buying private gun from someone, how to check the serial#?

[buddyhotrod]

Hello

Need some advice

A gentleman is offering a nice small conceal gun for my glock 21c,
How can I be sure his gun is legal?
Is there a way to check the serial on his gun?

My gun still has the original sales receipt with my name on it.so no worries there for him.

Could the police department run the serial # for me?

[carlson1]

There is no way for you to check a serial number so there is no way to know if it is stolen or not.

I do not know of a LE agency that would "just run the serial number" for you.

[mrvmax]

I know Florida has a system where numbers can be checked online (which does no good unless the gun was stolen in Florida). As an FFL I really wish the govt would provide a way to check. Out of all their anti-gun efforts you would think they would at least allow access to stolen firearm serial numbers.

[Scott B.]

You could do a 'facilitated' transfer through an FFL. That wouldn't run the serial number, but at least there would be a 4473 on file indicating that you acquired that firearm on X date.

[Texsquatch]

I can understand wanting to be cautious, but this sounds a lot like what anti's would argue against private sales.

[Hindenburg]

Maybe he should buy from a FFL. Anybody with access to a laser printer can print a convincing sales receipt.

[cheezit]

If your worried dont make a deal. Thats always the best rule to follow.
If the person has the original box, most stolen guns dont come with them.

[Weg]

I've always worried about this. I will not carry a gun I have not bought through a FFL, even if it was a used gun, at least I have a copy of the transaction to prove I did not KNOWINGLY by a stolen gun. I have some pretty nice handguns I bought face to face that I would would not carry, just because of the slight chance I could put myself in a situation of trying to explain to a LEO why the gun he just ran came up stolen. It is definitely a quandary.

[chuck j]

Pretty simple , just exchange name and address info with a driver license without the DL number . Each one gives a receipt to the other , old style works for me . Proves you bought it in good faith .

[gljjt]

Pretty simple , just exchange name and address info with a driver license without the DL number . Each one gives a receipt to the other , old style works for me . Proves you bought it in good faith .

This.

[cb1000rider]

I can understand wanting to be cautious, but this sounds a lot like what anti's would argue against private sales.

Maybe, but why don't we have this database? It'd be trivial.... You and I would use it.

[saltydog452]

Its a dubious practice, but, if you call your local Sheriff Dept and tell them that you have an opportunity to buy a firearm from a person that has a questionable past and at a ridiculous price, would the Sheriff be kind enough to run the serial numbe? If it has been reported as stolen, be prepared to surrender the gun.

salty

[bayouhazard]

I can understand wanting to be cautious, but this sounds a lot like what anti's would argue against private sales.

Maybe, but why don't we have this database? It'd be trivial.... You and I would use it.

Trivial for the antis to randomly add guns that aren't stolen.

[RoyGBiv]

Pretty simple , just exchange name and address info with a driver license without the DL number . Each one gives a receipt to the other , old style works for me . Proves you bought it in good faith .

This is what I would do.
If both parties are amenable, a brief bill of sale/trade can be signed.

I'm less worried about having the gun forfeited because it really was stolen than I am about getting mixed up in the crime that happened before I acquired it. A bill of sale goes a long way to fix the latter.

[gljjt]

Pretty simple , just exchange name and address info with a driver license without the DL number . Each one gives a receipt to the other , old style works for me . Proves you bought it in good faith .

This is what I would do.
If both parties are amenable, a brief bill of sale/trade can be signed.

I'm less worried about having the gun forfeited because it really was stolen than I am about getting mixed up in the crime that happened before I acquired it. A bill of sale goes a long way to fix the latter.

I agree. The odds of anything bad happening involving me and the gun are slim. But the bill of sale protects me from being involved with something I wasn't involved in. That's my concern. The slim chance of ever losing the gun doesn't concern me at all.