Thinking about getting a table at the next FWT show

[Darren M]

I'm thinking of selling off some guns at the next Fort Worth gun show in Feb. Any do's/don't's or other caveats I should consider? I've read their rules, pretty straight forward. I'll have roughly $3k in guns, all private sale.

Thoughts?

My questions below are an attempt to ease my gun show table virginity nerves.

How do ensure the buyer is legit?
Are bills of sale acceptable/suggested?
Would you advise on the usage of signage stating TDL or CHL required?

Any other input would be appreciated.

1 table, 2 days, $80.

[John -- '02 HAWK]

I'm thinking of selling off some guns at the next Fort Worth gun show in Feb. Any do's/don't's or other caveats I should consider? I've read their rules, pretty straight forward. I'll have roughly $3k in guns, all private sale.

Thoughts?

My questions below are an attempt to ease my gun show table virginity nerves.

How do ensure the buyer is legit?
Are bills of sale acceptable/suggested?
Would you advise on the usage of signage stating TDL or CHL required?

Any other input would be appreciated.

1 table, 2 days, $80.

I wouldnt do it, your inviting an atf investigation into dealing without a ffl. even if not true. We have ffls on here with actual storefronts I would put the guns on commission with them

[motoman]

I'm on the fence about this because part of me agrees with what John said. At the same time you often find threads on gun forums where someone is having a "safe clean out" and selling off many if not all of their guns. It's going to come down the what I think would be a gray area of intent and are you trying to make a profit? Are you going to turn a profit into more inventory to sell? Seems like too much potential to be hassled by the ATF. It would be my guess that most of tables with signs saying "private collection" probably belong to FFL holders who are selling from their collection and not their stock. I'd be very surprised if the ATF didn't have agents at the local gun shows looking for people selling without a license. I'm interested in hearing input from the FFL's on the board.

[jefehbk]

I figured the first response would have been. ...what are you selling?

[likeitfast55]

No input here.

He is free to sell his personal guns as he wishes. There is no difference between selling your guns on Gun Trader and a Gun Show. Where you cross the line with the ATF is buying and selling guns specifically for making a profit. Selling what you have acquired over the years is not illegal.

[motoman]

No input here.

He is free to sell his personal guns as he wishes. There is no difference between selling your guns on Gun Trader and a Gun Show. Where you cross the line with the ATF is buying and selling guns specifically for making a profit. Selling what you have acquired over the years is not illegal.

Regardless of any sort of timeline, buying and selling to make a profit is illegal, correct?

[soap]

I would use One of these. Just to cover my end. You never know!

[Cooter]

I figured the first response would have been. ...what are you selling?

already PM'd

[reo]

When I sold parts and such I sold a few of my personal guns on the table. Never had problem. From what I gathered from the various people I talked to, including a few LEO types, was as long as I wasn't showing up at every show with new in box guns or picking up guns then setting them out to resale it was ok. This was a few years back and just my experience. If you can, do the Original Fort Worth Gun Show. Might be harder to get a table but a lot more people go to it I think. Might have better luck selling your stuff off.

-Eric

[LANTIRN]

So what are you selling?

[Darren M]

Dang, thanks for the feedback guys! Nah, no "make a living from selling guns" here. Just trying to cover an unexpected bill with some ARs I don't use anymore.

[John -- '02 HAWK]

At the same time you often find threads on gun forums where someone is having a "safe clean out" and selling off many if not all of their guns.

The difference is the venue. At a gun show will guarantee that plain cloths gov officials are in the crowd at least once in during the weekend. The other small worry would be that some liberal org will try to use the sale towards their agenda.

[loc712]

Gun Show Sales

The only problem I see would be selling firearms at the cheapest place around to buy firearms. It will be difficult to compete with Bachmans and a few others.

[motoman]

The only problem I see would be selling firearms at the cheapest place around to buy firearms. It will be difficult to compete with Bachmans and a few others.

From the last 4 shows I've been to, Bachmans wasn't the cheapest by far, at least not at the show.

[Probie]

All I know is we made bank at the FTW gun show, tons of traffic. And they said the one in Feb would be bigger.