If there are any serious Sharps Rifle Collectors looking in here, there is a specimen of the 'Japanese Contract' Borchardt Rifle coming up for sale at an Auction on 7th May 2006. See:-

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Lot no 683. The reserve price is Aus.$300.00. I think it will bring a lot more. Minor damage to woodwork and the cleaning rod is missing. The vendors can get this rifle out of Australia legally.

No photograph is provided, but I suppose anyone interested will contact the Auction House for further details. There are some interesting items listed and it's well worth a 'look see'.

Harry

It's not necessarily a problem to import a rifle from Australia to the US.   
It takes filling out a one-page form (ATF form 7?).
And the Australian seller needs to get an export permit.

I bought an Australian target rifle (a bolt action .308) in 2000 for $350 US, and the Form 7 was approved in about 60 days. 
The seller got their papers in order in about the same amount of time, and they shipped to my dealer. The cost of shipping was about $70 as I recall.

Keep in mind this was all Pre-9/11.

It's definitely worth checking into, if not for this, you never know what you might find someplace else in the world.

Paul F.

Hmm.. wasn't aware of that...
Still, UPS services Australia.. right? (right??).

I'd still check out what's currently required to get that ATF form 7 (if it IS form 7... I think it is..) approved, and what Australia's current regs are.
Might just be worth it.

In my case, target rifles of that make didn't go for much down there, but are rare here. Also, at that time the exchange rate was about $1 AUS= .45 US... so a $600 (AUS) rifle was just under $300, and even adding time, trouble, and shipping, it was a good deal.

Now, in the Post 9/11 world, maybe it's not as easy any more...
But worth checking out.

Paul F.

The problem is that the Ausie Post will NOT accept any firearm for export, antique or not. I called UPS and FedEx and was told , they will not deliver any type of firearm to a individual from outside the U S. It has to go to a importer with a FFL. Looks like the auction house has a dealer here in the U S they deal with who will receive a bulk shipment, then divide that cost and add it to his fee and add the extra shipping inside the US to that. I think it might be about as much as the old mail cost, give or take a few bucks.
Mike