How do I legally sell my personal guns in WV?
March 1st, 2010 by eranio
I live in WV and own a AR-15 Bushmaster, Tactical .12 ga Mossburg & other weapons. How do I sell them legally? I have a military spinal cord injury and can no longer enjoy shooting sports and hunting. Most are long guns, but I also have a Colt 1991-A1 .45 semi. and a Rossi S & W J frame Stainless Steel .38. All are like new condition and well cared for. Do I need to have a dealer sell them and give up a commission?
Posted in military guns
March 1st, 2010 at 3:11 pm
I have sold some of my extra guns on http://www.auctionarms.com
1. Register to use the site to sell your guns, it is free.
2. Search the site for guns like the ones you want to sell, that will give you an idea of what to ask for yours.
3. Take some good quality photos of your guns on a digital camera.
4. Posting the weapons for sale on the web site is a fairly straight forward process. Just a little tricky getting photos loaded, but not that hard.
5. Describe your weapons fairly.
6. Auctionarms will charge you a 2 1/2 percent sales commission on your sale, which is dirt cheap.
7. When you look at other guns for sale you will note that all of them ask the buyer to send a signed copy of a dealer’s FFL. You have to do the same.
8. Once someone has won your auction they will send you the purchase price (money order) PLUS shipping charges, and the FFL. Once you get the money and the FFL you then ship or mail the gun to the FFL dealer. That dealer, when he gets your gun will have the new owner fill out the necessary federal paperwork and transfer the gun to him.
Having a local dealer sell the guns on consignment for you will generally cost you a 10% commission.
Recently I sold off one of my Ruger .45 LC Vaquero revolvers. Once I got the buyer’s money order and FFL, I packaged the gun in one of those U.S. Post Office boxes that you can mail everything for $10 in, and mailed it to the FFL dealer.
And, Yes, that is prefectly legal. As long as the gun is going to a FFL dealer, you can mail a gun.
You won’t be able to mail a rifle, generally too long. I’d advise asking your local dealer to ship the gun for you. Some of them have deals worked out with shippers for better rates.
Thank you for your service. God bless you.
March 1st, 2010 at 3:11 pm
It’d be safe to say you’d have to talk to the police or a gun dealer etc. Because if you advertise you’re selling guns any man and his dog could show up, and who knows, they could use it to maliciously harm people.
March 1st, 2010 at 3:11 pm
I do not know about a private sale. For example: newspaper ad, etc. However, I do know that private sales are allowed at gun shows in WV.
March 1st, 2010 at 3:11 pm
I believe it is legal for you to sell the guns on your own. You do not need to do a back ground check either as you are selling from your personal collection and are not a gun dealer.
March 1st, 2010 at 3:11 pm
You can sell your guns legally to who ever you want. Just go to a gun show put a sign on it that says "for sale". That is the safest and cheapest way to sell your guns. A gun dealer will charge you, and at a gun show the person you sell it to probably has a bigger gun than you do.
March 1st, 2010 at 3:11 pm
West Virginia is one of those states that do put some responsibilities on the seller, but it is very vague. It is not legal for you to sell to someone who the law prohibits from possessing a firearm. So, please look at my link and read a summary of WV’s laws yourself, so you know.
Private sales at your home can be a little ‘iffy’ if you are not cool with having gun-buying strangers over and gun shows have a lot of tire-kickers, old bored farts like me who talk all day and guys that want to offer half of your asking price.
Old Fuzz gives great detailed advice on selling at Auction Arms, which is likely going to get you the most lookers and the best prices. Start low and let the market decide the final sale price, that’s my strategy. Also, I want to join Fuzz in thanking you and wishing you the best.