Yes I'm really sorry about this situation. I even switched my attention away from sharp pointy things to muzzle-loading guns because I know that as far as Danish law is concerned these are not classified as weapons if made before 1870, and I figured this might mean I could actually sell some of my collection rather than just stock-pile it. But it seems that all the Danish-based carriers either won't ship them or will only do it if I register myself as a business, get a contract with them, then they will charge an arm and a leg
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I actually got them shipped in from Sweden by a weapons licensed carrier - the only way to do it from the auction house. It cost almost as much as I paid for the guns!
Thanks for the suggestions Norman and Teodor. I'm not sure what the postal system in Germany is like, but I can find out. I know the situation is difficult in the UK, and by the sounds of it Italy. Unfortunately I'm not near a border, so unless I happen to be passing through its not practical.
Norman may be correct about internal shipping in EU. The problem here was that the parcel was x-rayed at Copenhagen and returned, but EU shipments may avoid this because there is no customs duty to be paid, and therefore fewer checks, but it will be a lottery. Also it is possible to find carriers within EU that are not so difficult, but these are more expensive than the post office.
Dismantling may be a good choice. The PO won't carry weapons parts, but perhaps if I send the barrel first and it slips through, then the non-metal and smaller parts should be OK. Since if I'm keeping it I'd want to treat the rust under the barrel (which I guess will be there), then I'd have to dismantle anyway, so its worth a try. Just hope I can do it without damaging the silver work.
All in all for those of us sitting in countries with these annoying rules it does mean our chosen hobby is becoming increasingly difficult. There are only so many interesting ethnographic items in Denmark!
Chris