I hate to ask questions if I can find the answers myself, but the Massachusetts laws are so messed up, and I don't want to do anything wrong! I have two things going on related to taking ownership of family owned firearms. Also, my C&R license arrived today, if it makes any of this easier!
First:
My wife's grandmother passed away a couple of weeks ago. In cleaning out her house (in MA) this past weekend we found a 1930s or 40s .22 rifle that my wife's grandfather owned. He died 12 years ago, and the rifle has sat untouched (and unlocked) in their basement since then. I have not taken possession, but did take it completely apart and there is no serial number, apparently they weren't required back then. An internet search of the rifle model confirms that it never had one. I would like to take ownership of said rifle. I have permission of my wife's extended family to do so. I believe I may just be able to fill out an FA-10 to register the gun and be done with it. Am I right???
Second:
My grandfather lives in New Hampshire and turns 92 next month- he is considering moving into a retirement community. He currently has possession of two .22 rifles. Rifle #1 he has owned for many years, and I believe may possibly be old enough to be C&R eligible, but I of course will need to examine it to verify. Rifle #2 my brother bought in an antique store in NH when he was in middle school (long story). Since we could not legally bring it home, my grandfather has held onto it for the last 15+ years. I do not know the age of this rifle. My brother would like to take possession of this rifle, which he should if he can.
With my grandfather's rifles, I had assumed having a C&R would make things easier (assuming both are eligible) since they are out of state- I thought without one they would need to go through a dealer ($$). Now I am wondering if they could just be registered on FA-10's, no matter if they are C&R eligible or not, which would be nice for my brother.
From what I've read in the forums FA-10's can be used to register previously unregistered firearms. Since the two in NH aren't registered in MA, wouldn't that work? The one in MA has no serial number and has been sitting in the basement untouched for at least 12 years, so I'm guessing that is unregistered.
What do I do? I've tried reading up on it, but can't come up with anything definitive! Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!
First:
My wife's grandmother passed away a couple of weeks ago. In cleaning out her house (in MA) this past weekend we found a 1930s or 40s .22 rifle that my wife's grandfather owned. He died 12 years ago, and the rifle has sat untouched (and unlocked) in their basement since then. I have not taken possession, but did take it completely apart and there is no serial number, apparently they weren't required back then. An internet search of the rifle model confirms that it never had one. I would like to take ownership of said rifle. I have permission of my wife's extended family to do so. I believe I may just be able to fill out an FA-10 to register the gun and be done with it. Am I right???
Second:
My grandfather lives in New Hampshire and turns 92 next month- he is considering moving into a retirement community. He currently has possession of two .22 rifles. Rifle #1 he has owned for many years, and I believe may possibly be old enough to be C&R eligible, but I of course will need to examine it to verify. Rifle #2 my brother bought in an antique store in NH when he was in middle school (long story). Since we could not legally bring it home, my grandfather has held onto it for the last 15+ years. I do not know the age of this rifle. My brother would like to take possession of this rifle, which he should if he can.
With my grandfather's rifles, I had assumed having a C&R would make things easier (assuming both are eligible) since they are out of state- I thought without one they would need to go through a dealer ($$). Now I am wondering if they could just be registered on FA-10's, no matter if they are C&R eligible or not, which would be nice for my brother.
From what I've read in the forums FA-10's can be used to register previously unregistered firearms. Since the two in NH aren't registered in MA, wouldn't that work? The one in MA has no serial number and has been sitting in the basement untouched for at least 12 years, so I'm guessing that is unregistered.
What do I do? I've tried reading up on it, but can't come up with anything definitive! Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!