How does one sell a gun anyway?

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I've a Remington Rand 1943 1911-A1, a 1943 Saginaw M1 Carbine, and a 1943 Springfield M1 Garand (CMP Special) that I doubt I'll ever shoot again.

The Garand comes with 41 en bloc clips and ~600 rounds of stinky Greek,
and the Carbine has 10 or 12 - 15 and 30 round magazines (some USGI, some of later manufacturing, along with ~500 rounds of 110 grain...

The 1911 has one Check-Mate and two USGI magazines, a 43 Graton & Knight holster and 43 Avery magazine pouch, and 100 rounds of vintage 1966 .45ACP

And I've no idea how to part company...
I'm great at acquiring shit, terrible at letting go.
People want leadership, and in the absence of genuine leadership they'll listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone.”Aaron Sorkin/Michael J Fox The American President
Subliterate Buffooery of the right...
Literate Ignorance of the left...

Re: How does one sell a gun anyway?

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I've sold most of my guns and perhaps 70 percent of the reloading stuff. The non component reloading bits go on ebay, usually quickly. The guns always sell to licensed dealer. I had a dog put down years ago, I still miss her. The guns are gotten over the minuet the check goes into the bank.
I ordered a case of optimism from Amazon, but porch pirates beat me to it. Still, chin-up.

Re: How does one sell a gun anyway?

3
You can find a local dealer who will sell on consignment. They charge a percentage fee of the sale price. Or you can sell directly to the dealer, though you will take a huge hit since they are going to have to make profit on reselling it. Direct sale to a known local dealer is the quickest and easiest, though you will get the least amount of money for your sale.

You can try to do an in-person sale to another person. Check if there is any kind of local gun-owners web site in your state or region that has a for-sale forum where you can post the items. There is such a forum in my state, that I have been a member of for many years. I would probably have to pay for a subscription to list a firearm for sale, but after that it is just the normal stuff of agreeing on the sale with the buyer, meeting them, and transferring the firearm.

Check local/state laws regarding transfer. Some may require you to go through an FFL who will do paperwork (and charge a fee), others may just allow face-to-face transfer. Personally I would want to have a bill of sale identifying both parties by name and identifying information such as DL number, the firearm including serial number, date, and price paid. That gives both me and the purchaser a paper trail in case anything came up. Though some face-to-face buyers don't want to do that because of "reasons".

Gun shows are another place, where you can haggle with a dealer or see if there are any other participants willing to sell or trade. Expect some hard bargaining, since they are all trying to get the best end of the deal.

You would need to be smart and safe about doing the transfer. Choose a safe location, don't go alone, abort and leave if something looks off. Also expect that whatever price you agreed on, to have them show up with a bit less cash and tell you they had some unexpected expense and this is all they can afford, in an attempt to last-minute low-ball you. I have even had that happen with friends. And if you ARE selling to a friend, don't fall for the "Hey, I can pay you $400 now and I will pay you the other $100 in a month." Tell them sure, no problem we can wait a month, let's do this when you have the full $500 we agreed to.

I happen to live in a state where it is quite easy for there to be a 6-8 hour drive between me and a potential buyer or seller. You might have to agree to a midway point to meet, which is where being careful about location comes into play. If I were doing a sale locally, I would probably suggest a meeting at a local firing range for the transfer, so the buyer could look at the gun and even verify functioning without there being any issues of pulling guns out of their containers in a public area.

Check out this site, which has breakdowns of laws per-state and good recommendations about private selling. They (as you can guess by the name) also will be happy to buy your guns. But they do have good advice and links to many other sites for help in determining the value of your firearm so you can set a reasonable price. I have not used them but they seem like a good place for information, at least.

https://www.cashforarms.com/blog/how-to-sell-a-gun
Last edited by jc57 on Thu Nov 14, 2024 2:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Re: How does one sell a gun anyway?

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Thanks to both of you...
@papajim2jordan , I know your pain.

I suppose I should really have been explicit with my thread title...
I want to know how to sell this stuff selectively. Sales are gonna have be formally transferred here in the dystopic foothills of the Cascades, that's a given. It's just that there are elements that I'd rather not entrust these to...is all.

Limits the prospects most certainly, but then I acquired them, surely there's an avenue that appeals to, say for instance, LGC members?
People want leadership, and in the absence of genuine leadership they'll listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone.”Aaron Sorkin/Michael J Fox The American President
Subliterate Buffooery of the right...
Literate Ignorance of the left...

Re: How does one sell a gun anyway?

5
Rolandson, I’m sorry I am no longer in the Cascades to help directly. But if you are willing to meet with a buyer at an FFL (shop, pawn, gunsmith) for the sale, start an account and post pics and details of each firearm on Armslist. Communicate with interested parties via email or text and eventually converse via phone call to verify the buyer sounds legit and passes muster. Then arrange to meet up at the FFL for the final sale. I found FFL’s were willing to contact the ATF and do paperwork for $20 per gun or so. That was my experience in Beaverton at any rate.

Feel free to contact me directly if you have questions.
"It is better to be violent, if there is violence in our hearts, than to put on the cloak of non-violence to cover impotence. There is hope for a violent man to become non-violent. There is no such hope for the impotent." -Gandhi

Re: How does one sell a gun anyway?

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Bisbee wrote: Thu Nov 14, 2024 3:49 pm Rolandson, I’m sorry I am no longer in the Cascades to help directly. But if you are willing to meet with a buyer at an FFL (shop, pawn, gunsmith) for the sale, start an account and post pics and details of each firearm on Armslist. Communicate with interested parties via email or text and eventually converse via phone call to verify the buyer sounds legit and passes muster. Then arrange to meet up at the FFL for the final sale. I found FFL’s were willing to contact the ATF and do paperwork for $20 per gun or so. That was my experience in Beaverton at any rate.

Feel free to contact me directly if you have questions.
Thanks Bisbee...!
The range I'm RO at will happily do the transfer but she's not happy hanging on to guns while the Oregon system does its approval thing, which can get rather lengthy for some. My last purchase through her went very quickly, but as she was waiting the 1.77 seconds for my approval she told me that there were 1300 people ahead of me in line. Then her eyes bugged out when I effectively jumped the line and got approved (she shared that she had one member who had been waiting a week) ...she thinks I'm a spy now. Which is good. I think. We'll see.

I can see it now
"For Sale...bla bla bla...and last question; did you vote for trump? Oh... goodbye."
People want leadership, and in the absence of genuine leadership they'll listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone.”Aaron Sorkin/Michael J Fox The American President
Subliterate Buffooery of the right...
Literate Ignorance of the left...

Re: How does one sell a gun anyway?

7
Yup, there certainly is no “equal housing” type laws pertaining to guns. You can definitely choose who you want (and don’t want) as the next caretaker for your fire-sticks.

Especially if you are covert CIA…

But I always imagined it was the buyer’s history with the FBI that determines how long a background check takes for transfer. I’ve never had an experience where the FFL had to hold onto the gun for a transfer that requires more time than what we could wait for.
"It is better to be violent, if there is violence in our hearts, than to put on the cloak of non-violence to cover impotence. There is hope for a violent man to become non-violent. There is no such hope for the impotent." -Gandhi

Re: How does one sell a gun anyway?

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Bisbee wrote: Thu Nov 14, 2024 6:58 pm But I always imagined it was the buyer’s history with the FBI that determines how long a background check takes for transfer. I’ve never had an experience where the FFL had to hold onto the gun for a transfer that requires more time than what we could wait for.
I think that the hang up is on Oregon's end, and Oregon, knowing better than anyone else what is good for everyone else, takes its time at the state level. Where that sits with ATF and FBI types I haven't a clue. I have no idea why a BG on me would be so much faster than anyone else. It just was...

I'm not complaining. About that.
People want leadership, and in the absence of genuine leadership they'll listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone.”Aaron Sorkin/Michael J Fox The American President
Subliterate Buffooery of the right...
Literate Ignorance of the left...

Re: How does one sell a gun anyway?

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The items in question, in case anyone knows someone who knows someone...
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People want leadership, and in the absence of genuine leadership they'll listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone.”Aaron Sorkin/Michael J Fox The American President
Subliterate Buffooery of the right...
Literate Ignorance of the left...

Re: How does one sell a gun anyway?

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O my gosh the M1 carbine is a sweetie!
You are all ready to go back to liberate Europe again.
"It is better to be violent, if there is violence in our hearts, than to put on the cloak of non-violence to cover impotence. There is hope for a violent man to become non-violent. There is no such hope for the impotent." -Gandhi

Re: How does one sell a gun anyway?

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Bisbee wrote: Fri Nov 15, 2024 1:22 am O my gosh the M1 carbine is a sweetie!
You are all ready to go back to liberate Europe again.
Actually, I'm kinda think'n that we, as in the US, liberated Europe twice lat century. They owe us. I'm sorta hoping that they'll honor their obligation to come and liberate us.

They can use the cabine if they like.
People want leadership, and in the absence of genuine leadership they'll listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone.”Aaron Sorkin/Michael J Fox The American President
Subliterate Buffooery of the right...
Literate Ignorance of the left...

Re: How does one sell a gun anyway?

13
All of those guns look like they're pretty darn nice, not just the M1 Carbine. The Garand's stock looks like it's brand-new, and the 1911 looks like at least Service Grade.

I would suggest that you look not so much for a buyer who is a Democrat, but rather someone who is a firearms enthusiast and will take good care of these historical articles. Despite the crazy rhetoric going around, I've found that the vast majority of non-Democrats are actually pretty sane people.
"SF Liberal With A Gun + Free Software Advocate"
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Re: How does one sell a gun anyway?

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CowboyT wrote: Fri Nov 15, 2024 11:44 am All of those guns look like they're pretty darn nice, not just the M1 Carbine. The Garand's stock looks like it's brand-new, and the 1911 looks like at least Service Grade.

I would suggest that you look not so much for a buyer who is a Democrat, but rather someone who is a firearms enthusiast and will take good care of these historical articles. Despite the crazy rhetoric going around, I've found that the vast majority of non-Democrats are actually pretty sane people.
The Garand's stock is (relatively) new... it's a CMP 'Special' grade, which I think they call their 'expert' now. When they identified a rifle that was of a certain condition they went all out on it. The metal is stripped and re-parkerized, new barrels and stocks, and then sold at a hefty price. I bought this one 12 years ago from them.

It's hard to say about the Garand, but the Carbine (a WW2 rifle) and 1911 were indeed combat weapons. The 1911 was active in WW2, Korea, and Vietnam.

Actually, I'm looking for someone who'll go in for the lot.

True Story:
After Ronnie killed education in the 80's and people such as myself had lost their teaching and research positions in universities across the land (I taught physics and played with optics), I relied on another skill set to pay rent. I'm a classically trained musician. Spent 25 years as a session musician and accompanist.

And I acquired many tools of the trade. Some of which became rather valuable. I had a collection of guitars and amplifiers from the early to mid sixties.

When it became necessary to fund my failing health(care) I started selling this stuff off. I made arrangements to bring some of them to a local shop to explore consignment. The fellow took one look at them and simply asked what I wanted for them. I gave him an honest answer, which I knew was substantially higher than the local market would support.

He didn't blink. He just wired the sum into my bank account.

I'm hoping that I stumble upon another person like that.
People want leadership, and in the absence of genuine leadership they'll listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone.”Aaron Sorkin/Michael J Fox The American President
Subliterate Buffooery of the right...
Literate Ignorance of the left...

Re: How does one sell a gun anyway?

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so whaddya think...will I inspire interest?
People want leadership, and in the absence of genuine leadership they'll listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone.”Aaron Sorkin/Michael J Fox The American President
Subliterate Buffooery of the right...
Literate Ignorance of the left...
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Re: How does one sell a gun anyway?

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tailgunner wrote: Sun Nov 17, 2024 12:24 pm I'd love another M1 carbine. Sold mine.
I know we've disagreed elsewhere on this forum, but if you're really up for one, I'd strongly suggest you talk with rolandson about his. That thing looks really nice. If I were closer...heck, I might well be having the conversation! :-)
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Re: How does one sell a gun anyway?

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geno wrote: Sun Nov 17, 2024 7:44 pm The Cascadia Subduction Zone is pretty vague, but our own Bench doctor in is the Portland area and certainly is a possibility to help with any transfers.
Good to know...!
People want leadership, and in the absence of genuine leadership they'll listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone.”Aaron Sorkin/Michael J Fox The American President
Subliterate Buffooery of the right...
Literate Ignorance of the left...

Re: How does one sell a gun anyway?

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Inquisitor wrote: Sun Nov 17, 2024 3:56 pm He’s got a carbine? Oh my.
I do! Ya want it? It's yours! The purely bourgeois practice of exchanging treasure in some form not withstanding of course !
(Hey Quiz! You good?)
CowboyT wrote: I know, right? I was eyeing that Garand, but the Carbine is sweet, too. And M1 Carbine shells are easy to reload!
And...
Looks like the Garand has (at least tentatively) sold.

I think it was the bayonet that put it over the top

"It" being a serial numbered Utica Cutlery "UnCut" M1 Bayonet with an M7 Scabbard, and not the "cut-down" M1905, of which there were perhaps multiple millions (16 inch WW1 versions that doubled as a sword) at the onset of the second, which were determined to be unsuitable for the mission type and rifle anticipated.

So the War Department called them back and cut them to 10 inches (the cut-down version's fuller - the groove in the center - runs from hilt to tip, whereas the uncut's groove stops about 2 inches shy of the tip.

I guess these things are in some demand, almost as soon ss I posted the collage photos into a nerd forum website, it started getting responses.
Funny how this works.
People want leadership, and in the absence of genuine leadership they'll listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone.”Aaron Sorkin/Michael J Fox The American President
Subliterate Buffooery of the right...
Literate Ignorance of the left...

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