Grandfather law

[joeybagadonutzz]

My father recently gave me one of his shotguns. I wanted to get the name switched over but a buddy of his had told him that there is a grandfather law? Which basically is he can write on a piece of paper that he gave it to me, him and I both sign it, and it's good to go. Only because we are father and son apparently. I am not to sure about this if anyone has any information please let me know. Thanks.

[1861]

Your father can give you his guns , don't need to sign paper , just say they are yours . It is legal.

[knight0334]

Long guns aren't really in anyone's name, unlike handgun transfers which are recorded by government officials.

They can be sold, gifted, traded, etc like furniture so long as the receiving person isn't a prohibited person.

[GunLawyer001]

All accurate info above.

Long guns (rifles and shotguns) can be given or sold privately within PA, as long as the recipients are adults and not prohibited from gun ownership by criminal history or other factors. You can't do it across state lines, to non-PA residents.

Handguns mostly have to go through a licensed gun dealer, but there are limited exceptions. Among the exceptions are transfers between SOME family members, but not all. Between parent & child, parent and grandchild, or spouses, but NOT between siblings, cousins, or any other relatives.

[Pa. Patriot]

As others have pointed out above. No such thing. Enjoy your new firearm!

Prior to the age of awareness (AKA, teh internets) Pa. gun laws were a thing of folk lore and legend, only understandable by the likes of $550/hr attorneys (like Gunloawyer001 ).

Gone are the dark ages, welcome to the age of enlightenment AKA: PAFOA

[mauser]

CHAPTER 61
FIREARMS AND OTHER DANGEROUS ARTICLES

SUBCHAPTER A
UNIFORM FIREARMS ACT

§ 6111. Sale or transfer of firearms.

......SNIP

(c) Duty of other persons.--Any person who is not a licensed
importer, manufacturer or dealer and who desires to sell or
transfer a firearm to another unlicensed person shall do so only
upon the place of business of a licensed importer, manufacturer,
dealer or county sheriff's office, the latter of whom shall
follow the procedure set forth in this section as if he were the
seller of the firearm. The provisions of this section shall not
apply to transfers between spouses or to transfers between a
parent and child or to transfers between grandparent and
grandchild.

.................................................. .........

[The_Game]

It's a shotgun, that doesn't even apply, mauser

[mauser]

It's a shotgun, that doesn't even apply, mauser

It was already established that it wasn't a handgun, I know that.

I was just showing the text of the law and the exclusion that he was told about for clarification for him or anyone else who may have a similar question about the "grandfather law" and found this thread in their search.

I didn't mean to ruffle anyone's feathers.

[Frenchy]

My father recently gave me one of his shotguns. I wanted to get the name switched over but a buddy of his had told him that there is a grandfather law? Which basically is he can write on a piece of paper that he gave it to me, him and I both sign it, and it's good to go. Only because we are father and son apparently. I am not to sure about this if anyone has any information please let me know. Thanks.

THE only thing you want to do with an older shotgun...

Is find yourself a very good Gun smith, find out if it is a Damascus barrel and what you should be shooting in it.

There are chances the gun smith will tell you not to shoot commercial shells in it, if it is a Damascus; chances are you will be told that you can only shoot certain loads in it. Many older shotguns where built this way and would open up to heavy loads.

Other then that, Enjoy. Shotgun sports rock.

Aww Hell, Now I feel the need to explain what a Damascus is...

Basically, it is steel that is "welded" into place many times the old way by peening together the steel.