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Old January 8, 2009, 11:08 AM   #1
chrisp0410
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How to legally turn in a valueless, broken pistol

Thanks in advance for your attention to this question. In my collection, I have two firearms that I need to dispose of in a legal way. One is an inexpensive Smith & Wesson .22lr that that was originally purchased used for less than $100.00, has been shot to death and has a cracked frame. The other is a pistol I ended up with while I was in the Army, a Jennings J22 that was given to me by another soldier who didn't want to deal with transporting it back to his hometown in New York State. That pistol has a huge dimple in the chamber from the previous owners dry-firing and there is no magazine. The pistol, even if it were functional, isn't worth the cost of a replacement magazine.

So, what to do? Both have been sitting in the back corner of my gunsafe for years and I just want to dispose of them legally. Thanks again.

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Old January 8, 2009, 11:16 AM   #2
hogdogs
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Chris, i would offer the S&W for sale as parts to someone... But I do not turn in guns. Just take a 3 pound hammer to it and make it junk metal and wrap in dirty news paper or diaper if available and dispose in the trash...
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Old January 8, 2009, 11:33 AM   #3
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Wait until they do one of those "turn in a gun & get $100 food voucher* deals
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Old January 8, 2009, 11:46 AM   #4
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I think I saw that Numrich occasionally buys worn out guns just for parts, but that or a local smith are the only real ways to get any kind of value out of it (short of a gun buyback, which you said you're reluctant to do). You could just saw the frame into several pieces and offload it as scrap as well.
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Old January 8, 2009, 11:56 AM   #5
Pahoo
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I understand your situation and the last two that I got rid of, like this, was to a local gun dealer/parts guy. I just gave them to him as I had no use for them. He takes them apart and sells replacement parts, including stocks. You might try and locate one of these guys, in your area. What about Egunparts or Numeric? They might pay the shipping. That gun buy back program idea, sounds good to me.



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Old January 8, 2009, 12:03 PM   #6
Doyle
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I agree with the buy-back suggestion. Most of the buy-backs around here are only for $50 Walmart gift cards. If they ever started giving $100 Walmart cards, I've got two POS .22 pistols that I'd give them too. Then, I'd take my gift cards into Walmart and buy ammo.
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Old January 8, 2009, 12:43 PM   #7
Mike Irwin
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I had one that was totally beyond redemption. Not even worth parts.

I beat it flat with a sledge hammer and threw it in the Susquehanna River.
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Old January 8, 2009, 12:54 PM   #8
Wuchak
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Jennings = buyback and take the $50 or $100 and smile on your way to the store to buy some shooting supplies.

S&W = there is no such thing as a S&W revolver with no value. You can sell it as a parts gun on Gunbroker. Or you can break it down and sell the parts individually yourself. The frame might be cracked but the barrel, cylinder, trigger, hammer, crane, etc. all have value. Are you sure the frame cannot be repaired with a weld?
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Old January 8, 2009, 01:01 PM   #9
George PT-111
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if you really rally want to get rid of it, you could always go to Department of public safety and place it for SAFEKEEPING, no charge to you.
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Old January 8, 2009, 01:18 PM   #10
Musketeer
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Quote:
Wait until they do one of those "turn in a gun & get $100 food voucher* deals
NYC just ran a "no questions asked" one where I think it was $200. Talk about a sweet deal!

I will always hold dear in my heart the photo I once saw of a gun dealer with a butt load of old, worthless, firearms standing on line to claim a load of cash!
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Old January 8, 2009, 05:27 PM   #11
MeekAndMild
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I used to know a gunsmith who'd pay $5 or so for Jennings, Lorcins et cetera and nail them to his wall with 16 penny nails. He had a good collection of them. If this one was beaten out flat and nailed to a board it might make interesting wall art.
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Old January 9, 2009, 09:15 AM   #12
chrisp0410
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Thanks folks

Thank you all for the quick responses. Wuchak, unfortunately, it isn't a revolver, I know better not to sell them in any condition. This is an earlier version of a Model 22A that was severely used and abused in its lifetime before coming into my possession. I bought it as a tacklebox gun and it worked well until an idiot buddy of mine used it as an improvised hammer.

I'l wait until I hear of a buy-back program. I am against it in principle as I look as them as a political means for gun control. But that's just my opinion.

Thanks again.

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Old January 9, 2009, 09:46 AM   #13
Wuchak
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You could post them for sale with this, "$1 + shipping to your FFL". They'll be gone in a flash.
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Old January 12, 2009, 10:10 PM   #14
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With parts I don't need I just give to my gunsmith. he's a good friend and if I see something in the back of his shop he doesn't need he will give it to me. He had about a dozen guns in horrible shape after Katrina abandoned by their owners when they heard the repair costs. I was in there bs'ing with him one day and went and looked at them for the thousandth time. I picked up a savage 24 and decided I would go over to his workbench and try to get it working just as a challenge. After about 30 minutes I had the badly pitted rusting mess mechanically functional. I put it back in the corner and informed him of my conquest. He gave it to me, I almost have all the rust pits sanded out and it works fine. I would give them to your local gunsmith, good way to make friends.
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Old January 17, 2009, 06:51 AM   #15
twhidd
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I agree with Mike Irwin's post. I once had an old POS Davis Industries 32 auto. The worst gun I ever owned. I would have been too embarrased to sell it to anyone. I think I only paid about $60 for it. I wound up throwing it in a river.
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Old January 17, 2009, 08:34 AM   #16
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smith & wesson?

...send the smith back to them...lifetime warrenty....can't they fix it ?
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Old January 17, 2009, 12:01 PM   #17
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Don't get rid of them, you will regret it later...
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Old August 5, 2009, 09:48 PM   #18
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late to chime in but, you could always take it to a gunsmith for demolition, just make sure that they "buy" it from you and that they will report it to the feds (ATF) as a demolished weapon. working part time ish at a local gunsmith i got to do that a few times with a bunch of rifle receivers that were not made to spec (poor metal) when we had some made for us by a company. it was cheaper than sending them back to have them destroy 'em.

i know i dredged up the past, but the destruction of any fire arm really should be reported to the ATF so they can take the serial number off the books. (course you need to provide proof of said destruction usually by sending the mutilated frame/ receiver into them or the next time they come knocking thats why i suggest a gunsmith)
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Old August 6, 2009, 09:43 AM   #19
RDak
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I've never heard of any law that prevents someone from destroying their firearm and throwing it in the trash.

Maybe I'm wrong on this though?
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Old August 6, 2009, 09:52 AM   #20
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dont do it

dont give them any guns never turn in guns
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Old August 6, 2009, 10:28 AM   #21
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I'm with the group that would never, ever, add anything to a "gun buyback". I don't want to give them the statistics, I don't want to give them the participation.

Find someone with a cutting torch and reduce it to slag or give it to a gunshop for parts.

And yes, I'll kiss of the $40-100 bucks from a "turn in" deal in order to stick to my principles. (though if you are starving or something I'm not going to look down on you for going for the money).
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Old August 6, 2009, 11:53 AM   #22
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Fresno, CA is doing one this Saturday. $50/rifle, $100/handgun. $200/"assault weapon". The chief of police is already harping about the program "getting guns off the street" and "bringing the crime rate down". Mayor Ashley Swearengin said, “We will not tolerate gun violence that's going on in our community. We will not tolerate it.” :barf:

I'm in the same boat as the OP. I have a worn out .38S&W (caliber, not brand) & a Jennings .22 that I'd GLADLY take $100 each for. Sadly, the "Cash For Guns" program doesn't have anything to do with CASH, they are giving Target store gift cards & Target doesn't sell ammo or shooting supplies

One of the news write ups that I read mentioned that a similar buy back program in Seattle (maybe it was Sacramento?) blew through $84,000 in the first hour, & they were forced to give out IOU's. The program in Fresno this weekend is said to be funded with "$15,000 worth of private funding". Should last a good 20 minutes then
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Old August 6, 2009, 01:46 PM   #23
johnwilliamson062
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WildAlaska said he can get you ?$150? in trade for any firearm. I would check that out. His prices usually seem pretty good anyways.
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Old August 6, 2009, 09:48 PM   #24
huchahuchax
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I have a baby eagle that has never worked right, from the day I bought it. I fantasize about taking the firing pin out and having the slide welded shut so I can use it as a door stop, but it will probably just sit in the darkest corner of my safe for all time.
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Old August 7, 2009, 10:05 AM   #25
paull
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I'd like to buy the S&W from you for an agreed upon price.
Where are you located?
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