Safety Handling Demo in C&R?

[tonewheelz]

Hi, I hope this is the correct place to post this question.

I’m making a pretty sizable(for me) purchase of a 1957 2nd Generation Colt SAA, that is about as good condition as you could hope for in a gun of this age and has no drag lines and appears to be unfired since leaving the factory.

My concern has to do with when it arrives at my FFL. Being that it constitutes as a C&R does a safety handling demonstration have to be done? If so, I’m a bit concerned about when the FFL demonstrates the safety handling prior to me, that they’ll make some type of mistake like not cocking the hammer all the way back prior to lowering the hammer, or something that might cause a problem.

Anyone have any suggestions for a polite way to ensure this does not happen?

[Quiet]

Safe handling demonstration is required on all firearms [PC 26850(a) & 26860(a)], unless the person acquiring the firearm is exempt from the FSC requirement [PC 276850(h)& 26860(g)].

There is a FSC exemption for a person with a valid C&R 03-FFL and valid COE, when only acquiring C&R firearms. [PC 31700(a)(6)]

[Quiet]

Applicable CA laws to what the OP asked...

Penal Code 26850
(a) Except as authorized by the department, no firearms dealer may deliver a handgun unless the recipient performs a safe handling demonstration with that handgun.
(b) The safe handling demonstration shall commence with the handgun unloaded and locked with the firearm safety device with which it is required to be delivered, if applicable. While maintaining muzzle awareness, that is, the firearm is pointed in a safe direction, preferably down at the ground, and trigger discipline, that is, the trigger finger is outside of the trigger guard and along side of the handgun frame, at all times, the handgun recipient shall correctly and safely perform the following:
(3) If the handgun is a single-action revolver, the steps listed in Section 26859.
(c) The recipient shall receive instruction regarding how to render that handgun safe in the event of a jam.
(d) The firearms dealer shall sign and date an affidavit stating that the requirements of subdivisions (a) and (b) have been met. The firearms dealer shall additionally obtain the signature of the handgun purchaser on the same affidavit. The firearms dealer shall retain the original affidavit as proof of compliance with this requirement.
(e) The recipient shall perform the safe handling demonstration for a department-certified instructor.
(f) No demonstration shall be required if the dealer is returning the handgun to the owner of the handgun.
(g) Department-certified instructors who may administer the safe handling demonstration shall meet the requirements set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 31635.
(h) The persons who are exempt from the requirements of subdivision (a) of Section 31615, pursuant to Section 31700, are also exempt from performing the safe handling demonstration.

Penal Code 26859
To comply with Section 26850, a safe handling demonstration for a single-action revolver shall include all of the following steps:
(a) Open the loading gate.
(b) Visually and physically inspect each chamber, to ensure that the revolver is unloaded.
(c) Remove the firearm safety device required to be sold with the handgun. If the firearm safety device prevents any of the previous steps, remove the firearm safety device during the appropriate step.
(d) Load one bright orange, red, or other readily identifiable dummy round into a chamber of the cylinder, close the loading gate and rotate the cylinder so that the round is in the next-to-fire position. If no readily identifiable dummy round is available, an empty cartridge casing with an empty primer pocket may be used.
(e) Open the loading gate and unload the revolver.
(f) Visually and physically inspect each chamber to ensure that the revolver is unloaded.
(g) Apply the firearm safety device, if applicable. This requirement shall not apply to an Olympic competition pistol if no firearm safety device, other than a cable lock that the department has determined would damage the barrel of the pistol, has been approved for the pistol, and the pistol is either listed in subdivision (b) of Section 32105 or is subject to subdivision (c) of Section 32105.

Penal Code 31700

[2761377]

"Anyone have any suggestions for a polite way to ensure this does not happen?"

yes. have an established, friendly relationship with your dealer.

random person selected from GB list is not a good idea.

[M1NM]

Explain no drag line and need to keep it that way. Ask to use similar gun from display case. I have only been asked to do the demo once. That was on an unconverted old model Ruger Bearcat. I loaded 1 skipped one and loaded 4 more. The kid said he was going to fail me since I didn't load all 6. Asked him to call his boss over. Asked boss to educate counter help on proper loading/carry of revolvers without a transfer bar.

[tonewheelz]

Thanks for the information everyone.

M1NM, that is a brilliant idea and i think it’s the way to go

[81turbota]

I had a LGS insist that I do a safe handling demonstration on a TT33 and Arisaka T99 I was in the process of purchasing. Naturally, they didn't have any snap caps so they made me do it with "similar" firearms. They grabbed a .45 ACP 1911 and a Yugo Mauser for me to do it.

I was laughing inside but I played along with their game.

[kendog4570]

M1NM nailed it. Just do the demo with a Uberti or some other spaghetti gun.



NICE Colt, by the way.

[81turbota]

Haha, spaghetti gun. I like that.

[God Bless America]

OP there is already a drag line. Put a drop of oil on the cyl and catch if needed, one more turn will make little difference if any at all.

Hopefully you won't have to, but if you must, you can do so with negligible if any further marking.

[pitfighter]

Beautiful revolver -
Similar gun or SAA clone if there is one or you have one, would be the way to do it, but it certainly requires a friendly relationship.

Maybe a conversation with the management ahead of time would be a wise thing to explore.

[BrunRox]

Probably the nicest one I've seen in a while..Congrats.

I agree with using a clone for the safe handling demo.

On another note I would visit the FFL "Now" and let them know in a nice way,
not to handle the Colt until you are ready for pick-up.

[humble servant]

That's a beautiful Colt. I hope to acquire one someday.
If it were me I'd do the stupid demo and shoot it as soon as I could.
I have two ww2 Colt 1911a1's and I've shot the piss out of them over the years.
I understand wanting to preserve the value though.

[musketjon]

If you think the hammer has to be at full cock to ease it down, you don't know the inner workings of a SAA very well yourself. No matter which notch the hammer/sear are engaged in, all one needs to do to un-cock the hammer is to pull the hammer back slightly to disengage it from the sear and then lower it down.
Jon

[AR22]

So you are not going to shoot it? To each his own, but what is the point in getting it then? I always figured if I cannot use it for its intended purpose. I might as well hang a photo up to look at. No offense intended.. Just ask as I have often wandered about collectors who never fire weapons they purchase.

Seems that would take most of the fun out of collecting to me.

It is pretty though.