FIREARM BILL OF SALE

Date: [MM/DD/YYYY]

PART 1 – THE PARTIES

Seller Name: [SELLER FULL NAME]
Address: [STREET ADDRESS]

Buyer Name: [BUYER FULL NAME]
Address: [STREET ADDRESS]

PART 2 – FIREARM

Cost ($): [ENTER COST] Make: [MAKE] Model: [MODEL]
Action: ☐ Bolt | ☐ Semi-Automatic | ☐ Pump | ☐ Lever | ☐ Break
Caliber/Gauge: [CALIBER/GAUGE] Serial Number (SN): [SERIAL #]

PART 3 – PURCHASE

The seller accepts monetary funds in the amount of [AMOUNT ($)] to be paid on the date of this bill of sale. Payment shall be made via [PAYMENT METHOD].

PART 4 – SIGNATURES

On this [MM/DD/YYYY], the buyer and seller agree to the above-described terms and conditions for the sale of the firearm.

Seller Signature: _______________________
Printed Name: [SELLER NAME]

Buyer Signature: _______________________
Printed Name: [BUYER NAME]

How to Sell a Firearm

Step 1 – Check State Laws

As the table below points out, firearm laws are diverse across the United States, as certain states contain heavy restrictions on how private transactions can take place (if at all). Even if the parties need to go through a dealer to complete the transaction, a bill of sale should be used.

Step 2 – Prepare the Firearm

If the firearm has been fired considerably prior to its last cleaning, the owner should take the time to completely strip the weapon, clean any carbon fouling, re-lubricate high-friction parts, and check for any broken or damaged components. A functioning, good-quality firearm will sell for far more money than one that is visibly of lower quality. In other words, spending money on maintenance and parts will almost always be worthwhile.

Step 3 – Determine its Value

One of the best ways of identifying the selling price of a used handgun or rifle is by looking at online postings for the same (or similar) firearm make and model. Sites that host used gun listings include:

• Gunbroker.com
• Guns.com
• Cabelas.com

For more valuable or collector-type firearms, using GunValues can produce more ‘accurate’ results (cost is $5 for 3-day access).

Step 4 – Sell In-Person / List Online

There are generally three (3) ways one can go about selling a firearm:

1. In-person (most recommended)

For states that don’t require a background check on private sales, the in-person route is the easiest. As long as the seller knows the buyer is a trustworthy/upstanding individual, the process is quite straightforward. Payment exchanges hands, the bill of sale is signed, and the firearm is given to the buyer.

2. Through a Pawnshop or Retail Store

Pawnshops that purchase used firearms are a good place for a firearm owner to bring in their gun for a valuation. Because the pawnshop purchases firearms with the intention to re-sell them for a higher price, the offer they give will be far lower than retail.

Selling the firearm to a retail store that purchases firearms (Cabelas, for example), can bring a slightly higher price, although the same principle applies.

Important: When handling a firearm, it should be unloaded, pointed in a safe direction, and treated as if it were loaded at ALL TIMES.

3. Online

While listing online can be practical and effective, such as reaching a wide range of potential customers, it requires certain actions to be taken in order to comply with state law. For example, firearms can only be shipped to an FFL (Federal Firearms License) holder. In other words, the buyer would need to receive information on the buyer’s FFL and ship it to that individual. There are several requirements when shipping firearms, which should be reviewed prior to starting the process.

Firearm Sale/Transfer Laws by State