Who have you made your NFA purchases from?

[garandman]

I'm thinking of four categories:

NFA dealers you know well
NFA dealers you don't know well
Private parties you know well (thru NFA dealers)
Private parties you don't know (thru NFA dealers)

Also, maybe give a little detail about your first few NFA purchases, vs. now.

Also, if you could tell about the NFA dealers you;ve dealt with, whether you would recommend them or not.

(I've got an upcoming purchase this info will be necessary for)

Thanx!

 

[garandman]

I'll go first

My first NFA was a suppressor. I bought it thru Gordon Specialties (NFA dealer) You know him as Patrick Floyd on this site.

My second and third NFA's were SBR's that I did all the work on.

My fourth NFA was my M11 / 9. Thru Gordon Specialties. The transferring dealer was PDHSC in Raleigh, NC (Mike Tilley) He delivered a clean gun, as described, in a reasonable amount of time.

My fifth NFA was my Trident 9. Thru Gordon.

I didn't know Gordon Specialties at first, but I would highly recommend them.

 

[bigjeepinyj]

need a poll....

 

[Vegas SMG]

All of the above except for; Private parties you don't know (thru NFA dealers)

 

[Quarterbore]

I don't think you allowed multiple options but other then my AAC Evo 9 that came from a dealer and my Vector Mini SBR that came from Vector, all of my purchases have come from individuals that I never had talked to before buying.

I try to look them up before sending the money but the best deals come from individuals.

 

[prebans]

You didn't allow multiple options, so I can't answer.

As me buying for me:

NFA dealers you DO know well: Multiple times.
NFA dealers you DO NOT know well: Occasionally but they nearly always become "NFA dealers you DO know well" pretty quickly.
Private parties you DO know well: Has never happened. Every non-licensee I know well seems to like their stuff!
Private parties you DO NOT know well: Has happened twice.

As a dealer buying for resale:

NFA dealers you DO know well: Multiple times.
NFA dealers you DO NOT know well: Multiple times; they nearly always become "NFA dealers you DO know well" pretty quickly.
Private parties you DO know well: Has never happened. Every non-licensee I know well seems to like their stuff! Furthermore, barring AOWs and MGs if priced right, that extra $200 tax just kills resale profits.
Private parties you DO NOT know well: Twice. Furthermore, barring AOWs and MGs if priced right, that extra $200 tax just kills resale profits.

Quarterbore, +1 for the best deals always coming from individuals - so long as the double tax doesn't kill the deal. (I've had that happen more than once.)

Mike

 

[Quarterbore]

You didn't allow multiple options, so I can't answer.

Quarterbore, +1 for the best deals always coming from individuals - so long as the double tax doesn't kill the deal. (I've had that happen more than once.)

Mike

Oh yea, I guess I need to add you to the list of dealers I bought from aranoid

FWIW, The suppressor came in last week finally but I have not been able to pick it up yet because of work. I am anxious to try the 7.62 YHM on the AR-10

:handgun

 

[CIB]

The majority of my purchases have been from dealers that I don't know, though I have always tried to check them out via the forums, and BOI.
I've only made two purchases from a Private party.
Some of the dealers I've bought from:
Keith Barlow
White Mountains Firearms
Tactical Innovations
Our very own Prebans
John Norrell Arms

 

[TrippHammer]

The best deals are alway's going to be from an individual who lives in your own state.

(especially if your purchasing the weapon from someone who bought the gun several years back)

No dealer services are needed as long as one of the two parties is knowledgable in the transfer process.

The least desirable sale is one from an individual on a form 4 out of your state.
The two tax stamps is costly, and not alway's negotiable.

The Gentlemens rule of thumb would be to split these cost , but I have noticed (lately) there are fewer and fewer sellers that accept this unwritten rule.

I would alway's purchase NFA weapons from w/ in your own state if at ALL POSSIBLE!

This makes things so much simplier.

 

[jarhead jim]

I bought one machinegun and it was from an instate class 3 dealer I only knew from someone else.

Jim

 

[3Dreamin]

My very first was a Vector Uzi that I got from a dealer I didn't know---he posted that he was looking for a couple of buyers in the area so that he could the the "lower" multiple purchase price from Vector---that was just in the forum section of subguns....never met or talked to the guy until I showed up at his house to pick up my gun (he had just sent the forms, etc since it was about 1.5hr drive...)....

 

[Old Guy]

Most of the better deals I've gotten were from total strangers. Remember that NFA was done like this years before the internet. You need to be cautious but you also need to be open minded on these kinds of deals as the tight wads will loose out on good deals. My best deal ever was an MG42 for $12k a few years ago bought from a total stranger. It was worth taking some days off and traveling for this kind of deal. But the gun was basically eating me out of house and home so sold it about 2 years ago and a good deal below market. It went to a total stranger, not a dealer, who couldn't resist the price. I didn't feel too bad cause I basically got back all the ammo money feeding it.

 

[abunn]

I purchased my V53 SBR from James Floyd at Gordon Specialties, and I highly recommend him. I will be using them for any future NFA purchases. Hopefully now the ATF will get moving and approve my form 4. I was told yesterday that my examiner is on vacation for the the next two weeks.

 

[Hk94]

I am made more enjoyable purchases from unknown private sellers than dealers.

To date with the exception of Battlefield Sports and To-Morrow's Weapons, every single dealer purchase has been a miserable experience. Dealer issues include outright lies, poor customer service, failure to send ATF forms, missing kit, failure to ship weapon after payment, misrepresentation of firearm condition, selling a non-functioning machinegun.

I was once offered $1000 for a NIB MAC10 when the retail price was $2900+ because that was what the market was. Despite the fact the same dealer has MAC10's listed for $4000.

In my humble opinion and experience, the BCR list is to be treated with suspicion and due diligence.

For this reason, I will not purchase from any dealer except for a handful that I personally trust and have past experience with.

From past experience I demand photos of firearm, a sales contract explaining terms with everything included in the sale, and require 100% payment up front on sales.

 

[Vegas SMG]

If it wasn't for bad luck you wouldn't have any luck at all.

 

[prebans]

HK94, I thought I was the only person to bastardize that HST quote!

Mike

 

[Hk94]

If it wasn't for bad luck you wouldn't have any luck at all.

You sir are correct. I am the very definition of Murphy's Law. I know most of the big names in the C3 field through deals and contacts. Lets just say I am not too impressed. There are a few stellar individuals who would rather hang themselves than cheat a man, but they are a rarity. John Brown got me involved initially in C3 and he is an asset to the community.

For whatever reason, the universe has seen fit to throw monkey wrenches in my direction, I have learned to be patient and tolerant but I will not abide theft or liars.

For that reason, I created the Good Guy List to report my experiences with dealers/vendors.

HK94, I thought I was the only person to bastardize that HST quote!

Mike

I thought it was appropo, don't you think LOL.

 

[Vegas SMG]

For that reason, I created the Good Guy List to report my experiences with dealers/vendors.

Which I read with great interest and amusement regarding some of your personal experiences. Not meaning to laugh at your bad luck, but MAN, you seem to be cursed. :bang

I first met John Brown at a private reception after the SHOT Show several years ago and as a result of that event, I joined the NFATCA. I called John one day as an NFATCA member for some legal advise. I'm still waiting for his return phone call.... I guess I got some of your luck. :rolleyes

 

[tunnelrat]

Not necessarily...

The best deals are alway's going to be from an individual who lives in your own state.

(especially if your purchasing the weapon from someone who bought the gun several years back)

No dealer services are needed as long as one of the two parties is knowledgable in the transfer process.

I do agree that the best deals tend to come from individuals, as dealers have to pay overhead costs, taxes and other business related expenses, sort of like a car dealer. However, that deal can be from any state. The great deals are out there if you take the time to shop around. Yeah, you do have the advantage of bypassing the dealer if you find a weapon in your own state, but if the deal is good enough the extra $200 (and the extra wait) is worth it.

The least desirable sale is one from an individual on a form 4 out of your state.
The two tax stamps is costly, and not alway's negotiable.

The Gentlemens rule of thumb would be to split these cost , but I have noticed (lately) there are fewer and fewer sellers that accept this unwritten rule.

I would alway's purchase NFA weapons from w/ in your own state if at ALL POSSIBLE!

This makes things so much simplier.

Just to clarify: If the buyer is an FFL, he/she can accept a transfer directly from an out of state seller...just as simple as buying in state. Regarding the two tax stamps, the extra $200 was a big deal what, 20+ years ago? Nowadays I wouldn't describe it as "costly", given the high prices of transferrable's. To me it's simply part of the cost of doing business. Yeah it sucks, plus having to wait for the extra transfer to go through is a bummer. As far as splitting costs? Sorry, but like I said, business is business, and the taxes (one or two stamps) are part of doing business. If the deal is good enough or if I wanted a particular weapon bad enough I'll pay the taxes, and likewise if I was selling a weapon I would expect the buyer to pay the taxes...goes with the territory. To me the gentlemen thing to do is pay up.

 

[Brenden]

From a dealer I did not know well-but I would deal with again for anything(Christian S.).

From a private party that I did not know well..Smooth deal..


I may have been lucky,or I may have chosen well..:cool