Police trade in guns, who buys from the PD's? Or who does the PD sell to?

[cc56]

So I see the police trade-in guns all over for sale. My question is who do the PD's sell to? Is it only the manufacturer who then sells to distributors? Do they ever sell the guns at a public auction for FFL's to buy? Are there FFl's who go straight to the PD's and buy in bulk? I would love to know from anyone who has knowledge on this. Thanks

[Vacaville]

Good question. I just jailed an old police trade-in Glock 17. Would like more history on the process too.

[eta34]

I can speak for our PD. We have traded in old guns to get credits on new ones. A large vendor. Hope that helps.

[SVT-40]

I can speak for our PD. We have traded in old guns to get credits on new ones. A large vendor. Hope that helps.

This!!

Or, some agencies allow officers to buy their old guns, or give them to the officers when they issue new ones.

I helped negotiate as part of our contract MOU, that when the agency would switch guns officers would keep their old issue sidearms...

[CaptMike]

Just as above. Officers are given the opportunity to buy the gun and if the officers dont want them, they are traded in for credit towards the purchase of new weapons.

[micro911]

I know some larger agencies sell their guns back to the manufacturer for credit to purchase new firearms. The manufacturer then sell the guns to their distributors or other vendors. I don't mind buying the police trade in guns. Their appearance looks kind of rough sometimes, but mechanically, they are sound.

We were allowed to buy issue firearms when they changed to different firearms. I bought my revolver and Beretta 92FS. Upon my retirement, I bought my M&P9, all at a great price. OH, then I had a chance to buy an Ithaca shotgun and I jumped on it. So, now I have 4 department firearms.

[cc56]

A large vendor? That is a company that sells the guns to the PD too or do they only buy and give a cash payout? I wonder what percent are bought by the officers VS traded in? I am sure it varies across the nation.

[CaptMike]

Each department is different. my department, about half of the armed officers bought their berretta when we switched to the M&P 9. I also worked at a another training scho that traded in all 30 of their old s&w model 10 and 20 s&w 5900 for credit when they bought new glocks and new s&w revolvers for training. they were able to get a good deal and it made it easier to purchase the new gear.

[deadcoyote]

I can speak for our PD. We have traded in old guns to get credits on new ones. A large vendor. Hope that helps.

Same at my shop. We sent our old sad S&W 6906's to the vendor, who sent us Glock 23's with night sights and three mags. With the credit we got for 6906's we had to pay $141 per glock. My only issue was we didn't specify what gen pistol so they sent us half gen 3 and half gen 4.

At the last agency I worked for when we phased out winchester 1300's I got to keep mine for a $75 pay roll deduction. Way back in the way back when we transitioned from .357 revolvers to auto pistols I could have kept my model 19 for a $150 payroll deduction and I was so young and dumb I passed on it!

[Tovarish]

Same at my shop. We sent our old sad S&W 6906's to the vendor, who sent us Glock 23's with night sights and three mags. With the credit we got for 6906's we had to pay $141 per glock.

Couldn't pay me to trade a 6906 for a Glock 23.

[deadcoyote]

Well, we had 4 catostrophic failures with frames cracked which is why we switched! Apparently, even though the 3rd gen smiths are plus P rated, they were not designed for a ready diet of plus P. We had been using Winchester ranger 147 +P exclusively for range and duty use and it caused a bunch of problems after ~ 10k rounds.

[Tovarish]

Well, we had 4 catostrophic failures with frames cracked which is why we switched! Apparently, even though the 3rd gen smiths are plus P rated, they were not designed for a ready diet of plus P. We had been using Winchester ranger 147 +P exclusively for range and duty use and it caused a bunch of problems after ~ 10k rounds.

Ha. Okay that makes sense, and I certainly won't be buying a 6906 police trade if I see one come up!

[razorscs]

LC Action in San Jose buys a whole bunch of duty guns directly from departments.

[weekend_fun]

So I see the police trade-in guns all over for sale. My question is who do the PD's sell to? Is it only the manufacturer who then sells to distributors? Do they ever sell the guns at a public auction for FFL's to buy? Are there FFl's who go straight to the PD's and buy in bulk? I would love to know from anyone who has knowledge on this. Thanks

for the bay area, as referenced above LC Action does trade-in buys from depts. Most blue label dealers for their particular area, work out resale and also LE buy-backs. I've sent you a PM, reach out directly if you need more insight.

[Grumpyoldretiredcop]

My former agency dealt exclusively with LC Action when it came to trading in pistols for newer ones. When we transitioned from revolvers to Glocks, I caught the LC Action guy coming through the office with a shopping cart full of S&W 19s and 66s and picked out two, putting my name on them. He looked a little sour as he had to sell them to me for what they paid the Department for them ($112 IIRC).