# How do I sell a weapon (hand gun)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 19, 2011, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-sell-a-weapon-hand-gun/578977 "2011-04-19T17:16:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-sell-a-weapon-hand-gun/578977/1 "2011-04-19T17:16:21Z")
OK, I know there are a lot of ways to actually sell a hand gun; but I want to do it properly and not get into trouble, or put myself in danger. For example could I sell it on EBAY? Craigslist? What are the pluses and drawbacks of that? Are there rules for sending a weapon through the mail? What do I do about the serial number? How do change the registration? A pawn shop would probably be easy and they would cross the Ts and dot the Is so to speak, but I suspect I’ll lose a good deal of money as compared to other methods. What about gun dealers? The few I’ve been too sell on consignment; I would guess they buy outright too? I sense that would be similar to the above pawn shop route, though. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-sell-a-weapon-hand-gun/578977/2 "2011-04-19T17:19:13Z")
I’ve sold a number of guns at gunshows. I just stand outside with a sign. I’ve also bought guns via gun-related message boards I belong to. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-sell-a-weapon-hand-gun/578977/3 "2011-04-19T17:20:25Z")
EBay and Craigslist have restrictions on guns/ammo, IIRC. The last time I sold a weapon, I told a few people in my circle of friends, and within a few days I had a reasonable offer. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-sell-a-weapon-hand-gun/578977/4 "2011-04-19T17:48:02Z")
Has it ever been used in a crime? ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-sell-a-weapon-hand-gun/578977/5 "2011-04-19T18:05:18Z")
You can list on [gunbroker.com](http://gunbroker.com), the gun friendly alternative to ebay & craigslist. If you want to ship a handgun across state lines (legally), it has to be shipped from one FFL holder to another, each of whom will charge a fee. IIRC, the site has a list of FFLs who are willing to do so. If you sell it in state, check your own state laws for what has to be done for private transfers. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-sell-a-weapon-hand-gun/578977/6 "2011-04-19T19:12:01Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > it has to be shipped from one FFL holder to another, each of whom will charge a fee. IIRC, the site has a list of FFLs who are willing to do so. The shipper does NOT has to have an FFL. But the recipient does. [Cite](http://www.gunbroker.com/Support/SupportFAQView.aspx?faqid=1118). I’ve used gunbroker’s FFL-holders list to find a local FFL holder who received guns for me. It would be the recipient’s responsibility to arrange the transaction with his dealer, and to pay him his fee (usually around $25 - $35). The sender should receive a copy of the dealer’s FFL. Alternatively, the dealer could send the sender his FFL number and a link to a database where the dealer’s bona fides can be verified. ETA: Handguns cannot be shipped via USPS. You’ll need to go through UPS or FedEx or another common carrier. BTW: What kind of gun is it? . ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-sell-a-weapon-hand-gun/578977/7 "2011-04-19T19:14:18Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Has it ever been used in a crime? haha… the only crime is that it hasn’t been used enough. I bought it so my wife wouldn’t be afraid of guns. She was going to practice using it, etc. never happened. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-sell-a-weapon-hand-gun/578977/8 "2011-04-19T19:18:47Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > BTW: What kind of gun is it? > > . [Beretta U22 Neos](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beretta_U22_Neos) ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-sell-a-weapon-hand-gun/578977/9 "2011-04-20T02:23:59Z")
While I have sold a couple of guns on Gun Trader or similar, it’s just easier in person. Since you’re here in Atlanta, you’ll find gun shows abound. Eastmans is a large show, and checking their website, I see they’ll be in my neighborhood next month. Look up Ebang, do a search for your gun, and get an average price from the various sites you see. Come to the gun show - c’mon, you need something - and make a sign. You actually wear a sign with the gun info and someone will ask you about it. You can make a deal with them and sell it - OMFG! The Dreaded Gunshow Loophole! Or, you can grab any nearby dealer and give him 20 bucks or so to transfer it. Buyer goes through a background check then, so you can have a clear conscience and The Brady Bunch is slightly less perturbed with us all. Which, honestly, I think all us responsible gun [del]nuts[/del] owners prefer. ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-sell-a-weapon-hand-gun/578977/10 "2011-04-20T03:31:50Z")
Go to a gun shop. Ask if they will sell a gun on consignment. If so, fill out the paperwork and they’ll do the rest. ---
**Author:** ![what\_do\_I\_type\_here](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a5b964/32.png) [@what\_do\_I\_type\_here](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/what_do_I_type_here)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-sell-a-weapon-hand-gun/578977/11 "2011-04-20T14:59:04Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > The shipper has to have an FFL. But the recipient does. Uh, your own link says the shipper does _not_ need an FFL. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-sell-a-weapon-hand-gun/578977/12 "2011-04-20T15:04:56Z")
> [@what\_do\_I\_type\_here](#): > > Uh, your own link says the shipper does _not_ need an FFL. I think that is a typo. I assume he meant to write “The shipper _ **doesn’t** _ need an FFL. But the recipient does.” It doesn’t make much sense as written. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-sell-a-weapon-hand-gun/578977/13 "2011-04-21T01:01:19Z")
It’s illegal to transfer a firearm to anyone legally forbidden to possess one (convicted felon, etc.), though only firearms dealers are actively required to do a background search. If you have any doubts, go through a dealer who can do the background check. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-sell-a-weapon-hand-gun/578977/14 "2011-04-21T01:16:07Z")
> [@what\_do\_I\_type\_here](#): > > Uh, your own link says the shipper does _not_ need an FFL. > [@Telemark](#): > > I think that is a typo. I assume he meant to write “The shipper _ **doesn’t** _ need an FFL. But the recipient does.” It doesn’t make much sense as written. Yes. Typo on my part. Apologies tendered. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-sell-a-weapon-hand-gun/578977/15 "2011-04-21T01:28:34Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > For example could I sell it on EBAY? Craigslist? No. eBay in particular is a big no-no. They’ll take your listing down and may suspend your account. They won’t even process a payment through PayPal if they find out it’s for a gun. > [@](#): > > Are there rules for sending a weapon through the mail? [You cannot ship a handgun via the United States Postal Service](http://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c4_009.htm). It’s that simple. You can ship it FedEx or UPS, but they have requirements that you must be sure to abide by. Also, it must be shipped to an FFL holder, not directly to the purchaser. That is a big no-no. > [@](#): > > What do I do about the serial number? How do change the registration? I don’t understand the question. Very few places have a requirement for registration, and the serial number is nothing more than the number stamped on the weapon that must be entered into a blank on a BATFE 4473 by the FFL holder running the check on the purchaser. None of those are your responsibility. You need only ship it to the FFL holder of the purchaser’s choice. Make sure they send you a copy of the FFL so you don’t get caught sending it to someone’s house instead of a dealer. > [@](#): > > A pawn shop would probably be easy and they would cross the Ts and dot the Is so to speak, but I suspect I’ll lose a good deal of money as compared to other methods. Pawning or consigning the weapon will indeed reduce the money you will receive, but they’re doing business and have to make money as well. It’s a trade-off. They’ll do the work and save you the trouble for a fee, or you can go through the process yourself and make more. A face-to-face sale would be ideal for your purposes. > [@](#): > > What about gun dealers? The few I’ve been too sell on consignment; I would guess they buy outright too? I sense that would be similar to the above pawn shop route, though. Yes. It would be almost exactly the same. It’s important that you get it right, but all the same it’s not a big deal. It’s a fairly straightforward procedure. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-sell-a-weapon-hand-gun/578977/16 "2011-04-21T01:29:38Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > I think that is a typo. I assume he meant to write “The shipper _ **doesn’t** _ need an FFL. But the recipient does.” It doesn’t make much sense as written. > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Yes. Typo on my part. Apologies tendered. I"ve corrected this to read “does NOT need.” **samclem** MOderator ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-sell-a-weapon-hand-gun/578977/17 "2011-04-21T01:33:27Z")
Thanks, **samclem**.