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Shipping your firearm to Chisel and Plane Workshop is easy!
Please, do not send firearms or parts until after details of your order have been finalized.
Chisel and Plane Workshop has a Federal Firearms License (FFL) which means that you can legally ship a firearm you own to our shipping address via FedEx or United Parcel Service (UPS). Just package it up following the "Packaging Your Handgun For Shipping" section below and send it to us via FedEx Priority Overnight or UPS Next Day Air.
At time of order, we can provide you with a signed copy of our FFL. You should take the copy of the FFL with you when you take the package to be shipped in case the shipper wishes to see it
FedEx Express: FedEx will only ship firearms via Priority Overnight service.
UPS: UPS will ship handgun by Next Day Air only. Rifles and shotguns can be shipped by UPS ground service.
USPS: Handguns can only be shipped by the United States Postal Service (USPS) from one FFL holder to another FFL holder. See the US Post Office Postal Explorer site for specific USPS regulations regarding firearms.
Shipping Via a FFL Gun Dealer
Because a person without a FFL can only ship a handgun via FedEx Priority Overnight or UPS Next Day Air, the cost of shipping a firearm is not cheap and thanks to rising fuel charges the cost keeps going up. Shipping can be less expensive by sending your firearm to us through a local FFL gun dealer. As stated above, FFL holders can legally send firearms to other FFL holders via USPS. The USPS rates will be less expensive but the dealer will probably also add an additional charge for this service. Check rates of the carriers and compare. If you send us your firearm through a dealer, ask the gun dealer to provide you with the tracking number immediately upon shipment. Email or phone us the tracking number. This may also encourage the dealer to send your gun in a timely manner. If you are using the same gun dealer for both shipping and return shipping of the firearm, please include a copy of the dealers FFL in the package when you ship the gun to us.
Is Shipping a Firearm Safe?
Yes! Every business day a large amount of firearms are moved around the United States by shipping carriers without incident. However there are some precautions that you can take to make shipping your firearm even safer.
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Print clearly on forms and mailing labels. If you have messy printing, let someone with better printing skills fill the forms and label out for you.
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Include a phone number in case the carrier needs to contact you.
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Make certain that the package is adequately insured by the shipping carrier.
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Write down the serial number of the firearm being shipped for your personal records.
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Ship the handgun in a padded pistol rug (see Packaging Your Handgun For Shipping section below). If the pistol rug doesn't have an attached ID card, it is a good idea to write with permanent marker your name, address and phone number directly on (or on masking tape) the outside of the pistol rug. This would be a great help to the shipping carrier and could prevent your firearm from getting lost or stolen in the event that the package should get opened while in transit.
FFL Holders
If you are a firearm manufacturer, gunsmith, retail store or gun shop shipping a firearm to us for custom grips, Chisel and Plane Workshop requires a copy of your Federal Firearms License (FFL), which can be shipped with the firearm.
Antique Firearms
Antique firearms built in or before 1898 can be shipped to us by a nonlicensee via USPS. See the US Post Office Postal Explorer site for specific USPS regulations regarding antique firearms.
Antique firearm means any firearm (including those with a matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap, or similar type of ignition system) manufactured in or before 1898, or any replica thereof, if such replica:
- Is not designed or redesigned for using rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition.
- Uses rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition that is no longer manufactured in the United States and that is not readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial trade.
Packaging Your Handgun For Shipping
Shipping carriers calculate rates by size and weight of the package. Try to keep the package as small and light as possible without sacrificing protection of the firearm.
First make sure the gun is not loaded. Place the handgun in a padded pistol rug. Padded pistol rugs work best for shipping and we can keep your gun in the pistol rug while it is here at the shop. Do not use the original factory box that the gun came in as these are usually not adequate for protecting the firearm during shipping. If the pistol rug doesn't have an attached ID card, it is a good idea to write with permanent marker your name, address and phone number directly on (or on masking tape) the outside of the pistol rug.
Package the pistol rug in a sturdy shipping box. FedEx, UPS and USPS provide free boxes. Use the smallest box that will work. Fill any voids in the box with bubble wrap, wadded up newspaper or Styrofoam peanuts so that nothing moves around inside the box.
IMPORTANT! Fill out and include a copy of the Chisel and Plane Workshop Order Form in the package. Click HERE to print out the Order Form. After filling out the Order Form, we suggest placing it in a self addressed envelope with any other necessary paperwork and payment. If you can not print out the Order Form, write clearly on a sheet of paper your name, mailing address, phone number, email address and a description of the grips you want, even if you have already talked to us on the phone or in emails.
Tape up the box well. Do not write on the outside of the box that the package contains a firearm.
Notify us by email or phone as soon as the package has been sent and include shipping information such as carrier used and tracking number.
Return Shipping of Your Firearm
When the grips are finished, we will package up your firearm and new grips and send them directly back to you via FedEx unless otherwise specified at time of order, or if registration is required such as a dealer handling shipment of a new firearm.
Sending a Ruger Grip Frame
We recommend sending the entire gun for having custom grips made and fitted but in order to save on shipping expense, custom grips can be made for most Ruger single actions with just the customers grip frame. Contact Chris first to confirm that he doesn't need your entire Ruger before sending just your grip frame.
See our Ruger Grip Frame Removal page for step by step instructions on removing your grip frame. We only need the Ruger grip frame, do not send any other parts unless Chris requests otherwise at time of order.
We suggest shipping the Grip frame to us via USPS Priority Mail. USPS can provide boxes for shipping.
Package the grip frame well in bubble wrap. Fill any voids in the box so that nothing moves around.
IMPORTANT! Fill out and include a copy of the Chisel and Plane Workshop Order Form in the package. Click HERE to print out the Order Form. After filling out the Order Form, we suggest placing it in a self addressed envelope with any other necessary paperwork and payment. If you can not print out the Order Form, write clearly on a sheet of paper your name, mailing address, phone number, email address and a description of the grips you want, even if you have already talked to us on the phone or in emails.
Tape up the box well. Do not write on the outside of the box that the package contains firearm parts.
Notify us by email or phone as soon as the package has been sent and include shipping information such as carrier used and tracking number.
When the grips are finished, we will package your grip frame and new grips and send them back to your address via USPS Priority.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF)
Below is from the ATF 'Federal Firearms Regulations Reference Guide' (ATF P 5300.4). A nonlicensee is an individual who is not a FFL holder. A licensee is a FFL holder.
(B9) May a nonlicensee ship a firearm by carrier?
A nonlicensee may ship a firearm by carrier to a resident of his or her own state or to a licensee in any state. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun. In addition, Federal law requires that the carrier be notified that the shipment contains a firearm and prohibits common or contract carriers from requiring or causing any label to be placed on any package indicating that it contains a firearm. [18 U. S. C. 922( a)( 2)( A) and 922( e), 27 CFR 178.31]
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) has a very useful and comprehensive website containing information about the various Federal and state laws regulating firearms.
Chisel and Plane Workshop is not responsible for any loss or damage incurred during shipping of firearms or parts.
Ship Firearms To:
D. Chris Whisler
Chisel and Plane Workshop
117 Running Bear Drive
Sardinia, Ohio 45171-9226
513-265-4848 Phone | 
Firearm Shipping Guide
