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zeke1312
Guest
OK, let's say I went to a farm auction and many items of all sorts were up for auction. A few items were firearms. I bid and win one of the guns. How is the sale transaction between the auctioneer/owner and myself handled?
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Depends on state law. Here, the auctioneer hands you the gun, you secure it, and pay for it before you leave, just like an other item you might buy.
Farm auctions are usually a bad place to get a buy on a gun. Any rusty old relic will bring $100, and any decent gun will usually go well above retail. Too many men who don't know much about guns (but think they do) have been standing around watching their wives buying glassware, dishes, doilies and quilts all day. When the guns come up, they are itching to bid.
"Well, if neighbor John thinks it's worth $100, it must be, so I'm gonna bid him up."
Farm auctions are usually a bad place to get a buy on a gun. Any rusty old relic will bring $100, and any decent gun will usually go well above retail. Too many men who don't know much about guns (but think they do) have been standing around watching their wives buying glassware, dishes, doilies and quilts all day. When the guns come up, they are itching to bid.
"Well, if neighbor John thinks it's worth $100, it must be, so I'm gonna bid him up."
larry_minn
Member
Yep that can be true. (It does vary by state and knowledge "or lack of" on the part of auction company)
I was at one auction and there were a number of guns. Auctioneer stated early on "You MUST have a purchase permit to buy any of the guns" I took him asside and told him that only applied to handguns "Nope I talked to Sheriff and he told me this" I asked if Sheriff or someone from office? "whoever answeres the phone told me"
So I knew likely just a wild guess. I suggested there was a FFL who has a shop less then 3 miles from auction site and I bet the FFL would be willing to do FFL transfers for less then $20 each. They could haul all guns over there after auction and he would enter them on his book/call NICS/ hand them over to buyer who pays the $$$. "Nope we don't want to mess with that"
SO I made a point to stick around. LOTS OF TICKED OFF LOCALS. Guy would buy shotgun and they asked for permit "Don't have/need one for shotgun" They would take shotgun back and resell it. So I bought a few things (less then ten people could buy) and when asked "do you have a permit" I said "yes" and took guns. They never looked at it. Cost the former owner's famly $$$$$ (estate auction)
PLUS he didn't sell any ammo. I asked later. He had in his daughers words "a couple hundred pounds" but auctioneer said he would not allow ammo sold where guns were sold "too dangerous"
I was at one auction and there were a number of guns. Auctioneer stated early on "You MUST have a purchase permit to buy any of the guns" I took him asside and told him that only applied to handguns "Nope I talked to Sheriff and he told me this" I asked if Sheriff or someone from office? "whoever answeres the phone told me"
So I knew likely just a wild guess. I suggested there was a FFL who has a shop less then 3 miles from auction site and I bet the FFL would be willing to do FFL transfers for less then $20 each. They could haul all guns over there after auction and he would enter them on his book/call NICS/ hand them over to buyer who pays the $$$. "Nope we don't want to mess with that"
SO I made a point to stick around. LOTS OF TICKED OFF LOCALS. Guy would buy shotgun and they asked for permit "Don't have/need one for shotgun" They would take shotgun back and resell it. So I bought a few things (less then ten people could buy) and when asked "do you have a permit" I said "yes" and took guns. They never looked at it. Cost the former owner's famly $$$$$ (estate auction)
PLUS he didn't sell any ammo. I asked later. He had in his daughers words "a couple hundred pounds" but auctioneer said he would not allow ammo sold where guns were sold "too dangerous"
Leatherneck
Member
That's been my experience as well, Larry.
One exception was an auction of a welding company going out of business. Mostly men in attendance, and I got a Garand for $400 and an M-1 carbine with a folding stock for $150. But generally, estate auctions show exactly what you described.
TC
redneck2
Member
In Indiana, personal transfers are OK. Every auction I've been at still required a 4473 (I would too to cover myself)
If I ever dispose of my firearms inventory, it will be an auction. Buyers go nuts. Been to dozens of farm auctions. Every gun I saw went way high.
The exception was a chain of pawn shops that was getting out of the gun business. They had their auction over Labor Day week-end IIRC. They thought everyone would be off and come to the auction, but in reality guys had family stuff to do. Things went WAY cheap. Unfired commemorative 1911's ITB for $350, Luftwaffe marked Mauser for $150
If I ever dispose of my firearms inventory, it will be an auction. Buyers go nuts. Been to dozens of farm auctions. Every gun I saw went way high.
The exception was a chain of pawn shops that was getting out of the gun business. They had their auction over Labor Day week-end IIRC. They thought everyone would be off and come to the auction, but in reality guys had family stuff to do. Things went WAY cheap. Unfired commemorative 1911's ITB for $350, Luftwaffe marked Mauser for $150
As mentioned, stuff at these auctions tend to go for WAY more than its worth... Once saw an old Savage .22, rusty and MISSING the bolt go for $70...I did buy an Enfield (Bubba'd stock, but good matching numbers metal at a somewhat reasonable price, but I think only becasue no one else knew what it was.)
Here (NY), anyway, the auctioneer must be an FFL, and you have to do a 4473 and background check. I think that's a fairly recent law, as just a few years ago, I don't think you had to do that for long guns.
Here (NY), anyway, the auctioneer must be an FFL, and you have to do a 4473 and background check. I think that's a fairly recent law, as just a few years ago, I don't think you had to do that for long guns.
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