FTF Handgun Transfer: What Does This Mean?

I recently listed a pistol for sale at another forum and in 4 hours had 3 buyers. The first one was 45 minutes ahead of the others and his response via PM was "I want the gun. Let's work out the payment details" So, I sent him a response and an Email telling him to Email me. Haven't heard a word in 9 hours now so I'm starting to wonder if he was not that interested after all.

I have a back up buyer *but* he wants to conduct the transfer via FTF and do it $60 cheaper than I asked for which saves me about $60 transfer and shipping fees. I have no idea what FTF means so I looked on The 'Net.

He wants me to transfer the pistol to him with no paperwork or FFL holders involved? Is that how FTF works: we meet, he gives me cash, we part with him in possession of a pistol legally registered to me?

And if he shoots someone 3 hours later and leaves the gun with the body then what?

Or am I not understanding FTF transfer properly?

Thanks in advance!

VooDoo

I'm in Illinois...so is the potential buyer. This is the nastiest state in the union for playing games with legally registered handguns which anyone with an FOID (you need a Firearm Owners ID card to possess handguns in Illinois!!) would know and understand the potential consequences.

I have to assume at this point that this person intends something illegal (deliberately) that could get both of us arrested.

VooDoo

Lived in Illinois all my life - this is *not* the state to play games with firearms transfers. I realize a lot of folks don't think that gun laws apply to them and that any sort of laws restricting ownership are not right but this state enforces the laws.

So I have sent to reserve buyer a PM telling him it needs to be as I outlined it. I get a check for the full amount in a certified check or money order and I have my FFL ship the gun to his FFL designate.

End discussion.

Thanks for the input, you guys! If I don't hear from the first buyer by noon tomorrow and the reserve does not agree to the above, I reopen the classified sale.

VooDoo

Luckily the first buyer has contacted me and the transaction is proceeding in the manner I laid out: Buyer sends me a postal money order, I call my FFL (who already has the pistol in his possession boxed and ready for transfer information) and when I receive it, I call my FFL with the phone number of the buyers FFL and *they* coordinate the transfer with appropriate paperwork.

All neat and tidy and if it goes sour there is a postal money order involved which gets someone to actually investigate where the money and the pistol went/goes.

The back up buyer has not responded since I told him the gun can not be transferred face to face and that no transfer can take place without all the paperwork. This is Illinois and I have lived here my whole life. The best way to transfer firearms is to let an FFL process the transfer...it gives me peace of mind.

I appreciate all the input on this....a big "thank you" for the help! At this time, it looks like the primary buyer has stepped up so i'm really feeling good about the transaction again.

VooDoo

Thanks for the responses and perspective.

I have had several PM conversations with the FTF guy - he's a vintage collector/broker of firearms and I am now convinced he means absolutely no harm and intends to conduct transactions to the letter of the law.

Which is a good thing.

The main reason he prefers to conduct his trnasfers FTF is to increase the security of the transaction in that he *is* an FFL (he could have told me that up front...) and can process the necessary legal paper himself saving the shipping and transfer fees for me. Which was <$60 and I included it in the asking price. For him, it is his preferred method of doing business.

If the first/primary buyer defaults I'd gladly give him a shot at the gun. But that's not gonna happen as I'm pretty sure the "checks in the mail" from the primary buyer and we have exchanged FFL info and the gun is at the LGS paid up and ready to ship with a phone call.

The other issue of an FTF is that during the week I literally belong to my employer and when I leave the house at 7am I never know if I'll be home tonight or not and what time that will be. Weekends end up doing the normal chores that do not get done during the work week....literally, I spend weeks at a time with minutes a day of personal time to attend to personal fitness, meals, hygiene, etc. So, making a hole in the schedule to drive to a central location and conduct the transaction could take weeks to plan and execute.

But I'm convinced this individual is on the up and up...or he's so clever I don't have a prayer anyway.

VooDoo

I was initially really put off with the FTF request simply because I was a noob (I am a noob at selling guns via a 'Net connection!) and did not understand why a person would want to alter the conditions I specifically laid out in the listing. I'm paying for the shipping and the paperwork albeit the buyer has to pony up $20 or so on the other to pay his designated FFL. So, I wondered what he was up to and was suspicious.

Illinois is not a forgiving state to play around in with handgun transfers and, being ignorant, I really got defensive about it. 2 or 3 days later I understand it and I'm more comfortable with the idea.

I have connected with the primary buyer and funds and the pistol will exchange hands this week and everybody is thrilled. I guess you have to kinda live in Illinois and understand the gun culture in Chicago and some surrounding areas to understand my paranoia...bred of ignorance to some degree, but also being a very cautious person.

It's way easier and safe to just spend the <$60 and let the shipping and transfer be done painlessly by my local FFL/GunStore. I like these guys - I trust these guys. So for me it's a no brainer. I'd have had them handle the cash transaction as well except then they'd have to add sales tax and that might be a deal buster.

But, no, I don't believe anyone who wants to conduct handgun transfers via FTF is doing anything suspicious anymore....it's just not the way I'll be transferring handguns unless I move to another state.

VooDoo