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I will be selling on of my handguns to a good friend. I purchased it through a local gun shop, so the make/model/serial number is (I assume) recorded somewhere matched against my name. Or is it? Anyway, what should I do related to this sale? Since it's no longer in my control, if it gets stolen or something, I would like to be able to prove that it's no longer something that I have responsibility for.

Looking for your advice.

Thanks!

n5wmk wrote:I will be selling on of my handguns to a good friend. I purchased it through a local gun shop, so the make/model/serial number is (I assume) recorded somewhere matched against my name. Or is it? Anyway, what should I do related to this sale? Since it's no longer in my control, if it gets stolen or something, I would like to be able to prove that it's no longer something that I have responsibility for.

Looking for your advice.

Thanks!

Why worry? You sell it. It no longer belongs to you. Selling firearms FTF is not illegal.

Personal freedoms still exist.

MY advice is don't sweat the small stuff.

This is small stuff.

Anygunanywhere

Just make sure that the buyer has no felony on his record. You are good to go. CHLer are best, since they do not need Background Check.

n5wmk wrote:I will be selling on of my handguns to a good friend. I purchased it through a local gun shop, so the make/model/serial number is (I assume) recorded somewhere matched against my name. Or is it? Anyway, what should I do related to this sale? Since it's no longer in my control, if it gets stolen or something, I would like to be able to prove that it's no longer something that I have responsibility for.

Looking for your advice.

Thanks!

Divest yourself of the emotion attached to "guns." It is your personal property and you are free do do with it as you will. Would you be asking this question if it was a lawn mower you were selling?

I think you should be good to go. From what I understand, NICS might have your name and address, but not any information on the firearm itself. I also believe the NICS only authorizes a person to purchase a firearm, but no information is entered as to the type or serial number.

I am sure someone more knowledgeable will answer this shortly.

I have sold FTF twice in the last year. Just dropping a couple of pistols to be able to afford a higher quality product. Both times the sales were to local LEOs, both with CHLs.

bdickens wrote:

n5wmk wrote:I will be selling on of my handguns to a good friend. I purchased it through a local gun shop, so the make/model/serial number is (I assume) recorded somewhere matched against my name. Or is it? Anyway, what should I do related to this sale? Since it's no longer in my control, if it gets stolen or something, I would like to be able to prove that it's no longer something that I have responsibility for.

Looking for your advice.

Thanks!

Divest yourself of the emotion attached to "guns." It is your personal property and you are free do do with it as you will. Would you be asking this question if it was a lawn mower you were selling?

But what if he decided to take it into a 'Lawnmower Free Zone' and use it to murder tens of thousands of blades of grass! Wouldn't they come knocking at his door about it?!

From a personal point of view I would protect myself with a bill of sale listing name sold to, date sold, make/model/serial number. That way if it was ever traced to you (and they can trace guns in spite of lack of data base) you have something to cover yourself.

My policy is same paperwork as a used iPhone or dirt bike.

OldGrumpy wrote:From a personal point of view I would protect myself with a bill of sale listing name sold to, date sold, make/model/serial number. That way if it was ever traced to you (and they can trace guns in spite of lack of data base) you have something to cover yourself.

I've read of numerous cases on TheHighRoad over the years where someone was contacted by the ATF doing a firearms trace and the reporting person was the original purchaser on the Form 4473.

Those reports (plural) were all generally the same: "I sold that gun __ years ago and have no idea who bought it." End of story. That is where the ATF investigation ends.

I am not worried about keeping sales records.

Thanks, everyone!

I really appreciate the advice.

If you are really concerned, you could get a firearms log book from NRA and log it in there. I have one that I log in all of my firearms just so I know what to claim on insurance "in the event of".

If I don't know the person I may get their info and put it in there. But then I dont sell very many--3 or 4 in my life.

Good idea. I do keep a log, but it's electronic (spreadsheet), and that's backed up on-line. I can print that anytime for insurance purposes. I'll add the sales info there.

Keeping a log with model and serial numbers for insurance purposes is a great idea. I would also suggest taking pictures of the weapons for the same reasons.

As for selling the weapon, you really don't face any liability when selling privately. No more than you face if someone throws a table you sold them out the window and kills the neighbor.

I've sold several guns FTF. No bill of sale.

I personally always use a bill of sale. I didn't invent this one but it's what I use. No legal requirement of course but at least I have some evidence that I have not sold to someone that shouldn't own a gun.