In my play time over the last many years, I've had an FFL, worked for a couple of other FFLs and taught CCW classes for them all on a very part-time basis.

I have never seen anyone, and never, myself, ever let a gun out of the shop without it first being inspected, the serial number, brand and model checked to ensure it was exactly what it was supposed to be and that it was logged into the FFL's Bound Book.

I stopped doing part-time stuff a few years after I retired from my main job in '07, and I gave up my FFL and all of those I worked for have left the business, so I can't say for sure what is done now.

I'd be pretty surprised if anyone around here, anyway, let a gun out without checking it as we did back in the past.

Bob

It's entirely possible that was a total troll, because I can't imagine anyone dumb enough to take the "gun" home without ever opening the case to verify.

quote:

Originally posted by oddball:

I have chosen my FFLs based on this. They have policies not to fuck with other people's guns, and in recent years, this was important when I was buying single-action army revolvers. A guy messing with the 4 click hammer, and not knowing the correct sequences of lowering the hammer, can be beyond annoying.

This is not always possible for FFLS, the firearm has to be entered into the A&D log by the end of the second business day after receiving it. It's not always possible to meet with every customer within that time frame. I do my best to but I also minimize handling the firearm and I've had customers come to me because they caught their previous ffl messing with their firearm.

I am the sole receiving guy for a rather large and busy gun store. It is not uncommon to receive over a hundred transfers and three to four hundred firearms a week. I check every serial number on the box to my bill of lading but do not inspect every single firearm to verify the serial. I do inspect every firearm that comes as a transfer to verify all information. We have multiple redundant checks from the point of sale and 4473 to the delivery and actual transfer of firearms leaving the store. All to often we have people just show up for their transfer just because they got a notice of delivery expecting it to be ready for pick up. Yeah dude your gun is here, along with seventy five other packages, we will call you when it is logged in. I have at my desk both nitrile and cotton gloves to handle special firearms and am the only one allowed to process certain customers transfers. With around a thousand firearms on display the gun/box/serial number screwup is usually at the employee level, hence two people must sign of before a firearm leaves. Our store and staff have the reputation of quality service and handling of a customer's property that I had the privilege of receiving a Savage 1907 45 auto prototype A in white for a customer. There is no way we could open and receive every transfer in front of the customer. One day this past year I had a record thirty-seven transfers in one day in addition to all the store guns and regular merchandise that you would normally receive. My bound book is as pure as I can make it.

quote:

Originally posted by Tuckerrnr1:
I do inspect every firearm that comes as a transfer to verify all information

That's the point of the thread. You do personally inspect the actual gun that comes in for transfer. You don't just rely on what's on the box label and simply hand the never opened case to the customer.

My FFL is great.
If I order something in they don't "break the seal" until I'm there to fondle it first and at that time they verify it matches.
I will always look just to make sure even though I've never had any problems.

I'm not an AR guy but I picked another up thanks to Biden. The one that arrived at the store/FFL was not the one I ordered and I pointed it out as soon as it was opened up at the store.
Not a big deal. I got the right one 2 days later.
What may have been a big deal was if I completed the paper work and brought it home, looked at or not.

quote:

Originally posted by Ryanp225:
My FFL is great.
If I order something in they don't "break the seal" until I'm there to fondle it first and at that time they verify it matches.
I will always look just to make sure even though I've never had any problems.

If it is a firearm I've received a thousand times, a Glock 19 gen 5 or a CZ with sealed taped label drop shipped from Bill Hicks, no I don't open every one of those. Trust me I know what's on the metal. Otherwise yes, transfers get inspected individually, especially all these new Turkish shotguns because you never know who actually made or imported it.

My FFL appears to have checked everything. On my first rifle, he asked if I was left handed because the rifle that came in was mostly ambi.

One time, he handed me a box and it wasn't the firearm I was expecting. He agreed and got the right box.

I always rack the slide back just as a safety habit when I pick it up. On handguns, I take off the slide to look at the rails. And, yes, one time the FFL had to point out that I need to eject the magazine first as he saw me trying unsuccessfully to do so.

If nothing else, you have to open the box to enjoy some eye candy.

forgetting the FFL side, that's their risk. but you are a complete idiot if you don't match the actual serial number on the gun to that recorded on the 4473. (or even worse say a form 4).

Well me and my FFL sound like many others. We both check out the firearm and verify the sn together at the time of signing papers and again at the time of pick up (CA 10 day wait).

I've not had a dealer not open the box to physically inspect the firearm. If it's a new firearm that I've bought they may hold off and open in my presence as a courtesy but it'll be opened at some point before the transaction finalizes.

Now, I imagine that large importers/distributors that move truckloads of guns at a time this would be practically unfeasible so I guess that's a moot point. I feel that if there's an error the burden of responsibility would fall on the manufacturer/importer that responsible for labelling the outside box.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
For the FFL - Do you ever enter the guns' info without opening the case to inspect the actual gun? A brand new one from manufacturer with the zip tie still on.

For the buyers receiving transfer - Do you ever take the "gun" home without opening the case to see if the gun is actually inside? A brand new one from manufacturer with the zip tie still on.

No and hell no.

All my purchases I've inspected the purchase, they check the SN, 4473, then have a second employee/mgr come over and inspect SN/ forms etc.

Would I buy one sight unseen and not inspect SN and condition, no...

I absolutely open box, container etc and verify the Make, model, serial, type, and caliber of the firearm.

I do NOT generally remove it from plastic, any more than necessary to retrieve such information.

I do Not perform any type of function test, or handling of the firearm.

I certainly allow and encourage customers to verify they are happy with condition of firearm, before the transfer takes place.

In approximately 4000 transactions over last 14 years, only one time did firearm not match paperwork.

2 times the firearm was damaged, both times bought used from Cabela's on Gun broker... Kansas, and Minnesota locations.

Customer feedback is that they like being the ones to thoroughly check out the firearm first.

I figure it also removes any concern that any issue was created or caused by me. ie: finish imperfections, scratches etc.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
For the FFL - Do you ever enter the guns' info without opening the case to inspect the actual gun? A brand new one from manufacturer with the zip tie still on.

For the buyers receiving transfer - Do you ever take the "gun" home without opening the case to see if the gun is actually inside? A brand new one from manufacturer with the zip tie still on.

FFL here, ,

no, verify number on all,

quote:

Originally posted by Ryanp225:
My FFL is great.
If I order something in they don't "break the seal" until I'm there to fondle it first and at that time they verify it matches.
I will always look just to make sure even though I've never had any problems.

I've done this often, for collectible type stuff, (not new stuff)