Can Blackpowder pistols be shipped through USPS?

[Buckshot Dobbs]

So I know conversion cylinders have to be shipped separately but is a black powder pistol like an 1858 or an 1851, since it is not considered a firearm by federal law without the conversion cylinder in it, can it be shipped by USPS? This should be a rich discussion lol

[Boggus Deal #64218]

The way I have always understood the law, yes. The BATFE does not consider it a firearm. 
That being said, there are too many people who’ve never even looked at the laws, much less tried to understand them.

[Buckshot Dobbs]

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

 

 

and

431.3 Antique Firearm

Antique firearm means any muzzle loading rifle/shotgun/pistol, which is designed to use black powder or a black powder substitute, and which cannot use fixed ammunition (except those that incorporate a firearm frame or receiver, any firearm which is converted into a muzzle loading weapon, or any muzzle loading weapon which can be readily converted to fire fixed ammunition by replacing the barrel, bolt, breechblock, or any combination thereof); or any firearm (including those with a matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap, or similar type of ignition system) manufactured on or before 1898, or any replica thereof, if such replica:

1. Is not designed or redesigned for using rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition.
2. Uses rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition that is no longer manufactured in the United States and is not readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial trade.

 

seem to clear it up

[Eyesa Horg]

Funny how cap & ball guns aren't firearms,but just a single part for an AR might be. 

[I. M. Crossdraw, SASS# 8321]

If they ask, just tell them it's tool parts.

[Crazy Gun Barney, SASS #2428]

3 minutes ago, I. M. Crossdraw, SASS# 8321 said:

just tell them it's tool parts.

I have used "machined parts".

 

Then there was the time at a UPS store (not a main UPS site) where I used "machine parts" and the guy saw I was sending to a gun company.  He started screaming at me about lying about the contents and i cant do that or ship firearms and pretty much told me to get out of the store before he called the cops.  I immediately reported the incident to UPS who pretty much said that UPS stores can do whatever they want and that I should always ship from a Main UPS facility to avoid that kind of issue.  Which I have since done and never had another issue.

[John Kloehr]

1 minute ago, Crazy Gun Barney, SASS #2428 said:

... reported the incident to UPS who pretty much said that UPS stores can do whatever they want and that I should always ship from a Main UPS facility to avoid that kind of issue.  Which I have since done and never had another issue.

 

Depends on if you were using a shipping label from an FFL (good) or your own label (problem). The UPS Store should be fine for a provided shipping label, otherwise a main facility is the best bet. Still, front-end employees at the store may be idiots.

 

From the UPS site:

 

UPS accepts packages containing Firearm Products for shipment only as a contractual service and only from Shippers who are licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, licensed dealers, or licensed collectors (as defined in Title 18, Chapter 44 of the United States Code) to authorized recipients, as outlined in an approved UPS agreement for the transportation of Firearm Products.

 

...

 

 

Firearm Products may be tendered to UPS only as follows:

• Through a UPS Scheduled Pickup service
• Through a UPS On-Call Pickup® request; or
• Shippers with an approved Firearm Products agreement may provide a shipping label to customers who need to return Firearm Products to the shipper (or to another address as agreed upon between UPS and the shipper). Customers may drop off pre-labeled and packed packages at UPS Customer Centers or The UPS Store locations or schedule a pickup with UPS. Shippers are responsible for ensuring that such packages comply with UPS’s requirements and all applicable laws.

 

 

 

[Buckshot Dobbs]

Folks check the title lol USPS not UPS

[Waimea]

Since the original question was answered I will answer one that wasn't asked.

Not all jurisdictions allow the guns so make sure you aren't t shipping to a communist state or city.

[Yul Lose]

I’ve shipped and received quite a number of Ruger Old Armies and  Pietta 1858’s through the USPS with no issues.

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

6 hours ago, Buckshot Dobbs said:

So I know conversion cylinders have to be shipped separately but is a black powder pistol like an 1858 or an 1851, since it is not considered a firearm by federal law without the conversion cylinder in it, can it be shipped by USPS? This should be a rich discussion lol

100% Yes .

Done it many times !

[Rye Miles #13621]

I shipped a cap and ball revolver a few years ago with USPS with no problem. They didn’t ask and I didn’t tell! It is legal.

[SGT. ELI 35882 GUNFIGHTER]

Capnball is considered a firearm in Illinois and has to go to an FFL and 4473 filled out.

[Chantry]

Just because Federal law allows for the shipping of cap & ball revolvers does NOT mean it is legal in the destination state.

 

A useful tip is to check the website of a company that sells cap & ball revolvers to the public and see which states they will and will not ship to.

[Crazy Gun Barney, SASS #2428]

6 hours ago, Chantry said:

A useful tip is to check the website of a company that sells cap & ball revolvers to the public and see which states they will and will not ship to.

That may or may not work.  I have argued with a catalog company that would not ship BP guns to california although there is no law preventing it.  I was finally told that their lawyers had suggested that they exclude my state for political and CYA purposes.  I no longer order anything from that company.  So just because some company wont doesn't necessarily mean that it cant be done.

 

edit:  so if you are going to use this method, stick to some of the larger companies to check, not commonly known catalog companies

[Chantry]

On 7/3/2025 at 2:21 PM, Crazy Gun Barney, SASS #2428 said:

That may or may not work.  I have argued with a catalog company that would not ship BP guns to california although there is no law preventing it.  I was finally told that their lawyers had suggested that they exclude my state for political and CYA purposes.  I no longer order anything from that company.  So just because some company wont doesn't necessarily mean that it cant be done.

 

edit:  so if you are going to use this method, stick to some of the larger companies to check, not commonly known catalog companies

I don't blame the company, why should they stick their necks out for a few hundred dollars profit?  Just because it might be legal in CA doesn't mean a state can't sue the company..  A good attorney will probably bill $500/hour or more.

[John Kloehr]

21 hours ago, Buckshot Dobbs said:

Folks check the title lol USPS not UPS

I considered the UPS inclusion within the realm of "rich discussion." And also UPS stores can ship (and receive) USPS and Fedex.

[T-Square]

send all your cap-n-ball pistols to me, and I will let you know if they arrive. (joke)

[Sixgun Symphony #62632]

On 7/2/2025 at 2:23 PM, Crazy Gun Barney, SASS #2428 said:

I have used "machined parts".

 

Then there was the time at a UPS store (not a main UPS site) where I used "machine parts" and the guy saw I was sending to a gun company.  He started screaming at me about lying about the contents and i cant do that or ship firearms and pretty much told me to get out of the store before he called the cops.  I immediately reported the incident to UPS who pretty much said that UPS stores can do whatever they want and that I should always ship from a Main UPS facility to avoid that kind of issue.  Which I have since done and never had another issue.

 

We gotta win future elections to turn that around. If we do then dare him to call the cops as a police report would be going to my lawyer to sue that person and his franchise 

[Matthew Duncan]

On 7/2/2025 at 5:15 PM, I. M. Crossdraw, SASS# 8321 said:

If they ask, just tell them it's tool parts.

Last time I read the USPS rules, they state USPS couldn't ask you what was in the package.  

 

I was shipping a rifle and the the USPS counter agent asked me "What's in there, a guitar?"  (I had already checked the "No explosives or flammable box) I gave her my former LEO face, she blinked and stop asking questions.

[El Sobrante Kid]

6 hours ago, Sixgun Symphony #62632 said:

 

We gotta win future elections to turn that around. If we do then dare him to call the cops as a police report would be going to my lawyer to sue that person and his franchise 

 

The franchise is a private business and their policy is that A) you cannot ship firearms, and B), you have to be truthful about what you are shipping. If the business has reason to believe that someone is trying to ship a firearm and claiming it is "machine parts", they have every right not to accept the shipment. Calling the cops is a non-starter as the police will not do anything since no laws have been broken.

 

Additionally, UPS makes it clear that a "UPS Store" is a franchise business (not a UPS run business) and cannot accept firearms shipments, and that if you want to ship a firearm you have to do it at a UPS main hub, along with a number of other UPS restrictions.

 

I get it that people are frustrated with the issues involved in shipping firearms, so am I. But threatening to sue a business that is allowed to run their business as they see fit, as well as being restricted by UPS from accepting firearms shipments, seems more like anti-business Keren/Ken behavior that pro-2A support.

[watab kid]

i have and ill probably ship a few parts this year , they dont need to know as these will do no harm nor ever cause an issue in their handling - just like real firearms they are only dangerous in the hands of stupid people ,,,,assuming those stupid people could figure out BP items 

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

On 7/3/2025 at 2:21 PM, Crazy Gun Barney, SASS #2428 said:

I was finally told that their lawyers had suggested that they exclude my state for political and CYA purposes. 

 

This, depending on where you live, is a very real thing.

Along a similar line, there is a company in Pennsylvania, Sarco Arms, who as a matter of their own policy, will not ship anything C&R to a C&R holder in Massachusetts.  When I inquired about that, asserting that there was no law that did not allow them to do so, they replied with words to the effect that they knew that, but didn't care.  They felt it was too problematic to do business with folks from Massachusetts.   They won't even sell to someone from Mass with a C&R who is present in their store.

I don't even bother with their website anymore.

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

Regardless of all the excess discussion, the short answer is YES.  Percussion hand guns can be shipped via USPS.  However, under no circumstances put anything on the package indicating what is in the package.  Also from an above post, "not redesigned to use rimfire or center fire ammunition."  An R&D type conversion cylinder is considered a "part" and may be shipped without restriction.

[Nimble Fingers SASS# 25439]

DONT SHIP USPS!!  SPEND THE EXTRA MONEY FOR FEDEX OR UPS!  Concho Billy and I are still trying to get USPS to find a 1887 that he shipped me from TX that arrived in Opa Loca FL an hour south of the Pompano Beach Distribution Center that is 5 minutes away from my FFL, gone!!  A missing report is currently been started as of 7/8/25 and you can’t get anyone at USPS to answer any questions!!!!  USPS THE LAST BASTION OF US GOVERNMENT WASTE, CORRUPTION AND UNACCOUNTABILITY!!