Can you sell a pistol frame?

[f308gt4]

Xxx. Xxx xxx. Xxx xx xxx

[Dimitri A.]

Yes you can, but you would still have to legally transfer the frame to the seller. Under the law, the frame constitutes the firearm, and it must be registered. You can also sell the frame in a free state as well.

[Noonanda]

Yes you can, but you would still have to legally transfer the frame to the seller. Under the law, the frame constitutes the firearm, and it must be registered. You can also sell the frame in a free state as well.

IIRC the bare pistol frame cannot be sold, because 1) you have to list the caliber on the DROS and you must do the safety handling test. This was brought up in the past because people wanted to buy railed frames for certain guns but it is not allowed. Otherwise the market for 80% frames would not be big, people would just buy the frames for the gun they want.

Someone with more knowledge will fill in/ correct any parts I may have gotten wrong.

[Quiet]

IIRC the bare pistol frame cannot be sold, because 1) you have to list the caliber on the DROS and you must do the safety handling test. This was brought up in the past because people wanted to buy railed frames for certain guns but it is not allowed. Otherwise the market for 80% frames would not be big, people would just buy the frames for the gun they want.

Someone with more knowledge will fill in/ correct any parts I may have gotten wrong.

CA unsafe handgun laws comes into play.

Because handgun frame/receiver are not listed on the Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale, they can not be transferred as a "handgun" by a CA FFL dealer, unless an exemption is used (LEO sale, PPT, out-of-state intra-familial gift).

[Dimitri A.]

IIRC the bare pistol frame cannot be sold, because 1) you have to list the caliber on the DROS and you must do the safety handling test. This was brought up in the past because people wanted to buy railed frames for certain guns but it is not allowed. Otherwise the market for 80% frames would not be big, people would just buy the frames for the gun they want.

Someone with more knowledge will fill in/ correct any parts I may have gotten wrong.

This is good info, I did not know this about bare frames. OP, one thnig I would also add. If you decide to sell out of state, for me personally, I would want to contact the DOJ and inform them that I sold the gun out of state and that it is no longer in my possession. The last thing I would want is for a gun still registered in my name to end up back here in Cali at a murder scene with my name still associated with it. At the very least, save the receiving FFL's info and print out any correspondence that you have with them. Just my two cents.

[SkyHawk]

Frame only can be sold via PPT, frame only sale is exempt from safe handling demonstration.

Frame only cannot be imported from out of state. There is a good market for frame only Glocks, you just don't see them coming in to CA because they can't. But one already here can be sold via PPT.

The potential deal killer about frame only Glock sales in CA is the $35 PPT fee.

[Dimitri A.]

Frame only can be sold via PPT, frame only sale is exempt from safe handling demonstration.

Frame only cannot be imported from out of state. There is a good market for frame only Glocks, you just don't see them coming in to CA because they can't. But one already here can be sold via PPT.

The potential deal killer about frame only Glock sales in CA is the $35 PPT fee.

So bare frames via PPT within the state are OK, but not outside? This includes the importation of frames for on roster pistols? For example, if I wanted to buy the complete frame for a gen 3 Glock 19, would I not be able to import? I ask because sometimes the caliber associated with the frame can be found by going to the manufacturers website, or just calling and asking.

[heidad01]

Yes, of course you can buy or sell a handgun frame in Calif. The frame is the gun (serialized) part of the gun that identifies it in the system. The Dros system has an option for such transaction.

plus what SkyHawk said.

Frame only can be sold via PPT, frame only sale is exempt from safe handling demonstration.

Frame only cannot be imported from out of state. There is a good market for frame only Glocks, you just don't see them coming in to CA because they can't. But one already here can be sold via PPT.

The potential deal killer about frame only Glock sales in CA is the $35 PPT fee.

[Quiet]

So bare frames via PPT within the state are OK, but not outside? This includes the importation of frames for on roster pistols?

Correct.

For example, if I wanted to buy the complete frame for a gen 3 Glock 19, would I not be able to import?

If you are an exempt person (example... LEO), then it can be imported and transferred to you as a "handgun".

If you are a non-exempt person, then it can be imported and transferred to you as a "long gun".
Since it's transferred as a "long gun", the frame can only be legally used to make a "long gun".
If the frame is used to make a handgun, it would be considered a SBR and not a handgun.

[Hardwarejunkie]

OP - once you hold the Polymer 80 Spectre - you won't want to sell the Glock frame!
I bought one to make a MechTech carbine but can't get over how blocky it is.

[SweetPotato]

How about when it comes to Ruger MK and 22/45. I think the serial on those thing is on the barrel. Please tell me that I can buy barrel and replace it on existing frame.

[Quiet]

How about when it comes to Ruger MK and 22/45. I think the serial on those thing is on the barrel. Please tell me that I can buy barrel and replace it on existing frame.

On the Ruger Mark series & 22/45 series...
The barreled receiver is the firearm and must be transferred through a FFL.
The grip frame is just a part and does not require a FFL to obtain.

[CandG]

I can't speak to the legal questions, and others have already covered that anyways... But if I were you, and bought a whole pistol to use for parts to make an 80% build, I would just keep the frame. You already paid DROS fees on it that you won't get back, you'd also have to pay the PPT fees (either directly or indirectly through reduced sale price), and it never hurts to have a spare frame laying around. If your 80% frame breaks you can always move the parts back over and have a regular Glock. Also, unless the roster goes away, glocks will not be available in CA forever (unless you believe Glock will keep manufacturing Gen3's indefinitely just for the CA non-LEO market), so it's not likely to drop in value any time soon. So unless you really really need the cash, I'd just keep it.

[Quiet]

I can't speak to the legal questions, and others have already covered that anyways... But if I were you, and bought a whole pistol to use for parts to make an 80% build, I would just keep the frame. You already paid DROS fees on it that you won't get back, and it never hurts to have a spare frame laying around. If your 80% frame breaks you can always move the parts back over and have a regular Glock. Also, unless the roster goes away, glocks will not be available in CA forever (unless you believe Glock will keep manufacturing Gen3's indefinitely just for the CA non-LEO market), so it's not likely to drop in value any time soon. So unless you really really need the cash, I'd just keep it.

Also, why you should keep it...
If you do not mark/engrave your home built ("80%") firearm, then it will be illegal to possess starting 01-01-2019.
So, keeping it, allows you to legally have a functional firearm after 2018.

[Oceanbob]

That all being said...^^^^^^

I've bought 3 Glock Frames from out of State. 3 separate times.

One Glock 19 and two Glock 20SF.

I dropped off Glock uppers at my FFL. (Who I know very well)

When the frames arrived, he simply installed the uppers and I showed up
To DROS a complete Glock handgun. (3 different times)

I also "Loaned" a Glock 20 upper to a fellow Cal Gunner who bought a Glock
20 Frame from out of State.

So what laws were broken..?

The G 19 frame and parts I used to build my daughter a Glock 19



Her Glock 19. Her boyfriends call me "Sir".