Hey,

I could use some subject-knowledgeable input as to the best place to sell/list a collectible (near-antique) "curio" "long"-gun.

PM me. ...

Since this thread will not last my $.02 would be to search it on gunbroker auctionarms etc. Unless it is really something special and collectible say $1k or more I would sell it to a FFL dealer, you will get wholesale but you will at least know it is a legal transaction. Another alternative is if it is a colt, s&w, or other well known name you could list it on one of the numerous gun forums. The problem with this is the shipping expense $50+ to ship UPS. Be sure you have a signed copy of a ffl holder you are mailing the gun to. It is up to you to verify that the ffl is legitimate. Then keep a record of the transaction forever. This is why you are better off selling it to a local (in your state) ffl if it isn't highly collectible it is a huge PITA IMO.

There are federal and state/local laws. There are laws about shipping, sales, background checks and waiting periods. And there are antique, curio and modern firearms which may be (are often, anyway) treated differently by the various laws.

Shipping a "long"-gun to a FFL dealer in any state appears permissible... and possible.

But after that, you get into a mess, where pro and anti advocates argue different interpretations of the same laws. And California gun law is so complex, that I've given up trying to understand it. And then there's what actually happens: for example, some dealers seem to insist on a waiting period (a deal-breaker, maybe) even for a curio sale to a licensed collector, even though California law doesn't require this (apparently).

I don't know. However, I'm not looking to go to jail.

In any event, it's best to deal with people who are experienced in these things. Hence, I'm looking for a dealer in SoCal where I can go and sell it, or an online site where (lots of) people do this routinely, so they'll know the ropes; along with some input as to where these places might be.

(The last time I asked this question, the thread got locked... which it still may. And the last thing I want is to start a fight over gun laws -- particularly since I can't even figure out what these are -- beyond buy from a dealer and sell through a dealer, although others argue otherwise.)

...

It's probably worth more than $1K ("retail" anyway), but as a newbie, I'm not sure that I'd get it. Still, I'd get a lot more exposure on an auction site. And with a relatively rare collectible, it's hard to get comps. I'll check those sites.

Thanks.

but I didn't mean to imply there were not other options for you. My state allows for face to face transactions without any paperwork. I just wouldn't do it myself because I don't want to take a chance on selling to a felon or some such thing.

Most of the forums (The Firing Line, The High Road, etc.) requires you post a price when you post a classified.

The folks at http://www.antiqueguns.com/ in the 'ask the experts' section are very helpful if you include all of the info about your gun when asking questions and you ask in the right forum. Don't solicit a sale there, it violates the rules, but you may ask value and desirability questions and probably get good info.

Again just my $.02

Read the post pinned at the top of the forum list.

Because this thread is not about gun policy per se it will likely get locked.

You can find out what its going for online (gunbroker, gunsamerica, Isoldmygun, etc).

If you tell us what it is, I bet a few of us might be curious enough to search it out.