Owner passed away

[OM18V]

Looking for information about buying handgun from a friend. It belonged to her father and he has since passed away.

If I purchase the gun, how does the transfer work? The gun may have been in his possesion for 50-60 years. Were guns registered with the state of Pa back then? Is there a record somewhere?

Thanks for any help.

Mike

[phillykev]

There's no gun registry in PA. If she was the beneficiary of all his posessions and isn't legally prohibited from owning a gun (and neither are you), should be able to walk into an FFL and do the transfer. The only real question (again, assuming neither of you is prohibited) is whether she came into legal posession of it through probate (or if he gave it to her prior to his death, there's no paperwork necessary for a parent to give a fiream to their child).

Here's a prior thread on the subject. http://forum.pafoa.org/general-2/244...ly-member.html

[OM18V]

Thanks for the prior thread.

Mike

[ErSwnn]

So now you have us curious. A gun that old gets our attention. If you don't mind...and it's ok if you do.....what are you hoping to purchase?

[OM18V]

So now you have us curious. A gun that old gets our attention. If you don't mind...and it's ok if you do.....what are you hoping to purchase?

Don't know yet, haven't seen it. All I know is it's a Smith 22. Hoping for a K22 Masterpiece in 90%+.

Mike

[GunLawyer001]

This is a common question. The gun shop doesn't really care who owns the gun, but the transferor (the seller) has to identify herself, and the transferee (the buyer) has to produce acceptable picture ID and pass PICS.

We don't have gun registration. The State Police keep a list that appears to be OK with the PA Supreme Court, but that list has zero legal weight. They can show a handgun as last being transferred to John Smith in Pittsburgh 10 years ago, and the next transfer being from Jane Doe in Philadelphia to Bob Jones. As long as Bob Jones passes the background check, nobody cares who the seller is.

[OM18V]

Thanks, that clears it up. I wasn't sure what the State Police did with the paperwork.

Mike

[WanderingFool]

Quite frankly were not sure either....

If you find out let "US" all know!

Later