Rifle ownership transfer question

[FBodyexpert]

So lets say a friend gave me a 22LR rifle about 10 years ago that was given to him. Lets also say there was no official transfer or paperwork done between that friend and his friend or between he and i either. Lets also say that I lost contact with that friend shortly after and have heard he is now a she and I have no way get in contact with him...or her..

My question is this..is there a way to LEGALLY become the owner of the firearm without knowing the orignal owner or having a seller? Also, is there anyway to do a search on the serial to make sure its not reported lost or stolen by that original owner? Or is it even worth the hassle for an old cheap rifle?

[Librarian]

For future reference, most firearms transfers inside California require the use of an FFL, and have since 1991.

A clumsy, but apparently not-too-problematic answer is for you to file the VOLREG form - http://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/pd...ms/volreg.pdf?

Lawmakers don't provide clean 'oops, I made a mistake' recovery procedures; instead, they provide penalties as a means to encourage following the right process in the first place.

That said, their interest has been shown to be relatively practical, and getting the gun 'papered' is not reported here as drawing any bad result.

[dieselpower]

boy wouldn't the owners be surprised to hear from the Police..."hey we found that gun that was stolen from you 10 years ago..."

[FBodyexpert]

boy wouldn't the owners be surprised to hear from the Police..."hey we found that gun that was stolen from you 10 years ago..."

Yeah especially since its not stolen. My fear though is that the original owner will realize the implications and report it lost or stolen to protect themselves. I don't want to do anything illegally or jeopardize my right to own my legal firearms. I'm just.trying to find the right thing to do.

[gemini1]

For future reference, most firearms transfers inside California require the use of an FFL, and have since 1991.

A clumsy, but apparently not-too-problematic answer is for you to file the VOLREG form - http://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/pd...ms/volreg.pdf?

Lawmakers don't provide clean 'oops, I made a mistake' recovery procedures; instead, they provide penalties as a means to encourage following the right process in the first place.

That said, their interest has been shown to be relatively practical, and getting the gun 'papered' is not reported here as drawing any bad result.

So what would you put on the "Acquired from" box, if one is to send in the VolReg form?

[CSACANNONEER]

It is already LEGALLY yours. While the transfer process might not have been legal, the ownership of the rifle is. Also, long guns are not registered to anyone during a normal purchase or transfer through a FFL. So, a long gun isn't registered unless one fills out the Vol reg form, registered it as an AW or had it returned through a LEGR.

[Sanman023]

So what would you put on the "Acquired from" box, if one is to send in the VolReg form?

other: a friend of a friend that disappeared 10 years ago...

[FBodyexpert]

Thanks for the reply guys. If there is not requirement to register then I perfer not to. I guess the last thing to make me comfortable would be to search the SN to make sure it was never registered "voluntarily", and then subsequently reported missing or something like that. I doubt it was ever registered since I assume its fairly old. Its a Savage Stevens Model 62. How long has it beein since they built the stevens 62? before 91?

[infantry_11x]

How long does this process take to complete and get an answer as to being the official owner of the weapon. And wouldn't this be easier than taking to an FFL due to it only being $19 to do?