Travel Through London Heathrow with my Holland & Holland Paperweight - Airport Security Fiasco

[UpNorthMI]

I was just back in my home country, the UK for a short visit and planned to include visits to a few of the finest gunmakers, Westly Richards in Birmingham, Rigby in London and Holland & Holland in London. I was lucky enough to see some amazing guns including a .470 "best" sidelock double at Holland's that is currently priced at nearly US$300,000. The problem is not the money, it's that I'm realizing that my eyesight is not good enough for open sights anymore!! Anyway what an amazing gun and piece of art made by Holland & Holland, not sure I could drag it through the brush on safari though!

As a consolation I purchased a number of items at Holland & Holland including a very nice paperweight that celebrated the .375 H & H cartridge.

My day of departure came and I was traveling Delta through terminal 3 at London Heathrow with just hand luggage flying to Detroit. Sure enough there was a little fuss at the baggage security screening and I soon found myself answering questions about what I had in my carry on bag. I guess in hindsight I should have made sure I had a checked bag for this item. I explained to airport security that I had a paperweight that contained inert components (a fired brass case and an inert bullet). I explained that this was a novelty item and that none of the components were controlled items and that these items were not on security lists as prohibited items from either the UK airport authority the civil aviation authority or by any US travel regulations. In the UK you can buy brass and bullets without any restriction but you must have a firearm certificate to buy primers and powder.

One of the key questions I was asked was did I own guns? My reply was that was irrelevant as I was simply travelling with a novelty paperweight consisting of inert uncontrolled components all molded in an acrylic block. I was told that I had to answer about my gun ownership question or face consequences!

As a confirmed gun owner, I was promptly informed that my item would be confiscated, I asked on what basis was that decision being made, the senior security supervisor at Terminal 3 could give me no clear answer. I told her I was unhappy with her decision, that I would like to see a senior manager and I would like the airport police called as they could advise airport security to the fact that my paperweight was not a dangerous item, was not ammunition and was not made up of any restricted or controlled parts.

As I'm sure you can guess her decision was final, she would not entertain getting anyone else involved, so nothing went in my favor .... lol

I've been regularly travelling back and forth between the UK and the US with firearms and ammunition for the past 30 years, I have duel citizenship and also have a UK firearm certificate. Most of my travel has gone really well, I do have a couple of serious horror stories of which all relate to UK airport security staff and their apparent prejudice against gun owners or hunters combined with their lack of understanding about anything relating to travel with firearms or firearms in general. I have found the UK police to be well educated and extremely useful in any potential problem related to firearms travel in the UK.

I'm in the middle of making travel plans for a May safari for my son and I, we need to travel from Michigan to Johannesburg, there is absolutely no way I will consider travel through the UK or any other European major airport. I will pay the additional flight costs ($1,200 each) to travel through Atlanta directly to South Africa simply because there is no way I will risk my trip to have it ruined by an uneducated and over zealous, self important member of the airport security staff at some foreign connection point.

Maybe the UK security staff did have a heart as I was told that my confiscated paperweight could be recovered using a service called MailandFly, I was given a plastic slip with an item number on it. I'm supposed to see my item number on line in 12 or 24 hours and have the pleasure of paying a very expensive price to ship my dangerous item to a location of my choice. It's now been many days and my item number does not appear to be active or loaded in this system. I'm sure I'm being taught a lesson for not compiling quietly to London's Heathrow Airport Security staff. MailandFly apparently do not worry about the absolutely worst possible online ratings!

I really appreciate the job airport security does and we all want to travel safe and avoid any issues, it just seems that at times common sense is lost and people create their own rules. As an educated professional guy and a proud gun owner and hunter I feel it is my moral duty to file formal complaints and seek compensation for my treasured item that is now no longer available from Holland & Holland. For all of you planning your hunting travel I am embarrassed and ashamed to admit that I cannot recommend that you do so through my home county of the UK.

Good luck to all for future travel. I hope my story helps someone avoid issues, I guess I need to start to travel with more luggage and to check baggage.

 

[mark-hunter]

Thank you for sharing this!
I am travelling with airlines for 30 years now, regularly - and what I see in these 3 decades is continuous reduction in quality service, and drop in food quality.

 

[Nyati]

After my last trip Madrid-Dubai-Johannesburg , and back, I have just about given up on traveling by air unless absolutely necessary.

It has become not only uncomfortable, but disgusting.

 

[spike.t]

The police wouod have met you at the boarding gate and asked you to step outside the gangway...then asked you about your case and that they needed to check an item....happened quite a few years back fly to sci with my ex wife...at the end of the gantry just before the plane door were think 3 armed airport police...when our boarding passes were checked they said can you come outside with us please we need to ask you some questions....I was oooh shit....they said something in your case showed up on the x-ray and we need to check it. ..I was racking my brain ...then it clicked and I started laughing...they looked at me and I said I know what it is...asked if it looked like a small handgun was in there?...they kind of nodded but didn't say anything...I said it's a revolver belt buckle on a belt of my wifes....we got it out and they were OK no probs....one said as soon as you laughed and knew what it was about, and told us what it was we were fine...just had to check....they were great about it and had a laugh....I would say if you had manged to get the supervisor to get the firearms guys to come you wouldn't have had a problem....the security check ones haven't a clue about anything to do with guns etc...
I was flying back from sci one time and my flight to where I come from was out of Gatwick...in the USA I had bought a few gun magazines, including one called concealed carry...they decided to check In my carry on after it was x rayed....the guy started pulling out the magazines and all were firearms orientated....he looked at me with an unimpressed stare...then he saw the concealed carry one , and said you can't carry a gun here....I thought what a fkn muppet....I said of course you can't I know that...I have been shooting for long time and know the law...but he kept on about you can't carry a hand gun....I said it's a bloody magazine made of paper whst is the problem....he wasn't impressed....so I thought time to wind him up....I said well actually I do carry a handgun regularly....I thought he was going to have a fit.....I said but don't worry its not here but in zambia where I legally can.....he just threw my stuff down and said go....

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I was just back in my home country, the UK for a short visit and planned to include visits to a few of the finest gunmakers, Westly Richards in Birmingham, Rigby in London and Holland & Holland in London. I was lucky enough to see some amazing guns including a .470 "best" sidelock double at Holland's that is currently priced at nearly US$300,000. The problem is not the money, it's that I'm realizing that my eyesight is not good enough for open sights anymore!! Anyway what an amazing gun and piece of art made by Holland & Holland, not sure I could drag it through the brush on safari though!

As a consolation I purchased a number of items at Holland & Holland including a very nice paperweight that celebrated the .375 H & H cartridge.

View attachment 579788

My day of departure came and I was traveling Delta through terminal 3 at London Heathrow with just hand luggage flying to Detroit. Sure enough there was a little fuss at the baggage security screening and I soon found myself answering questions about what I had in my carry on bag. I guess in hindsight I should have made sure I had a checked bag for this item. I explained to airport security that I had a paperweight that contained inert components (a fired brass case and an inert bullet). I explained that this was a novelty item and that none of the components were controlled items and that these items were not on security lists as prohibited items from either the UK airport authority the civil aviation authority or by any US travel regulations. In the UK you can buy brass and bullets without any restriction but you must have a firearm certificate to buy primers and powder.

One of the key questions I was asked was did I own guns? My reply was that was irrelevant as I was simply travelling with a novelty paperweight consisting of inert uncontrolled components all molded in an acrylic block. I was told that I had to answer about my gun ownership question or face consequences!

As a confirmed gun owner, I was promptly informed that my item would be confiscated, I asked on what basis was that decision being made, the senior security supervisor at Terminal 3 could give me no clear answer. I told her I was unhappy with her decision, that I would like to see a senior manager and I would like the airport police called as they could advise airport security to the fact that my paperweight was not a dangerous item, was not ammunition and was not made up of any restricted or controlled parts.

As I'm sure you can guess her decision was final, she would not entertain getting anyone else involved, so nothing went in my favor .... lol

I've been regularly travelling back and forth between the UK and the US with firearms and ammunition for the past 30 years, I have duel citizenship and also have a UK firearm certificate. Most of my travel has gone really well, I do have a couple of serious horror stories of which all relate to UK airport security staff and their apparent prejudice against gun owners or hunters combined with their lack of understanding about anything relating to travel with firearms or firearms in general. I have found the UK police to be well educated and extremely useful in any potential problem related to firearms travel in the UK.

I'm in the middle of making travel plans for a May safari for my son and I, we need to travel from Michigan to Johannesburg, there is absolutely no way I will consider travel through the UK or any other European major airport. I will pay the additional flight costs ($1,200 each) to travel through Atlanta directly to South Africa simply because there is no way I will risk my trip to have it ruined by an uneducated and over zealous, self important member of the airport security staff at some foreign connection point.

Maybe the UK security staff did have a heart as I was told that my confiscated paperweight could be recovered using a service called MailandFly, I was given a plastic slip with an item number on it. I'm supposed to see my item number on line in 12 or 24 hours and have the pleasure of paying a very expensive price to ship my dangerous item to a location of my choice. It's now been many days and my item number does not appear to be active or loaded in this system. I'm sure I'm being taught a lesson for not compiling quietly to London's Heathrow Airport Security staff. MailandFly apparently do not worry about the absolutely worst possible online ratings!

I really appreciate the job airport security does and we all want to travel safe and avoid any issues, it just seems that at times common sense is lost and people create their own rules. As an educated professional guy and a proud gun owner and hunter I feel it is my moral duty to file formal complaints and seek compensation for my treasured item that is now no longer available from Holland & Holland. For all of you planning your hunting travel I am embarrassed and ashamed to admit that I cannot recommend that you do so through my home county of the UK.

Good luck to all for future travel. I hope my story helps someone avoid issues, I guess I need to start to travel with more luggage and to check baggage.

Sorry for your trouble. I could have told you that would happen. I have a key fob made from 2.5" shotgun empty shell. I punch out the center primer, fill the case with wooden dowel, crimp, and then epoxy a screw eye through the primer hole. A ball bearing fishing swivel connects the key ring to screw eye. I have had three of these confiscated at airport security. And I accept the logic. Security guys are gun nuts and they can see the key fob is a dud. But the unknowing lady on the plane only sees some ammo coming out of my pocket. It is understandable that the uninitiated air passenger might freak out. It is not the flight attendants job to have to settle down some person who is upset needlessly. They have better things to do. I can almost assure you your paperweight would have been confiscated at any airport where security are doing their job. There's lots of reasons to avoid Heathrow but that's not one. Would have happened here at this local airport.

 

[UpNorthMI]

Sorry for your trouble. I could have told you that would happen. I have a key fob made from 2.5" shotgun empty shell. I punch out the center primer, fill the case with wooden dowel, crimp, and then epoxy a screw eye through the primer hole. A ball bearing fishing swivel connects the key ring to screw eye. I have had three of these confiscated at airport security. And I accept the logic. Security guys are gun nuts and they can see the key fob is a dud. But the unknowing lady on the plane only sees some ammo coming out of my pocket. It is understandable that the uninitiated air passenger might freak out. It is not the flight attendants job to have to settle down some person who is upset needlessly. They have better things to do. I can almost assure you your paperweight would have been confiscated at any airport where security are doing their job. There's lots of reasons to avoid Heathrow but that's not one. Would have happened here at this local airport.

I totally get your comments, as I said in my post I need to start travelling with checked baggage if I plan to carry similar novelty items. The security service when travelling with actual firearms through Heathrow has changed a lot in recent years, it used to be effective and prompt to escort you to customs to hand over your firearms, the last couple of years I have had massive wait times in the baggage hall waiting for the third party approved security company person to show up. I feel it's only possible for direct flights and you have to allow significant time for these delays. I'm not sure I will ever try to transfer my firearms from one terminal to another on a typical transfer. It used to be that the customs office was on the non air side of the terminal, For terminal 3 trips to the US, the customs office is now on the air side of the terminal so you have to go through security screening and meet the third party firearms security person at the airside customs office to which he has carried your firearms. It's all good in theory but when security lines are busy or all the baggage systems are down it makes life much more complicated .

 

[Ontario Hunter]

An interesting similar story. Last August as I finished looking over my checklist, I decided I would take my rifle bipod that I initially decided to leave home. Checked bag and rifle case were already in the car so I stuffed it in my carryon backpack. No problems getting through security at the local airport but in Toronto my carryon was flagged, no doubt to check the two scopes. The lad pulls out the bipod: "What's this?" Bipod. "What's that?" Attaches to the rifle to stabilize it. "That can't go on board. It's a gun part." Well, not really. Certainly no more a gun part than the optics. "Optics are on the list of exceptions, but bipods are not." I almost missed my plane before a supervisor's supervisor was finally found to change the list. Somehow the bipod passed scrutiny in Frankfurt without a similar hiccup. I did move it to checked bag at Joberg before catching my local flight to Port Elizabeth.

 

[JimP]

I was once singled out for a complete TSA screening, and it wasn't something in my carry on.

I was flying to Florida to visit a girlfriend in the afternoon. That morning I decided to put a couple hundred 357 magnum rounds through the press to get ready for a hunt when I got home. I got all of them loaded up, cleaned up a little and grabbed my carry on and headed to the local airport. I checked in and headed to security, boy did I get a surprise.

Carry on went through X-ray just fine. I walked up to the full body image machine and walked into it. On the other side I was asked what was in my pockets. I had noting left in them and told them so. They ran the hand held wand over me with zero results, then came a pat down. A couple more agents showed up and they asked me to follow a agent into a room. A CBP agent that I knew happened to see what was going on so he walked in with all of us. I started to shoot the BS with the CBP agent to see if he knew what was happening. He took one of the TSA agents aside and talked to him. He then came up to me and asked me if I had been out shooting or handling a firearm recently, I told him and then he asked me about any gun powder. I told him what I had been doing and he just laughed at me.

Come to find out I had set off a sniffer that said that I had nitrates on me somewhere. When I had finished with the loading session I I had spelt a little powder on my loading table and had brushed it off into a dustpan, some of it must of gotten onto my pants.

I did make my flight.

But I have come to the conclusion that if you are flying don't take anything that even looks like a firearm, ammo, knifes, clubs, or anything else, unless you want some problems.

 

[mark-hunter]

"Optics are on the list of exceptions, but bipods are not."

Where we can find exemption lists?

 

[wesheltonj]

I suspect your item is sitting nicely in one of the security persons home of their desk.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

The last time my shotshell key fob was confiscated I told the security lad to keep it. He said thanks but regs stipulate confiscated stuff must be disposed of in garbage (if safe to do so). I gave him my business card and told him if anyone gave him shit, I had images posted online proving it belonged to me. I have a right to give my stuff away if I want.

After that safari I put a notation on my digital pretrip checklist reminding me to remove shotshell key fob from keyring.

 

[reinwood]

Sorry fro your issue. One comment UK is not Europe. Was not really Europe before Brexit, now even more different.

About travellling in Europe with firearms:
As long as you are not traveling with Semi-auto, handgun or those new hunting rifles looking like military weapons and you have your papers you should have no issues. Security people are just interested in checking that rifle # is the same as # on paper. In Europe we have what is call a "gun passport" issued by police with the list of guns you own and that you can travel with.
Having that passport is all what police is checking.

In Sweden waiting at the gate for boarding, hear my name in the loud speaker. Had to go down inside some kind a warehouse to open my rfle case and remove bolt from rifle.

A potential issue when you travel and change airline during a stop-over. Each airline can have different policies for handling guns. Some airport charge you extra fee to handle gun cases, as they hire security to carry the guns from a safe place in airport directly to the planes.
Heathrow is know for a nightmare airport also for luggage handling. I also try to avoid flying Air France or stop-over in France as pilot, air traffic controlers, airport are too often on strike.

 

[Tokoloshe Safaris]

If you have the time or interest google the story of TSA confiscating General Joe Foss’s Congressional Medal of Honor, the TSA agents thought it was some kind of a ninja throwing star.

Finally they found someone who knew what the Medal of Honor was and it was returned. His lapel pin and pen knife were confiscated.

Lon

 

[mark-hunter]

If you have the time or interest google the story of TSA confiscating General Joe Foss’s Congressional Medal of Honor, the TSA agents thought it was some kind of a ninja throwing star.

here it is.

CNN.com - Decorated WWII veteran detained, searched at airport - February 27, 2002

 

[dtec41]

A little over a year ago, Dodge City KS TSA saved the day by confiscating my chap stick. I’m kind of starting to feel like my tax dollars might not be being used in the most efficient manner.

 

[Foxi]

European hunters avoid Heathrow wherever they can, as I keep reading in our hunting forums
Of all the airports there, they have the worst reputation for handling weapons.
Heathrow is also known as the Bermuda Triangle for guns.
At least it's enviable to read that USD 300' for a double wouldn't be a problem for you.
People like you keep the economy going.
Really a pity about your eyesight

 

[UpNorthMI]

European hunters avoid Heathrow wherever they can, as I keep reading in our hunting forums
Of all the airports there, they have the worst reputation for handling weapons.
Heathrow is also known as the Bermuda Triangle for guns.
At least it's enviable to read that USD 300' for a double wouldn't be a problem for you.
People like you keep the economy going.
Really a pity about your eyesight

Having the money is one thing, actually spending it on an amazing top end double rifle is another matter! My goal is to spend money on actual shooting / hunting trips and enjoy all of the under utilized guns that occupy my safes. Having recently lost a couple of "good older than me" shooting friends, I'm wising up to the fact that I need to work a lot less and enjoy hunting a lot more. I have a long list of hunts and places to enjoy in the next few years. I'm not that much younger than my departed older friends.

It's funny how you have to get older to realize life is getting shorter!

 

[UpNorthMI]

Some good news on the possibility of getting my hands back on my Holland & Holland paperweight, not all is doom and gloom! I finally got my item number to be recognized on the mailandfly website, I joyfully paid them $58 to ship my item in the UK to a shooting friend, I'm just hoping it will be my paperweight and not someone's dangerous jar of jam that was over the 100ml travel rule that shows up.

On my next UK trip I will return with carry on luggage and hopefully ship my dangerous paperweight home with me. If I do get my paperweight back I feel I have to be the only person in the world to give mailandfly a better feedback rating than the minimum 1 star all of their excited customers have left so far.

I checked with Holland & Holland and there are no more .375 H & H paperweights available. If you want one there is one up for auction with DSC 2024 convention, there are 30 minutes left and it's currently at $425.

HOLLAND & HOLLAND: .375 H&H Magnum Explorer Pen and .375 Bullet Paperweight Combo - Dallas Safari Club

HOLLAND & HOLLAND: .375 H&H Magnum Explorer Pen and .375 Bullet Paperweight Combo - Dallas Safari Club

bidding.biggame.org

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Where we can find exemption lists?

Beats me. Must be for internal circulation. I didn't ask. Perhaps some reg that's airport specific? I can understand why gun parts are not allowed in carryon. A merry band of jihadist nuts could each put a different piece of a firearm in their carryon and then lineup at the john with each person leaving his piece inside. The gun is assembled and a hijacking is off and running. Smuggling ammo on board might be difficult but not really necessary. If they can takeover a plane with a box cutter they could surely do it with an unloaded gun.

 

[cajunchefray]

If you have the time or interest google the story of TSA confiscating General Joe Foss’s Congressional Medal of Honor, the TSA agents thought it was some kind of a ninja throwing star.

Finally they found someone who knew what the Medal of Honor was and it was returned. His lapel pin and pen knife were confiscated.

Lon

That is just WRONG!