mailing a firearm

Does anyone know the legal way to do this?

My father was a gunsmith and collected antique firearms. He passed away twelve years ago, and my mom recently decided to sell a couple of his antique guns to a family friend, but she can't find anyone (ups, etc.) that will mail them. They all say you have to have the federal license to both send and receive weapons. Does that mean that everyone who purchases a firearm has to be a dealer? She has a dealer who will mail them (for a pretty hefty price if you ask me), but the recipient isn't a dealer, and I really don't want her to have to pay on both ends.

--Valerie

I think you need to go through a FFL (federal licenced firearms dealer) or something like that. There really aren't a lot of ways around this. She may want to call more then one store and compare fees. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

cindi

This is taken from the following .pdf: http://www.atf.gov/pub/fire-explo_pub/qa.pdf
also, look at: http://www.atf.gov/pub/fire-explo_pub/2000_ref.htm

(B8) May a nonlicensee ship a firearm through the U.S. Postal Service?
A nonlicensee may mail a shotgun or rifle to a resident of his or her
own State or to a licensee in any State. Handguns are not mailable. A common
or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun. A nonlicensee may not
transfer any firearm to a nonlicensed resident of another State.
The Postal Service recommends that longguns be sent by registered mail
and that no marking of any kind which would indicate the nature of the
contents be placed on the outside of any parcel containing firearms.

(B9) May a nonlicensee ship a firearm by carrier?
A nonlicensee may ship a firearm by carrier to a resident of his or her
own State or to a licensee in any State. A common or contract carrier must be
used to ship a handgun. In addition, Federal law requires that the carrier be
notified that the shipment contains a firearm and prohibits common or contract
carriers from requiring or causing any label to be placed on any package
indicating that it contains a firearm.
[18 U.S.C. 922(a)(2)(A) and 922(e), 27 CFR 178.31]

Thanks, Cindi!

--Valerie

Valerie, glad to be of some help. pm me if you want me to send you an email address of a friend of mine. he has shipped items of this type before.