Hi,
From my hard found experience and desperation from the lack of any alternative, anything that is obvious in shape (to a greenhorn) that departs or transits through the US will be seized when x-rayed without any notification to either addressee or addresser. In other words it just disappears and never arrives.
On the other hand if it is an ordnance item such as a fuse that can be disassembled down to its smallest components and labelled as something benign then it will be guaranteed to be delivered overseas every time without fail because the normal Tom, Dick or Harry behind a x-ray machine will not recognise it.
It appears that there are a few high risk x-ray silhouettes and they are cartridge cases, projectiles & mortars because everybody recognises them for what they are even though they might be labelled "trench art" or something else.
What we all need is to find is a courier or carrier, be it by sea or air, that will deliver internationally. I believe that there must be something somewhere but whoever knows of a way is not letting on and keeping it to themselves.
Bear in mind that the USPS will only carry inert ordance internally within the US but will not internationally
As you all know if you can't source items internationally your collection suffers as a result. Here in Australia "F_ _K ALL" is available to the collector and if it is it has a very high price tag compared to places such as the US. This situation leaves us collectors in Aust. open to profiteering by an unscrupulous individuals that have found a way of getting it through.
For the sake of the collecting community if anyone does know of a courier or carrier be it by sea or air that will handle internationally, then please let the rest of us know.
As I see it, we all have to pull together on this one as "being able to, or not being able to" source internationally will be the subject that has the greatest impact on our collections and the ability to collect. I would go as far as to say that for some of us it would kill our collecting ability if a solution is not found.
Cheers,
BOUGAINVILLE
