To Self Register or Not?

[bluesmoke9]

Probably twenty-seven years ago I traded for or bought a couple handguns from people I knew at the time. They've mostly sat in a safe and were never registered in my name. Now, I might sell one or both (one is a very nice S&W 25-5 with a pinned barrel) and am wondering if I should go through the process of registering them to me first or just sell them outright. If I do register them is DOJ going to say anything about why they aren't already registered to me? Just looking for some pros and cons from the folks that should know.

[Librarian]

Probably twenty-seven years ago I traded for or bought a couple handguns from people I knew at the time. They've mostly sat in a safe and were never registered in my name. Now, I might sell one or both (one is a very nice S&W 25-5 with a pinned barrel) and am wondering if I should go through the process of registering them to me first or just sell them outright. If I do register them is DOJ going to say anything about why they aren't already registered to me? Just looking for some pros and cons from the folks that should know.

An FAQ.

27 years ago was before CA required going through an FFL for sales (1991).

You can just sell them (probably PPT, using an FFL - no face-to-face without one). Lots of guns in California not registered with the state. Entirely legal.

[G1500]

Just sell. It's not worth the hassle and the $19 dollar check.

[Cokebottle]

+1

They were legally transferred to you under the transfer laws of 1984.
Registration of existing handguns was never required.
As of 1991, all handguns were required to be registered at the time of transfer, and guns that you sell today will be registered to the new owner if you transfer them legally through an FFL.

There is no legal or moral need for you to register them prior to selling them.

[bluesmoke9]

I appreciate the information and the time you took to share it. If there is one thing Calguns really fills a need for it is answers to questions like mine.