does anyone know anything about buying archery bows in america and the laws on bringing them on a aircraft?

Question

i going to america soon and wish to buy a bow there does anyone know about the law of bringing into the uk.

Answer 1

They are treated like guns. They need to be in a locked cases, the bow in one the arrows in another. You can only take them in checked baggage and you have to declare them at check-in. They will give you a form to fill out.

Call your airline to confirm the procedures they use and the procedures at the airports. As for customs, a simple declaration on your form is required, and the customs people will most likely open the cases when you get to the UK.

Answer 2

As mentioned above, it would have to be locked cases, and call the airline and airport beforehand - especially if there are arrows involved, as the average target head bears a striking resemblance to a bullet in an x-ray scanner. If it's a longbow or one-piece bow you're talking about, my advice would be to get some plastic piping of the type used for drainpipes, and put it in that, well taped up and labelled: more than one longbow has been broken due to less-than-gentle handling by the baggage crews.


Of course, it's also very easy to get a bow in Britain - try the Quicks website (www.quicks.com) or similar.

Answer 3

I would check with the Customs officials well before you leave, and see what they recommend. You should be able to buy a bow here in almost any outdoor shop. I would imagine that you could ship it back to Europe without too much problems, but the problems I see are whether you could get it through Customs legally. I don't know the UK laws regarding this.

But why get one in the US? Aren't bows sold in the UK? I can't imagine that we have that much of a lead on archery technology.

Answer 4

why buy one in america? i have my bow on ebay for £90 with 14 arrows. To buy all that in america would work out around £180-£200 here is the link

Answer 5

You do realize that there is a Terrorist threat going on?

And the airline security people are confiscating everything from knives to fingernail clippers to all liquids (aftershave, cologne, toothpaste, hairspray, etc.).

I think it would be a safe bet that you're not going to be allowed to take a bow & arrow on board any civilized aircraft in the world.

I would plan on mailing your bow and arrows, especially the arrows, home to the U.K. from the U.S. Check with CUSTOMS first.

Answer 6

Check the laws of the state you live in. Each state is completely different in their laws and regulations. Also, check your local archery shops and sporting goods stores for their input.