..as a matter of fact half the time they never even look at ot, just see that i have it. In dulles they often do not even ask to see weapon and just say welcome home.

I have had exactly the same experience at Dulles. The agent asks me if I have my guns on a 4457, but they have never asked to see the form or my guns....and they always do say "welcome home".

I got pulled on my return trip from Joberg couple years ago. Don't ask me why I was the only one pulled. There was 12 or so singles and couples (with gun cases) coming through custom at JFK but, I was by far the youngest.
The agent was just miserable but only verified the ser # on the rifle to the 4457.

If has a serial number, it is on (one of) my 4457(s).
Cal

http://forms.cbp.gov/pdf/cbp_form_4457.pdf


This PDF 4457 form may be of use to someone. Information can be typed directly onto it, even after it is downloaded.

Bill Quimby

Has anyone ever had any problem relying on a photocopy of an original 4457? I always keep PDF copies of my documents, and I have one for a particular rifle but can't for the life of me find the original. I hate to take the rifle all the way back to Customs just to get another 4457 when I have a PDF I can print out.

I recommend folks have a separate 4457 for each weapon. It avoids the question in Africa "Where are these other guns". In my experience when you explain to the US Custom agent that often foreign countries see the 4457 as a license they have no problem writing one for each gun.

It is recommended that you put all valuables on a 4457 to avoid duty. In my experience the only thing that gets checked on your reentry to the US is the rifle's serial#. On my first safari I put rifle's, scopes, binos, everything on the 4457. Nobody checked anything other than the rifle SN. Now I only put the rifles on the 4457.

One thing I don't think that has been mentioned is the Customs guys will want your current address on the 4457. If you are living somewhere other than the address on the 4457 they will want to issue another one. Happened to me twice on my way out of Seattle. Customs told the airline to notify them if a passenger showed up with guns. They didn't say that if the passengers had 4457's they didn't have to be called. So we spent 30 minutes waiting for Customs on two occasions. Customs checked my serial numbers to see if they corresponded to the 4457s and issued new ones to reflect my current address.

When someone gets all the scenarios that might be encountered when flying with guns written down please let me know. The adventure involved in traveling with guns is something I could do without.

Mark