TTAG reader Zak writes “How do you properly dispose of firearms that you don’t want to re-sell such as firearms that are unsafe to shoot or broken and not worth fixing? I realize you can drop it off at a gun buy-back, but what are other options?”
Firearms are mechanical devices. Like all other mechanical contraptions they eventually break or wear out. When a gun becomes BER — Beyond Economical Repair — it may be time to put it out to pasture. Here are four options:
Surrender It to Your Local Police
For sentimental pieces like the rifle your grandfather brought back from WWII or your first hunting rifle there are better options, but for guns that you don’t have any attachment to and just want to divest, surrendering it to the local police is the easiest solution. That said, walking into a police station and declaring you have a firearm might not be the best way to handle this situation.
If you want to surrender an old gun, call your local police station’s non-emergency phone line and describe the situation. They will usually be happy to walk you through the process. Depending on the station they may even dispatch officers to your home to collect the firearm, ask you to schedule an appointment to bring it in, or simply ask you to walk in.
Before you make the call, make sure you are not a prohibited person and that you possess the firearm lawfully (check your local and state laws). Also be aware that the police department may run the serial number of the firearm through their database to see if it’s been stolen. If you’re not entirely sure of your firearm’s provenance, the subsequent encounter could get a little more interesting than you’d like.
Take it to a Gun “BuyBack”
If you’re considering the surrender option, see if there’s a gun “buyback” scheduled in your town.
These “no questions asked” events make the process of turning in your guns as quick and painless as possible. The usually involving some sort of monetary incentive — like a cash card or store credit in return for your busted heater.
Gun rights advocates have taken to setting-up purchase stalls outside these events, offering better prices for unwanted guns than the police and the chance of a new home for an old gun.
“Deactivate” The Gun and Turn It Into Art
When is a gun no longer a gun? According to the ATF any firearm that has been made “permanently inoperable” is no longer a firearm, and no longer subject to firearms-related laws. The definition of “permanently inoperable” in 27 CFR § 478.11 is as follows:
A firearm which is incapable of discharging a shot by means of an explosive and incapable of being readily restored to a firing condition. An acceptable method of rendering most firearms permanently inoperable is to fusion weld the chamber closed and fusion weld the barrel solidly to the frame. Certain unusual firearms require other methods to render the firearm permanently inoperable. Contact ATF for instructions.
The process for normal firearms is pretty simple: weld the action shut, weld the barrel to the action and fill the barrel with cement. For things like machine guns the rules get very specific and require a gas axe, but the concept is still the same. Once the gun has been made inoperable it’s no different than a length of steel pipe and you can do with it what you want.
Here are some ideas for repurposing your now inoperative firearm:
Make a decorative plaque. If your gun had some sentimental value, consider mounting it on a plaque and hanging it in your home. Other alternatives in that same style include making a display stand for a shelf or desk.
Turn it into a lamp. If you are smart you might consider snaking some electrical wire up the barrel of your gun before filling it with cement. Add a lightbulb to the top and mount it on a stand — hey-presto a new lamp! Extra points if the trigger becomes the on/off switch.
Make it into a chair. If you have enough ancient and unserviceable guns then perhaps you should build yourself an ARMSchair. Get it? ARMS chair? Firearms? I know, I’m the worst.
There are plenty of ways to use your now inoperative firearm around the house. I’m sure there will be more suggestions in the comments.
Give It To your Gunsmith
Gunsmiths need practice. If you have a local ‘smith they might want to practice their skills on your old busted piece of junk. Consider donating it to someone who could use it.
I’m sure I’ve missed some options, but that should get your started. Good luck, and let’s hope that your guns never get to that point.
[Email your firearms-related questions to “Ask Foghorn” via [email protected]. Click here to browse previous posts]
Even a gun not worth fixing can bring in some money. Example: Suppose you have a surplus WW2 Mauser rifle. Every part with the exception of the receiver can be sold on Ebay.
If you make the firearm not a firearm as per ATF rules, can you file off the serial number?
Yes, it’s legal to grind random markings off of random pieces of scrap metal.
I prefer the tactical lamp shade route.
Why does getting rid of a firearm need so much analysis? When did dropping off a bridge drop from Option #1?
Sledge hammer and bash it flat. lol
I vote give it to your local gunsmith or up-and-coming gunsmith. It’s better for everyone when we practice a new trick on a worthless junk gun first!
So gunsmiths just take firearms off any stranger that walks in their door??
I suspect many might be a little wary…
Wary of what?
You think it’s a gang thug’s preferred method of evidence disposal?
Look, I regularly utilize the trash cans at gas stations to clean up my vehicle’s interior while the pump is running. It would be especially easy to rid yourself of a handgun this way. Put gat in bag (maybe double-bag for extra security), drop bag in trash can.
yup, i dont care how much you trust your gunsmith or FFL….a robbery puts your “not working” gun into the hands of someone who could make it “working” and BAM….5-0 at yo doe!
That’s why you get a receipt for your transaction. The gun would have to be entered in their A&D book upon receipt from the donor. The donor keeps the receipt for 10 years just as if they sold it. If something were to happen, the receipt is their “get out of jail free” card, and the popo move on.
This stuff isn’t as draconian as the general populous believe. Convoluted, for sure; draconian, not so much.
I see inoperable guns selling on Gunbroker. And getting bids. Another option.
When I was growing up my neighbor had a Mauser stamped Danzig 1914 that he brought back from the Great War and made into a lamp. When I saw it, I remarked how I would really like to have the rifle if it worked. He produced the bolt and the butt screw he removed to push the wiring through, took it apart and I have that Mauser til this day.
Every floor lamp in my grandfathers house was like that, the bolts were bagged and kept in one of his safes. Other long guns filled the safes, and there was another rifle above the fireplace (also functional).
You could always run up to the president and hand it to him.
Paint the word “ACTION” on it and throw it, real hard, at some MDA types, or maybe at Shenanigan herself?
You left out giving it to me… That is the best option!
I need to set up an FFL just to take unwanted, homeless guns….
I do feel this article is in incorrect order, I don’t think we should be pushing people toward the relinquish/destroy options over the legal repair/reuse/recycle. If someone quickly searches for this answer they will see police and buy back first, and some old widow will be taking an old war trophy to the police to be melted rather than a gun shop who might give her at least some value for it. Have an appraisal done or take to gun smith should be option one.
Gun buy backs are just for making political statements or disposing of stolen weapons, or trying to sell a hardware store creation for cash.
Maybe call NRA as an option, they take donations and they auction them, maybe they would take a scruffy gun too.
Unwanted gun? I am not sure I understand…
It’s an conceptual paradox for sure.
If anyone is looking to dispose of an R51 I’ll gladly take it. Just figure it was topical to the picture.
That said I think the “trophy” process is interesting, and it’s certainly plausible to have 1-2 that are wall hangers; I want to do it one day.
Beyond Economical Repair means different things to different people. My brother would sooner sell his car before he had to change sparkplugs or perform PMCS.
I second the notion of first trying to sell it or donate it to a friend or gunsmith.
Having said that, if you really want to eliminate a firearm permanently from circulation, why not disassemble it, bash/gouge the receiver, bolt, slide, barrel, and/or trigger group (with a hammer, file, and/or grinder), and put the pieces in the trash? That process would take all of 5 minutes.
Alternatively, wipe excess oil of of the firearm (and out of the barrel if practical), fill the barrel/action with damp salt, and bury the firearm somewhere. The damp salt will render it inoperable within a couple days and the ground will destroy what is left over the next several months/years. (Note: you may have to dampen the ground where you buried the firearm if the dirt is not moist.)
I was gonna say “take it apart, file off the serial numbers, firing pin, jack up the rifling and the extractor, then drop the parts in a lake or river. Then call your homeboy about a new hi-point”
There are other options:
1. Donate it to a gunsmithing school. There are several gunsmithing schools around the nation – Colorado School of Trades, Trinidad State Junior College (both in Colorado), Yavapai College in Arizona, Murray State in Oklahoma, Lassen in California, etc.
They will all have FFL’s, so you can ship to them directly. They all need example guns for students to work on. They can all work on guns at reduced cost to the owner if you’re willing for your gun to be used in instruction and you’re not waiting on a schedule. If you don’t want your gun any more, they might also give you a letter confirming you’ve made a charitable donation, and used as an income tax deduction could be fluffed up a bit to give you more economic value than the gun would have in an outright sale.
2. Send it in to a parts house – Numrich, Jack First, etc. They all have FFL’s as well, and they’re often looking to buy parts. Your gun might not be all that serviceable to you, but the parts therein might be quite in demand.
This. I donated an inoperable gallery rifle missing many parts to the Colorado School of Trades. It had no value to me and was not worth it for me to repair. I was happy to be rid of it and they were happy to have it.
Another alternative is to sell it to someone like Numrich. They buy old guns and part them out
Have 2 1910 Columbia 12 guage shotties. Both could be called barn finds and would blow up if shot. 1 is now a floor lamp barrel down action open with the stock. A pipe coming up from the barrel and the lamp pull is a 12 g empty and the lamp shade is a tin bucket with buckshot holes.
The other is hanging on a wall on a piece of gnarled heart pine and has to old shotgun shell flashlights rewired with LED’s it is the bedside light.
And I just took a Thompson replica and stood it on a 45acp WWII ammo box with a helmet as the lamp shade and a 45 cal bullet as the pull.
Its a disease I tell you. Making lamps outta usless guns.
I cut a very old and very worn out double barrel 12 gauge into little pieces with a Sawzall. The pieces went into the trash a few at a time over a couple of weeks, The section of the receiver with the serial number was buried in an undisclosed location.
Speaking of broken old guns. Anyone have parts for a Smith and Wesson Model 1 second issue? I broke a part and I would like the repair or replace it option as it was my great grandfather’s pistol. I don’t shoot it, but my gun OCD drives me up a wall when I know I broke a part inside during cleaning.
These options sound like too much work. Put them in a box next to the box of unused holsters and forget about them until a friend mentions needing a part.
Turn it into a RC Car and you can have an ARMS Race. ???
An unwanted Remington 51? I have one that looked just like that one, now Cerakoted. Runs like a Gazelle before and after. Surely a better example could be pictured
I have one that belonged to my late husband. I do not believe it has been used in over 20 years so I cannot determine if it works or not. I am afraid to touch it much less look at the serial number.
Local police?
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1 . This is a Federal U.S.A Com Plaint too! It should Settle in Federal Cir Cut Court too!!! I agree!!! All Crime Guns Used by Criminals Or Foreign Criminals to Those Guns Should taken to Steel Mill Planted to Melted Those Guns immediately by a quart order by Federal Judge sign it too! I agree!!! Sir? Or Mam? A Federal U.S.A Judge Can Order those 12 States to Take those Crime Guns to be melted down in Steel Mill Too! Agree! Dom you the Safety of the those : Citizens Safety in those Twelve States Refused to melt those Crime Guns in Steel Mill Plant too! This is Very bad Law Too! They should ashamed of them selves too! Earning Profit too! Earning Blood money for earning Deity Money With Blood Stains too! This is a Serious Crime is got to be stopped by A.T.F. too! Those Crime Guns Should not be in on market !!! In Gun Shop By Trade A Regular Gun Stores, Or Pawn Shops Gun Dealers Stores too! Or Sporting , Hunting, Camping, Fishing Sporting Gun Stores too! They will Refused those Guns Used in Crimes by Criminals , Foreign Criminals too! Those Guns Are Used in Crimes too! Called Blood Guns too! Rifles Shot Guns Revolvers Semi Auto Pistols too! Agree!! Do you Agree! Sir Or Mam? Think for a minute !!! To Sell Crime Guns Used by Criminals Or Foreign Criminals too! Non Citizens too! It true!! Wake Up an smell the Coffee too!! Awake Sir? Or Mam?