Inheriting a firearm?

[noise maker]

I know a guy that inherited a couple of California legal firearms from a family friend. My friend wants to give them away. What is the proper procedure. Since the firearms where never DROS'd in my friend's does he have to do a private party transfer to give them away. Does the person he wants to give the firearms to have to do a voluntary registration. Your insight would be greatly appreciated.

[Grouch]

Sounds like he "inherited" them incorrectly. Maybe even illegally.

[Shane916]

I know a guy that inherited a couple of California legal firearms from a family friend. My friend wants to give them away. What is the proper procedure. Since the firearms where never DROS'd in my friend's does he have to do a private party transfer to give them away. Does the person he wants to give the firearms to have to do a voluntary registration. Your insight would be greatly appreciated.

How long ago did your friend "inherit" these firearms from a family friend?

[AJAX22]

What type of firearms are you talking about, how old are they, and did any of this cross state lines?

[noise maker]

He inherited them approximately 6-7 years ago and has held onto them since. He acquired them while he was cleaning up the deceased friends estate. They are a M1 Carbine and a M1A1 that is California legal with the muzzle break. I don't believe they crossed any state lines

[Mike's Custom]

There is an allowance for "inherited" firearms. Check the DOJ web site. Once you have done what they require you can then sell/transfer them legally as a PPT. All it will take is a little research on his part. If he fails to do so and he gets caught with a unregistered weapon he can get into trouble.

[Hunter]

He inherited them approximately 6-7 years ago and has held onto them since. He acquired them while he was cleaning up the deceased friends estate. They are a M1 Carbine and a M1A1 that is California legal with the muzzle break. I don't believe they crossed any state lines

This is very simple.
The carbine can be transferred directly to the new CA resident as it is over 50 years old. The M1A1 will need to be transfered thru a FFL dealer to the person it is being gifted to as it is under 50 yrs old.

[noise maker]

Hunter, I am just trying to clarify your response. The M1 Carbine can just be given to the friend without any sort of transfer, but the M1A1 has to be transfered through and FFL holder even though the person who inherited it was never the registered owner of it.

[Hunter]

Hunter, I am just trying to clarify your response. The M1 Carbine can just be given to the friend without any sort of transfer, but the M1A1 has to be transfered through and FFL holder even though the person who inherited it was never the registered owner of it.

First the USGI M1 Carbine. These guns are over 50 years old now and as such can be sold to residents of CA by another CA resident without any FFL dealer involved. One exception is if this is NOT a USGI but a commercial made gun ( ie Iver Johnson), then it would be under 50 years old and would then also require transfer via PPT at an FFL.

Second, the M1A1 is a NOT over 50 years old so it must proceed as a PPT thru a FFL dealer and do the 10 day wait.


Now the current owner received these guns as an action of the inheritance and therefore is the rightful owner. Longguns are not registered in this state, unlike handguns. So there is no registration to deal with.

Edit to add:
If he is unsure of the age of the rifles, then just have your friend do a PPT on both rifles as the costs ($10ea) is not a big deal. Also when both guns are done at the same time to the same person the DROS fees are the same as only doing one rifle.