Posted on 09/15/2014 2:10:37 PM PDT by John Robinson
Helping my girlfriend clean out her grandparent's home, we found a couple long guns (a Winchester Model 840 IIRC, and some hunting rifle, I assume, because it has a scope—I didn't catch the branding) and there should be a few handguns as well (haven't found them yet.) I don't know the first thing about guns, except to assume they're loaded.
Is there any generic instruction to be given for these types of guns to ensure they're properly unloaded and safe for transport and [temporary] storage? I'll try to compile more detail later this evening. The plan is to sell them to put toward grandma's medical care.
Thanks!
Lot o’ that going around these days ... The rivers be runnin’ red ...
...
... with RUST!
1. Always keep pointed in a safe direction
2. Always keep your finger out of the trigger guard
3. Check to make sure they are unloaded.
If you don’t know how to safely unload them here are some utube videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5zLyiEwssw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9jkLF71r5E
Regarding transportation. The laws vary wildly from state to state so it would be best to research the laws in your specific state.
John, first and foremost focus on the safe storage of the firearms. You have already gotten some decent guidance in this regard. As for disposing of the firearms, understand that, sadly, there are people who will cheat you. I don’t know what guns you have but assume that each is worth from $500 to $1K. I recommend you get up to speed on a web site like Guns America. It won’t take much of your time to set up an auction for each gun. That is the best way I can think of for you to get something close to what the guns are worth. Good luck.
THIS.
Yeah. Never ask Freepers for advice on the safe transportation of firearms. They have an uncanny knack for losing them in bodies of deep water.
Have to go through a dealer in interstate.
Probably some stupid CA law, too.
Must use FFL across state lines.
OMG!! your lucky you are still alive! Quick call the police to come destroy them before they shoot you or someone else!!!!!
Damn canoes. Got my ARs.
You got any pics of the guns you can post for us?
If there are several firearms involved, a reputable dealer may actually be willing to come to the house to assist you in deactivating and properly transporting them to his store.
The first thing you DONT want to do is involve local law enforcement, who,given where you live,is likely to ‘help themself’ to your family treasures.
Suggest you google the National Rifle Association and get some help on the phone(preferably one that can’t be hacked into).
I see you are here in California. Is that where grandpa lives? CA has some of the most restrictive transport (not to mention transfer) laws in the country. To transport them all need to be unloaded. If they have detachable magazines make sure the magazines are unloaded, because transporting a loaded magazine, even if it’s not in the gun, is considered transporting a loaded gun, which is illegal. Second, they need to be locked in cases, and stored separately from the ammo (ie. guns locked in trunk, ammo in passenger compartment). The glove box is not considered a locked compartment.
As far as selling them, all transfers of ownership in CA must go through a licensed dealer. You (actually the owner) can sell them privately, but you have to go to a gun store and have background checks and state transfer fees. It’s much easier to just sell them through the gun dealer, either by selling them to the dealer, or on consignment (you’ll get more, but it will take longer). If there are handguns, you may not be able to sell them in state, as most models are now banned in CA. The dealer will be able to tell you, and possibly help transfer them out of state for sale.
http://www.nraila.org/gun-laws/state-laws/california.aspx
The general instruction:
1) take a firearm safety class before handling any of them.
2) identify the make, model and action of each firearm
3) look up a user guide for each firearm and read carefully
4) unload each firearm according to the manufacture’s recommended order of steps.
Thank you everyone, lots of good advice here. We’ll probably end up calling a local (Visalia) dealer once the property is inventoried and value has been established. Sadly, monetization of this estate’s properties and expenditures need to be meticulously tracked due to a semi-hostile entity within the family, so solid paperwork is valued a little higher than absolute best price. That and the crazy legal issues with transfer of firearms suggests this is a case best handled through a licensed dealer.
One last question, paperwork/documentation? What is required? We have power of attorney (grandma suffers from dementia), are there any documents we need to locate to ensure a smooth sale?
I’d just sell the entire lot to a FFL dealer. If you want to know what they are worth (private sales, not to the dealer) look for the same models on Gunbroker, Guns International, or Armslist. Figure that the dealer will probably give you 50% of that.
The Winchester 840 is an inexpensive gun, and if the rest of the bunch are inline in terms of relative quality, you’re not sitting on a gold mine. There is always the possibility of a “ringer”.
contact a reputable FFL, and sell them on gunbroker.com or similar reputable site.
you wil be swamped by pals who will ‘take them off yer hands’ for a pittance. to maximize yre bennifits, i’d consider gunbroker.
IF you don’t know anything about guns, find someone who does and have them make sure they are unloaded.
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