Gifting a new handgun to my son

[Fe cook]

Question for any FFL's out there....

So my son will be graduating college next spring and he has always wanted a GI style 1911. This will be his first firearm.

FACTS:
He will be 22 years old
Has a clean record
Does NOT have his HSC card yet (and probably will not at the time of the gift)
I want it to be a surprise
The 1911 is on the CA approved list

QUESTION:

What would be the best way to have him be the registered owner of the gun?
I would like to avoid doing two transfers if possible.

Advice is much appreciated.

Thanks.

[kemasa]

There are two ways to do it.

The first is for you to buy it, have it transferred to yourself, then give it to him, but he would need a HSC in order to do the transfer to him by means of the intrafamilial transfer form (which would be a second transfer, which costs $19 per firearm, but there is no waiting period and no FFL needed).

The second way is to have him do the transfer at the FFL, but make sure that the FFL is ok with that since the FFL might think it could be a straw purchase since you are paying and he is doing the transfer. It would not actually be a straw purchase, but it is hard for the FFL to know that. He would need to have a HSC to do the transfer.

The best way and the cheapest way are two different things. It is easier for you to buy it, but it would cost more. It would be a better surprise though.

[Fe cook]

There are two ways to do it.

The first is for you to buy it, have it transferred to yourself, then give it to him, but he would need a HSC in order to do the transfer to him by means of the intrafamilial transfer form (which would be a second transfer, which costs $19 per firearm, but there is no waiting period and no FFL needed).

The second way is to have him do the transfer at the FFL, but make sure that the FFL is ok with that since the FFL might think it could be a straw purchase since you are paying and he is doing the transfer. It would not actually be a straw purchase, but it is hard for the FFL to know that. He would need to have a HSC to do the transfer.

The best way and the cheapest way are two different things. It is easier for you to buy it, but it would cost more. It would be a better surprise though.

Thanks Kemasa. I'll go ahead and transfer it to me first.