buying used firearm

If you are not comfortable making an assessment of a firearm's condition, ask to have it evaluated by a gunsmith prior to purchase... If the seller declines, he is probably hiding something

capngeo said:

If you are not comfortable making an assessment of a firearm's condition, ask to have it evaluated by a gunsmith prior to purchase... If the seller declines, he is probably hiding something

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I agree!!!

+1 to the above. Best bet!! :thumsup

+1 on what others have said. also whatever firearm you are considering, get to know as much as you can about that particular firearm so you know what to look for.
i buy a lot of older used military surplus guns so i try to get as much info as possible about a particular firearm and go from there.
hope this helps.

You might also want to run the gun's serial number through FDLE to make sure that it wasn't reported stolen. Especially if you are unfamiliar with the seller.

http://pas.fdle.state.fl.us/pas/pashome.a

definately as mentioned run numbers,although this does throw up the red flag that your a possible terrorist threat (some,very few, fdle clerks tend to hate us being armed) but main point being insure it has not been used in a felony which happened to me...the gun i was going to purchase was actually supposed to have been tagged as evidence and locked away or destroyed years ago....this was in memphis tn. which does explain a lot...but any purchase you dont feel comfortable with its always best to do some background....mac

i remember this site tampassgt posted it last year good site book marked in my phone .I can use it at a gunshow if ever i decide to buy one through the infamous loophole. :rolf

It would seem to me the safest way to buy a used gun, via private sale, from someone you do not know, would be meeting at a FFL dealer. The dealer has to log it in, and then run a background check on the buyer, then log it out. Of course there is the $5 call-in and probably a $15 fee to the dealer for the hassle, but you then would be sure buyer is legit. He can also run the gun through FDLE for a stolen gun check which helps with an unknown sellers legitimacy. $20 or 25 bucks isn't much for peace of mind. Also, the dealer may be a gunsmith who knows about the model and if there are any historical problems lurking as well as reviewing the overall condition.

I may be selling a pistol soon and believe me I will have a very complete CYA bill of sale ready with the buyers DL#, SSN and CCW if available. It will also have a legal disclaimer about the buyers right to possess a handgun in FL. I plan to meet at my friendly FFL to do the deed too.:thumsup

I always get a CYA bill of sale as well as have the gun checked out my a smith.

If the seller seems "aggravated" by the procedure that's your cue to walk away! :drinks

Do a search for a post on "Evaluating Used Revolvers"--that may help some.