How to register a handgun that has no history/paperwork?

[M1NM]

There COULD be a record of an owner if it transferred through an FFL after 1968 and the 4473 was filled out. Before that he could have ordered it through the mail and had it delivered directly to his house. If it was possessed before 1968 I'd wager there is no paperwork on it. If you were 21 before CA requirements of transfer/registration through an FFL who is to say how long you've had it?

[seabee1]

So my father is is possession of a 1945, government issue Colt 1911A1.

Colt? Remington Rand? USS? Ithaca?............Singer?!?

[popawoody]

Enjoy your new 1911 and ssshhhhh!

Exactly! I believe, if you think back, your Dad gave it to you a LONG time ago. You probably don't remember exactly when.

Or, as others have pointed out, if you want to make sure the government can find it when they decide to confiscate all the guns, complete an OPLAW:

http://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/firearms/forms/oplaw.pdf

[lapriester]

Could she tranfer it to me through an FFL even though it's not registered to her?

Could she give it to my dad who gives it to me? Like I said, the actual ownership is beyond muddy. Would there be any problem just listing my dad on the form as the source of the gun?

Not adopted, just divorced parents. My dad is biologically my dad.

Don't do anything. Take it and enjoy it. Don't be foolish about it. Didn't your Dad give it to you many years ago? Didn't he obtain it about 60 years ago and since passed it on to you? I have a couple of WWII handguns thst have been passed from blood relatives and between spousal exchanges. I have no real idea where a couple originated from. One 45 ACP S&W Mdl 1917 revolver is marked "Property of US Government". The idea that I would fill out forms to make them mine is ludicrous.

[Unsilenced]

Exactly! I believe, if you think back, your Dad gave it to you a LONG time ago. You probably don't remember exactly when.

Or, as others have pointed out, if you want to make sure the government can find it when they decide to confiscate all the guns, complete an OPLAW:

http://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/ag...orms/oplaw.pdf

Don't do anything. Take it and enjoy it. Don't be foolish about it. Didn't your Dad give it to you many years ago? Didn't he obtain it about 60 years ago and since passed it on to you? I have a couple of WWII handguns thst have been passed from blood relatives and between spousal exchanges. I have no real idea where a couple originated from. One 45 ACP S&W Mdl 1917 revolver is marked "Property of US Government". The idea that I would fill out forms to make them mine is ludicrous.

I'm not old enough to claim that it's been in my possession since before 1990, which I believe the date is.

Not even if I was born, a sixgun in my hand.

[LuckyGuy]

Ghost Gun

Enjoy your new 1911 and ssshhhhh!

Drop it and keep it. It's yours.

[OlderThanDirt]

The OP has already posted the details on a public forum, so at this point an inter familial transfer from his father seems appropriate. The OP is too young to pass the smell test for possession of an unregistered handgun and there are added penalties if a "crime" is committed with an unregistered handgun. OPLAW could avoid a lot of future drama.

[ap3572001]

My understanding is that possession of handgun not registered to You is perfectly legal in Ca.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

PS. There many handguns in California that are not registered to anyone and don't trace to anyone .

[orangeusa]

Wait - there is a difference between a firearm which has never been registered and one registered to someone else.

If a handgun is registered to someone else, it can be "loaned" for up to 30 days.

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[ap3572001]

Wait - there is a difference between a firearm which has never been registered and one registered to someone else.

If a handgun is registered to someone else, it can be "loaned" for up to 30 days.

.

Ok . My understanding is that a person with a firearm not registered to them is not guilty of anything.

[02Caltaco]

This is funny, I had a question and situation similar to yours in that upon my grandfathers passing, 10 yrs ago, I aquired 2 old hand guns of uknown background. I just know he had them for a long time. More recently, after my Moms passing, I took possession of her revolver that she's had since the 80's.
Noone suggested that I just keep them as is without registering, or in anyway said that I wasn't required by law to do so. Instead I was given the link to the doj form stating within x amount of days the form must be filled out and returned with $19. I did it but after reading this thread I'm not sure if it was even necessary

[orangeusa]

This is funny, I had a question and situation similar to yours in that upon my grandfathers passing, 10 yrs ago, I aquired 2 old hand guns of uknown background. I just know he had them for a long time. More recently, after my Moms passing, I took possession of her revolver that she's had since the 80's.
Noone suggested that I just keep them as is without registering, or in anyway said that I wasn't required by law to do so. Instead I was given the link to the doj form stating within x amount of days the form must be filled out and returned with $19. I did it but after reading this thread I'm not sure if it was even necessary

It is not. It somewhat helps you if you own the weapon and it is stolen - assuming it is ever recovered. I have bought a couple older handguns that had not been registered, and was a typical PPT.

Up to you.

EDIT : Librarian and the stickies cover this quite well.

.

[DRoberts12345]

You can always find a cop buddy and have him run the numbers. If it were to show up stolen he will have to turn it in and forget where he got it. If it's good to go then HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you.

[Citadelonline]

With such a blurred, indistinct and disconnected history of ownership, my inclination would be to at least do an intrafamilial transfer. If no immediate living family member can claim ownership, (i.e. your father) the Oplaw should be from your stepmother's ex husband's father to yourself. If no up/down parental intrafamilial relationship can be established, an FFL transfer should be used.
That way there will be clear ownership of the pistol henceforth.
This being California, laws regarding gun registration will change.

[DRoberts12345]

Every time someone registers an unregistered gun a part of freedom dies and a part of me dies with it.