The FFL I have been using has become quite undependable.I think he hides from the UPS guy on purpose. Helluva way to run a gun shop. Whatever.No wonder it is always like the morgue in there.
I need someone to transfer a couple of guns I have in the pipeline. So..I decided to use the GB FFL finder to see who is available locally. Surprisingly,there is one 3 miles away. Never even heard of the shop. I email him,and he responds quickly,and yes,he would be more than happy to handle transfers,at $20/firearm. I ask his shop hrs: 9-8, 7 days a week. OK..time for a visit. Small shop off his house..very old school. Pleasant guy..few revolvers mixed in with the usual other stuff and some long guns in racks. Very quaint. We get to chatting..he is a retired S&W gunsmith (!!!) who still does consulting for them part time,when their scrap pile gets too high.He gets things back on track. He shows me a few guns..I ask to see a few of the Smith revolvers he has...a couple of them have great triggers! He says they are his work. Wow. He then shows me his pet 686+ that has a release fit for God. It breaks in ounces, just a breath..with NO chance of push off,so he says. A 15 minute stop turns into an hour+. I leave with a grin on my face a mile wide. A S&W gunsmith with an FFL, 3 miles from my home. Sweet karma!!
That was yesterday. I returned today and bought the rig shown here..a 28-2, 6" Highway Patrolman, with the holster it has lived in all it's life.Nice trigger (Paul did it many years ago) Local retired officers duty gun. $500. Plus tax.
Good deals are out there..you just gotta go find them. Good people are out there too.
Just like Paul..my new friend. I left two revolvers there for him to work his magic on. $60/gun,full tune up and lube. Happy days!

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My Daddy was a pistol..

I used GB's FFL finder and found a "kitchen table" FFL 2 miles away who charges $15 for a transfer. When he gets the gun he calls within about 15 minutes. I get 2 transfers a year with my range membership, so between that and this guy, transfers don't cost me much.

I certainly would have left with that Highway Patrolman. All 3 of the .357's have so far are medium frame 4", so I'm in the market for a 6" N frame.

Nice snag on the M-28. I love your old swivel holster, too. I carried a 6" M28 in one just like it 45 years ago. Dang, how time does fly. Seeing your rig sure did bring back some memories. Thanks for sharing.

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Retired Dep Sheriff & Armorer

Me too. The FFL turned into a pretty good friend as well. 3/4 of a mile from my house. After the FFL I had been using changed from $25-$35 for a transfer was when I started looking. My guy charges me $10 inbound and $15 outbound.

I could never understand the thought process of my old FFL. They were never particularly busy, and other than a bit of time (that the owner is paying for anyway), they get $25 for 5 minutes of work.

Nice find on the FFL and the gun. A 28 is on my list as the next SW for me to get.

What town/state are you in? It would be nice to find an FFL that will do a $20 transfer.

Great find on the 28 an the matching rig on top of finding someone to do a reasonable transfer. Sounds like you need to play the lotto.

Those old swivel holsters are known to come apart. I personally know of two that separated at my department.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Wow, talk about good luck!

Congrats on a great find with the gun also!

You got a deal on that. For $500 you would not find a new gun as well made.
The local GS here charges $85 for trigger tuning jobs.

I'd say you did good. I had a similiar event, bought a 6946 from Gander Mtn. first time to buy from them, they are usually pretty high but got this one right, anyway they listed a FFL dealer less than 5 miles from me that I had never heard of. He works out of his other business and has just started doing transfers, he charges $20 also. You are right, good deals and good folks are still out there, just got to find them.

A couple of local dealer near me charge $50 for a transfer. In discussing this price with one owner, he told me that he regarded it as a lost sale. I suppose that he thinks that this discourages internet buying. Like the OP, I found a small shop that does transfers for $20 that i have become a regular customer of.

Seriously? So does his inventory include one of everything? And does he match all prices? If not he's just rationalizing gouging people because he can. Like you I'd be taking ALL my business elsewhere.

I can understand how they feel. They look at it like bringing your own food to a restaurant and asking them to warm it up a bit. On the other hand, the transfer fee is 100% clear profit. The smart shops are going to compete for a piece of that business. When you do your transfer, maybe you'll add on a pistol rug, some cleaning supplies, or some ammo. A $50 transfer fee does nothing to discourage internet buying, unless they're the only shop in town. I can do a transfer at probably 15 places within 10 miles. 2 of those charge $15, yet the nearest one charges $75.

I had 5 revolvers shipped at one time last week in one box. (To the FFL I no longer use) It took him 10 minutes to log them in and fill out the forms for me to own them. He put a $100 bill in his pocket. I'd like to make $600/hr.

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My Daddy was a pistol..

I had not purchased a pistol in quite awhile. when I got my CCW I needed a carry firearm. I settled on a Shield and went to my LGS with whom I'd done business with for 30+ years. Asked about the shield, and he said he didn't carry any, but would be happy to receive one, on my behalf, from Grab-A-Gun. I ordered, paid the deposit, two days later went in and paid the balance and the trans fee. I don't know if the balance was his to keep, of he had to pay GAG the wholesale price. I was happy, he was happy, and GAG was happy. Their price was competitive with all the other internet sellers.

Can all you guys please state when you have a FFL transfer done, are these brick and mortar stores with business licenses? If yes, your fee is not 100% profit for the dealer. His cost clock is still ticking. What is a fair fee?

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

I know all about overhead costs,being in the car repair shop biz for over 40 years.However, I will gladly mount and balance a tire for you if you bring me the tire. It is a SERVICE that is offered.If someone down the road will do it cheaper..that's where the business will go. It's human nature. Caveat; If you have a problem with the tire you brought in..you will have to go back to where you bought it and deal with it. Same with a gun purchase/problem that did not originate in the local gun store.

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My Daddy was a pistol..

My FFL charges $20. He is an attorney who does a lot of legal work for LEOs. Can also order guns for a reasonable price. Luckily his office is nearby.

Yes, the FFL's light bill and rent goes on even if he is a one man band. If he has employees, the pay still goes on. Some that I know, look at a transfer as a five minute deal and a clear twenty bucks that they would not otherwise made. Be nice and no telling what the customer might buy from you. My guy charges me nothing for the very few transfers. He is happy with my patronage. New stuff, he can always get for me. Occasionally I spot something used that is neat and he has me covered.

Jack

I use any one of three local shops for FFLs depending on who answers their phone when I call. One shop charges $50 per transfer, another charges $20, and another charges $15.

At the $50 shop, I pick up the gun, say "thank you," and leave. At the $20 and $15 shops, in addition to the transfer, I always buy some cleaning supplies and at least a few boxes of ammo for whatever gun came in.

My dealer charges me 25 per visit. So I try to combine visits. I negotiated it with him the first time he transferred more than one

Sounds like a guy I worked for. He hid from the UPS guy because he didn't have the money to pay him. He new they would try at least Two more times. The distributors got stiffed enough times that they canceled his credit. He lasted about Three years. The last year was a big joke.

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Two Handguns every day