03 FFL - Oh my goodness!

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il.bill

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Oh my goodness!

Everywhere I looked on the Intertubes people warned me about getting an 03 FFL C&R license. They were right..

I sent in my application to the ATF with credit card info and a copy to my local chief of police.on April 24th. The card was charged within a week, so every day in May I anxiously checked my mail - nothing. Then on June 4th, at the 45 day point, I happened to see a non-descript looking envelope with a weird return address (it almost looked like junk mail, but it had first class postage), and there it was - my C&R 03 FFL had arrived. What a sweet way to start a week! I immediately made numerous unsigned copies (including three on my color printer just for kicks) and put the original away. The large envelope with C&R information came in the mail the next day.

After what I thought was an enormous display of restraint (mostly for my wife's reassurance), I faxed a signed copy of my new federal license to several online MilSurp sellers exactly a week later. Having spent the last few months drooling on my keyboard in researching potential purchases, I new what I wanted, and ordered a pair of CZ 82 pistols from Widener's.

Here is where the 'Oh my goodness' part comes in. After confirming by phone their receipt of my 03 FFL, I placed an online order late Tuesday night (it was probably very early Wednesday morning, but in my excitement I could not say for sure). The website never showed me any order info except that it was being 'processed'. This morning I called them up, and a nice lady said' "Well let me see. That order was shipped 'second day air' by UPS on Wednesday and should arrive today" (Friday). Sure enough, my friendly local UPS driver jumped out of his truck after lunch and with a smile and said: "Looks like you have a new toy!" Inside the box were a pair of CZ 82 semi-automatic pistols with holsters (a bit goofy looking, but brand new leather), an extra magazine each, as well as cleaning rod and lanyard, for < $236 each delivered to my door! NO local dealer FFL transfer fee and NO 72 hour Illinois waiting period after the NICS call is made!

One of the pistols is in better cosmetic shape than I had hoped - just some minor scratches and holster wear on one side of the slide, but no wear evident on the feed ramp or around the breech face at all. It looks very good to me, and I am happy with it. The other pistol looks for all purposes to be brand new. Not a scratch on it - not even on the slide rails or the bottom horizontal portion of the slide (do not know the correct name of that part of the pistol - sorry). Even my wife, when looking at the two firearms said: "Humph. Wow!"

Then I took a quick look at GunBroker.com, and sure enough, my lower than expected bid for a C&R elligible Walther P1 was the winner. Where does this end? Burn the credit cards.

Oh my goodness!

PS - pictures will be posted tonight or tomorrow when I get a chance. Do not know when I will get to fire the CZ 82's, since first I will need some 9x18mm Makarov ammo (I hear it is fairly inexpensive). I am not collecting firearms thinking I will get rich on any appreciation of their value. I just like guns.

I can't help but wonder about that $189 Radom P64 on ClassicFirearms. It takes the 9x18mm Makarov too, doesn't it? Hmmm...what about a Russian or East German or Bulgarian Makarov?

03 FFL applicant beware!
 
I love my license too. Look into a P64 Polish Radom. Mine appeared unfired. They are almost the spitting image of a PPK in 9mm Mak AND they have a chrome-lined bore. I picked mine up for $179 plus shipping. Now my goal is a WWII P35 at a price that won't break the bank.
 
Glad to here! I just got done filling out the paper work yesterday, should be mailing it Monday, so many fun things I need! Um.. I mean want, lol!:D
 
Don't for get to send it in to Midway and Brownell's for their "dealer" discounts. More than makes up the price for me even if I didn't buy any C&R guns!
 
I like my P-64 quite a bit.... I think it's a good gun for the money. Very solid, well made and nice looking. The 9mm Makarov has some nice punch to it, at a very attractive price.
However, it seems to be a hand-biter, even when I adjust my grip - and I don't have particularly large hands.
 
the best "dealer discount" is at Grafs.

I sent my FFL renewal form in April 23 and they haven't cashed the check yet. My license expires July 1, so I called them Thursday morning and they said it's waiting for the background check to come back :rolleyes: The agent said if I don't get it by the first, to call them back and they'll send me an extension letter. (he sure called me "Sir" a lot; made me nervous)
 
Fun isn't it ? I've got two coming in this week and one yet to ship. Love it!

Kiss your surplus money goodbye fellow cruffler; POOF, it's gone. But hey, they hold their value, so I look at it more of a "currency exchange".
 
After what I thought was an enormous display of restraint (mostly for my wife's reassurance), I faxed a signed copy of my new federal license to several online MilSurp sellers exactly a week later.

That is a lot of restraint; I uploaded mine to AIM Surplus and ordered a M1895 Nagant the same day my 03 came in the mail.
 
DougW said:
This is just the Enfields!

Very nice!

I've found mixing a strong interest in history and a 03FFL does profound things to a credit card statement. :D
 
That is a discharger cup, used to launch a Mills Bomb (grenade). Works well with blanks and tennis balls. We use EMPTY Coors can bottoms as a gas chech. It will launch a tennis ball about 80 feet up and 150 feet down range. Great for tennis ball skeet shooting.

IMAG0011.jpg

:D
 
That is a discharger cup, used to launch a Mills Bomb (grenade). Works well with blanks and tennis balls. We use EMPTY Coors can bottoms as a gas chech. It will launch a tennis ball about 80 feet up and 150 feet down range. Great for tennis ball skeet shooting.

That's kind of what I was thinking it might be. Sounds like a lot of fun!
 
Ah yes...let's see at the moment just a Turkish Mauser and a Mas49/56....my wife had our first child in January.

Getting a gun in the mail or going to a store and skipping the PICS check and fee is so so fun.

I really need to get one of those CZ-82s, Tokarevs, and Radoms. The thought of coming up and having a handgun waiting for me in the mail just tickles me pink. Of course this is just looking at the standard ones, so many others are available.

Just need to log my first two in.
 
The thought of coming up and having a handgun waiting for me in the mail just tickles me pink.

Not the mail. For some reason, the USPS regs that allow licensed dealers, gunsmiths, and gun manufacturers to ship and received handguns does not include the word "collectors". :( But you can have them shipped to your door by common carrier (UPS, FedEx, Speedy Delivery, etc)
 
Not the mail. For some reason, the USPS regs that allow licensed dealers, gunsmiths, and gun manufacturers to ship and received handguns does not include the word "collectors". :( But you can have them shipped to your door by common carrier (UPS, FedEx, Speedy Delivery, etc)
True, I just meant in general and also assuming that I could sign for it to be left at the door or someone is there. But yeah so much for the fun of opening my mailbox and a handgun being there. lol
 
Best day for my C&R was the day UPS delivered these, all in one shipment-

6Enfields004.jpg

Good day. $75 each! Been a few years ago though. Can't get them like this these days.
 
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