Would you do this deal if it was your rifle for sale?

I have bought firearms I couldn’t legally take possession of for more than a year. They sit in my FFL’s safe until they receive the approved form 4’s from the NFA Branch, then they give me a call to go pick it up.

Take the money and send to the FFL that’s going to do the transfer. Simple.

The fact that he calls it "the rifle you are selling", but doesn't mention which, reads scam to me. We're I interested in a rifle, I would have said which rifle.
Just my $.02

Rockrivr1 said:

I have a JDL Enterprises, Inc. PTR-91 for sale on Armslist and I got an email on it from a guy wanting to buy it. He states:



I can't figure out if this is legit or if it's a scam of some type. Though if he give me the cash up front I'm not sure how that would work if it was a scam. The only down side from my end would be if he didn't get his license, which I'm not all that worried about.

Would you do this deal? If not, why not?

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Charlie98 said:

I would not take any sort of down payment, or pay to hold or anything.

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I do dove releases for weddings, funerals and memorials.
I require a 50% non-refundable deposit to book the date & time for the release because things happen and they will cancel out on you and if some one else calls you for that date you loos business if you don't take the 2nd call and the first party cancals out.


I'm all for taking non-refundable down payments with time restrictions on final payment.

I have over time stopped even responding to eBay or GB (same logic both places) requests for anything out of the ordinary. Unless it's something like clear, documented evidence I screwed up (e.g. it's actually a 20 year newer bayonet than I thought) and I want to avoid any confusion, or clarifying details, adding photos, etc. I have taken to ignoring almost every pre-sale question.

For GB, there are legal things sure. I may respond to those who ask if something is CA or MA (etc) legal to say "hell if I know, not giving legal advice anyway."

Likewise to the OPs point and as mentioned in other responses, I DNGAF if the individual can take legal possession. I just need payment and an FFL to ship it to. The transfer to them is none of my contractual or legal concern. A couple times I have had to (more nicely!) say that to winning bidders who then went ahead and paid me, got the paperwork so I shipped it.

I DO wish GB was more clear about this in their interface and buying guides, might help everyone.

Highland Lofts said:

I'm all for taking non-refundable down payments with time restrictions on final payment.

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With a service like you provide, I would consider that de rigeuer, and I do the same thing when I'm selling a large appliance (i.e. pool heater, etc.) That's not what this is about... either someone has the money, or they do not, to purchase something. If you want to fool around with a down payment, and the very likely circle of nonsensical emails and other contact that will follow... well, I guess. I look at stuff like that as... either it was meant to be, or it was not, and it isn't likely the OP's firearm is particularly special (other than probably being a nice firearm; ) it is not a Colt Python in .41 Magnum, for example... if you miss this one, another will be along soon. It just doesn't make sense.

A dollar today is worth more than a dollar tomorrow, and more is more. If you are confident it will sell within the month for your asking price, then only a fool risks it. If you’ve had it on the market a while and it hasn’t sold, then personally, I’d tell the kid 25% down, non-refundable. When that payment clears, or doesn’t, you’ll have your answer. If he defaults, then you’re ahead over your asking price, if he comes through, you’re ahead over your asking price.

A scam only works if they get something from you without payment. It’s not so difficult to sufficiently protect yourself and let them pay you. Coming out $100 ahead is sweet. Coming out ~$400 ahead is even sweeter.

Would definitely NOT do this deal. Send him a no thank you note and tell him you'll be glad to talk with him when he becomes legal at age 21.

RENT a woman instead of OWN a woman? I will reflect on that one as I sharpen my spear in my cave.

This thread is starting to sound like some other forums I'm on.

lsudave said:

I can see this point.

But also, I can see this being the reason why it might be legit... this person might be looking for a rifle, and anticipating it will be hard to line one up right now. I've done some online searches, and there ain't a lot out there at the moment. I'm searching for opportunity, not necessity, so I'm not eager to go over a certain point.

I'm glancing at the AR market right now; the big local store has a few, nothing under 1k. Took me quite awhile to find something online at even the $600 point, and that seems like it was about $150 overpriced compared to earlier price ranges. If I had to have an AR, I'd be in trouble.

If someone is looking at the .308/7.62 market, the PTR-91 seems to be the standard 'good to go' model for value. Higher recommendations than my C308, plenty of cheap magazines available, eats steel cased ammo, and way under the price of a real HK etc.

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Yeah, from the buyer's side of the table, I don't see anything crazy about this. The "license at 21" part sounds fishy and needs an explanation, but asking for a hold and offering $100 extra in good faith, nothing wrong with that. Worst they can tell you is no.

From the seller's end of the table, I'm kind of going through something like this right now. I started my spring cleaning a few months late and have 3 or 4 listings up on Craigslist right now, for stuff of similar dollar value to a rifle. Some of it's just naturally an easy sell, and with those listings you can be picky. Someone offers me a lowball, nope, someone wants to "take a look at it" and never comes by, I'm not messaging him again, etc. Ball's in your court. For something like that, I wouldn't even consider a hold. But some of it's a harder sell and only has value to the right person. I've already had to relist one item because it didn't move within 45 days. If I had a buyer call me about that and say "could you hold it for me for a month", I'd be willing to work with him.

Wish I had a more relatable scam story to tell, but the only one I've got are one guy wanting to buy a motorcycle where "his representative will come by and pay me with a check". I mean, you can see that one coming from ten miles away.

There are some interesting LOCAL laws around the country which make speculation on a forum like this trivial to the point of silliness.

For example: I transferred an AR rifle to a buyer in Nebraska, Omaha proper, he wasn’t able to take the transfer at his desired FFL without a permit from the County Sheriff. Rather than going through the trouble, he had the FFL send it 2 miles across town to the Cabela’s there, technically and legally in a different town AND county, such he was no longer required to have a permit to accept the transfer. In MN, a permit to purchase is required for semiautos also, the same permit which is required to purchase handguns, such I’d speculate the permittee must be 21yoa to obtain.

So I wouldn’t pretend the carte blanche rules which apply to me in Kansas apply universally, and such assume this offer is a scam just based on that claim.

Has OP responded since posting?

We were all young once and needed a helping hand, so to speak...and this sounds like a young guy to me, asking for help. He is not asking the OP to do anything illegal, and he realizes that what he is asking is a little unorthodox, so he’s willing to pay for the favor.

I don’t even know what the rifle in question is; is it somewhat hard to come by, or is it some kind of a niche rifle that the “kid” knows does not come around so often, and that’s why he’s offering the premium in order to be able to buy it in a month? How many times have so many of us been in a similar position, stumbling upon something we wanted but for whatever reason, we just couldn’t swing it at that time?

So, the OP asks “Would you do this deal?” - my answer is very probably, “Yes”. If this is an easy enough rifle to move, and unless I was desperate for the cash now, IOW, unless I absolutely could NOT hold on to the rifle for another month, then yes, I would agree to hold it for him...but then again, I try to look for the best in people and believe that what goes around comes around. Accepting the request as authentic, from a kid who can vote but not buy a beer or a rifle yet, and given the opportunity to help him out, I would do it. If it falls through, I could always relist the rifle again in another month.

Run, run, run away from that "deal". First, he'll know your address when he sends a check, marking you for break-in or worse.

Rockrivr1 said:

I didn't reply but am paying attention to the answers. I responded back saying if he wanted to pay me up front I would hold it for him. Still waiting on a response. Not going to hold my breath.

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No worries, lots of times threads like these the OP goes ghost. Hope you can find a buyer for your rifle.