Hopefully you guys can help me out. I live in the most anti-gun state on the planet and need some advice on legally selling a gun. I've never sold any gun before and want to be 100% legal about it. I know of several shops in my area that buy used firearms, but they only pay wholesale, not retail since they need to make a profit. But I'm hoping to sell two guns I don't shoot anymore and need to make enough to buy two guns I want. My question is, how do I find a buyer? Is it legal to advertise on something like craigslist? Once I find the buyer, how do I legally transfer ownership? As if that's not enough, one of these guns has been in my family since the 1940's and the other was a present back in the '70's and as far as I know, neither is registered. Hope this is ok for this forum, I know I've seen lots of good gun-related threads on here and hoping someone smarter than I am can help me stay on the right side of the gray bars on this problem. Thanks, Jim

 

You might want to call the BATF , not sure of the laws in calif , but i think you need to sell it though a fire arms dealer , here in florida theres no registry so you can sell to a private party with no problem....Lew

 

First, Contact a gun shop in your area that you can trust. They can guide you through any of the obstacles you may face. If the guns you want to purchase are carried at the store I am certain they will be glad to help you. Also offer the guns to the store on consignment, if allowed in Cali. they have the customer base and also around here they keep an eyeout for customers wanting something older or collectable. But that would be one of the safest ways in my opinion.

 

I have no idea of what laws affect gun owners/sellers in California.

I agree with calling or visiting a local gunshop and talk with someone that KNOWS the laws in your state.

I strongly suggest to NOT taking the firearms with you.
Just casually mention that you have two firearms that you're interested in selling.


I hate to see people selling firearms, especially one that's been in the family for decades.

 

Thanks for the info. I never thought of consigning the guns, I just thought the fact they were not registered would kind of screw me. Also, I understand how some gun owners feel about handing down firearms to future generations. But I'm not the type that gets emotionally attached to things. There's a collector car/hot rod forum I belong to and there was a recent thread asking what it would take for you to sell your favorite car. Lots of people posted how they could never sell their car for any amount of money, etc. Not me. Just like these guns, I'm always looking for the next thing I might experience in life and if that means offing the present thing, so be it. I feel I've already got more crap than I could ever use, so if someone else could enjoy something I no longer want or need and they have the money, we'll both be happy about it. Anyway, thanks again!

 

Some sporting goods stores will do the transfers. Turners Outdoorsman down here will do them.

I know a fellow who has the license to do the transfers, and have done several through him.

Once you find someone who can legally do the transfer, you can "advertise" but be sure you put in the ad that the transfer will be done through the legal process and that they have to pay the fee etc just as they would buying from a store.

It's just paperwork.

 

Find another way to get the money that you need and keep your guns. It would be a shame to sell those since they have been in your family for so long. Besides, you sell them and then you do not have them and being that you live in Kalifornia, you might not be able to get replacements.

 

OK, so I'm curious. What kind of guns are we talking about? If you've got any 1911's from the 40's shoot me a PM.

Otherwise, you can try selling it on sites like Guns for Sale, Gun Classifieds, Gun Auctions, Shop for Guns at GunsAmerica BUY SELL TRADE GUNS ONLINE. TEXAS GUN SHOW | CLASSIFIEDS | AUCTIONS Free classifieds - backpage.com Craigslist and ebay tend to frown on firearms. For a legal sale, you just need to find someone with a FFL (federal firearms license). This would include anyplace that sells guns. Gun stores, pawn shops, etc. They can legally ship the firearm to another FFL anywhere in the country and the receiving FFL will process the correct paperwork for the sale of the firearm. If you find someone local to sell it to, a FFL dealer (for a fee) will do all the paperwork for you so everything is legal and recorded.

Keep in mind that depending on what firearms you are trying to sell, they may or may not be legal to sell or buy in Kalifornia or a few other states.

 

Nothing special as far as the guns go. One is a 30-30 Model 94 Winchester, circa 1978 or so, the other is a High Standard Model B .22LR target pistol from either the late '30's or early '40's. I have other guns I shoot regularly, so these are just something I'm selling to finance the next couple of guns. While I respect the thinking that the guns have been in the family a long time, ect. I just don't feel it's so special to me I want to keep it. It was my grandfathers and I doubt he ever shot it, so it's not like it's some rare pistol he took to WWII and back. As for the Winchester, my Dad bought it for me to try to lure me into taking up hunting, which I never did. I've talked it over with Dad and he agreed with my thinking that it's perfectly ok to sell both of them for something I'll get more use out of. For me, it's like Mustangs, I really love 'em and they sure hold their value, but every once in a while I gotta weed out the garage and just keep the couple I actually drive.

 

Personally I would throw the .22 in the drawer and forget about it. One day when Govco comes to get all the registered guns, you will still have your .22. Not sure what $ you would get for it would offset the fact that it is off the radar so to speak.

 

I thought private party to private party sales of firearms were unrestricted?........At least they are here.

 

They are here too, but when dealing with Kalifornia, who knows. Having a cheap transfer done by a FFL might provide peace of mind for whatever current or future laws that may be enacted.

 

Probably right, The Peoples Socialist Republic of Kalifornia has some very strange laws when it comes to firearms and vehicles.

 

Yea, that's why when we are declared mentally incompetent or have a felony, we go to Oregon to buy our guns....

 

You won't get much for either.....best to keep them.