Search a gun history?

[AGFNTB]

Is there a way to search a gun's history before purchasing it? I am more interested in a gun's "legal" history to make sure it is clean, any way to do this?

I looked on the CAL DOJ site, but, well, you know...

[Garv]

IIRC

In an earlier thread, some people were successful asking the local sheriffs dept. to look it up, but others were told no.

Nothing online.

[antiseen]

Show me the gunfax!

[Twiki357]

You depend solely on the honesty of the seller. And even then, a gun could have been stolen years ago and been through the hands of multiple owners with none of them even knowing it was once stolen. Then there’s the problem that a stolen gun was reported to the FBI central data base and later recovered and returned to the owner or sold by the local PD but never reported as recovered. It’s the risk you accept any time you buy a used gun.

[Steve_In_29]

You pays your money and you takes your chances.

IIRC police used to be able to run the serial number to check but now they have to have a reason for every time they access the system and "just checking" doesn't count.

[KrisDSA]

IIRC

In an earlier thread, some people were successful asking the local sheriffs dept. to look it up, but others were told no.

Nothing online.

^ this. This is what I do. And been doing this for two years now without a issue. You can try it yourself. The worse thing they can say is no.

[sealocan]

I believe at one time someone here pointed out that there is a website for the state of Florida, that allows you to look up guns ( by entering serial numbers, etc.) but it may only list stolen ones from The state of Florida & not a national registry.

So if you're looking for something like that I would start Internet searching with Florida first.
If you have any luck make sure to post what you find.