Looking for advice

[Arreaux]

I'm looking for advice on what I can do to transfer ownership on a firearm?
I reside in Cal.

Here is the run down on the history, the gun was originally owned by a LEO which gave it to his Son when he went off to college. Well the Son apparently did not want to keep the FA and traded with my longtime friend.

Now he has had this FA for over 20 years in his possession and never done anything with it, but have it sit in his closet.

I expressed interest in it and he said I could have it, well here is where I see the problem.

If he never transfered ownership of the said FA, then he can not transfer it to me. I would have to contact the person who gave it to him to get them to do a transfer,....am I correct?

[Mssr. Eleganté]

...If he never transfered ownership of the said FA, then he can not transfer it to me. I would have to contact the person who gave it to him to get them to do a transfer,....am I correct?

Welcome to Calguns.

You don't need to find the original owner. If your friend is also a California resident then the both of you can go to a gun shop and do a Private Party Transfer of the handgun for $35. If your friend is not a California resident then you won't be able to do the transfer because that handgun is not on the Safe Handgun Roster. Private Party Transfers between two California residents are exempt from the Safe Handgun Roster.

You will first need to take the HSC test to get a Handgun Safety Certificate, unless you already have one.

Twenty years ago in California, handguns could be sold between private parties without any paperwork or registration, so all of the previous transfers of that handgun were perfectly legal. Even if the last transfer took place after the law changed, you could still go ahead and do a PPT of that gun at a gunshop today. They don't check to see to whom the gun is currently registered when you do a PPT.