Father-in-law gifted gun

[Xringshooter]

Absolutely an heirloom! A smith can tell you if it is safe to fire. If you were going to shoot it I would use lower powered ammo though (just to be on the safe side). IMO I would just clean it up REAL good, go to a tack shop and get some stuff to recondition the leather goods, take lots of pics (to show us ) and most important, get any and all history about it and your FIL's time with Rizzo's cops. Make a big album and hand it down. Too many people don't keep family history any more, what a shame.

[shermdo]

Originally Posted by Agent Smith

I may be wrong, but I think that only parent to child transfers can be done without an FFL. Any others need to go through an FFL.

You are 100% correct. If it were me, out of respect for my father-in-law who you obviously have a great relationship with, I would ask him if we could please transfer the handgun via a local FFL. With that being his old service revolver I sure wouldn't want anything ever to come of his "gifting" that to me. I would also insist upon paying the transfer fee no matter what Dad said. If he is still able maybe a short trip to the range on that day might be a nice outing.

[shermdo]

What a wonderful gift from a father-in-law. That is a beautiful handgun but of course it is the history and sentiment that makes it priceless.

My grandfather was a LEO for 30+ years and I certainly wish that his duty weapon and rig were still in the family. It would mean so much to me. I would have loved to have gifted it to my son when he graduated from the police academy a few years back. Not to use of course but to keep for the family. What a wonder thing that would have been.

I would consider getting the action tightened up by a good gunsmith though even if you don't plan to shot it.

[eells]

sorry for bumping such an old thread, but i have to ask, if marrige is legal contract, making two people a single legal entity, would that not make a father in law the same as your father, at least in the eyes of the law? so if that were true, it would mean that there would be no need to transfer at an ffl

[keryst]

Originally Posted by eells

if marrige is legal contract, making two people a single legal entity

Eh... not quite. Otherwise if my wife murdered someone I could be charged with the crime. Not that she wouldn't enjoy that arrangement.

The law says parent, so an in-law just doesn't pass muster. Might as well pay an FFL the $25. Check all your t's and i's, so to speak.

[knight0334]

Originally Posted by eells

sorry for bumping such an old thread, but i have to ask, if marrige is legal contract, making two people a single legal entity, would that not make a father in law the same as your father, at least in the eyes of the law? so if that were true, it would mean that there would be no need to transfer at an ffl

I seriously doubt that marriage would make her dad legally your dad for such purposes. However there is an around abouts way to do that, he would just give your wife the gun. Once its your wife's, then carrying and possession isn't an issue.

[eells]

hm. the eternal gray area...

[thetruepyromaniak]

I may have a loop hole. Take notice to the red

Buying, Selling and Transferring ownership:
Long guns: Rifles and shotguns may be transferred (bought,
sold and gifted) between PA residents without going
through a Federally Licensed Firearms Dealer (FFL) provided
the recipient of any firearms is not known to be a person
prohibited by law from owning firearms.
Transfer of ownership of long guns with NON PA residents
must go through an FFL either in the recipient’s state or PA.
Handguns can be gifted between spouses, between
children and parent, and between grandchildren and
grandparents without going through an FFL.
All other transfers of handguns, between PA residents, must
go through a PA FFL.
Transfer of handguns to NON PA residents must go through
an FFL in the recipient’s state.

Have your father in law give your wife the gun, then she can give it to you.

I got that from the PA Open Carry Gun rights Flyer. http://www.paopencarry.org

[DCChris]

Amazing gift ref!!! Really nice piece, love stuff with some history to go along with it.

[thetruepyromaniak]

Originally Posted by Zef_66

Just make sure everyone knows what is going on. You don't want to get stopped by the police some day, have your sidearm checked in the non-existent registry and it comes up in your father-in-law's name. Then you describe how he gave it to your wife, and she gave it to you. Just as a check, the cop calls your wife and she knows nothing about a gun, and states she never owned a gun. Yeah, you're screwed.

I would have to say that I agree with this too. But thats what I plan to do.

On another thought, if you dont get it transferred into your name, and you guys split. Of course she will say she never gave it to you. If its in your name, It goes with you and no one can do a thing about it.