Questions on 40 year old pistols

January 7, 2007 12:40 PM

Inheriting a couple of 40 year old pistols from my grandfather, what do I need to know?

First, please forgive me, I know nothing about firearms.

Last time I was in Dallas, my grandfather told me that I will be inheriting two of his pistols when he passes. Both are over 40 years old. One is a 5 shot revolver that someone made him as payment for repair services. The second is a small one he bought at the hardware store. Neither of them have ever been registered anywhere. I doubt the handmade one even has a serial number.

I'm fairly sure they've been fired, but certainly not in the last couple of decades. And I'm sure they haven't been cleaned or maintained. I do have some interest in firing them at some point.

Do I need to have them registered? How?
What cost am I looking at to have them safely functional?
Should I discard the 40 year old ammunition? How?
What if any training do I legally need?

Thanks!

posted by phritosan to sports, hobbies, & recreation (11 comments total)

I'm guessing from your profile that you live in Phoeniz, AZ, ni which case, there's no need to register your firearms. Arizona gun laws are nice that way.

Find yourself a local gun shop that does repairs. They'll be able to test-fire your handguns safely and determine if they need any repair or maintenance. Discard the old ammunition. Old primers tend to corrode.

Legally, you're not required to have any training. I'd recommend checking out a local firing range and taking a basic course. Firing a handgun accurately is something that you really have to be taught. It's not as easy as it looks. Talk to the guys at the gun shop. Buy some ammunition there, ask about classes, local shooter's groups, etc. You might want to get a concealed carry licence, I believe AZ has some training requirements for concealed carry permits, so ask them about that as well.

Welcome to the world of firearms ownership and good luck!
posted by signalnine at 1:20 PM on January 7, 2007

I can't answer all of your questions, but here's my take on a couple of them:

1) The condition of the weapons should be verified by a gunsmith. Your profile says you're in Phoenix, but in any case, you can find licensed gunsmiths via a google search. They shouldn't charge you anything for an initial inspection - but when you carry them, make sure they're unloaded, locked, cased, and in your trunk. Do not carry uncased firearms into a store without prior permission.

2) The cost of making them fully functional will be dependent on the condition of the firearm. The gunsmith (see #1) can probably give you an estimate. If the weapons have never been cleaned, you might have some serious pitting or corrosion in the barrel.

3) Get rid of the ammo. You can call your local police dept; they should be able to tell you how to do it. In some cases you can just drop it off at the local precinct; however, CALL FIRST. Don't show up at a police station with ammo or firearms.

4) The gunsmith should also be able to answer your questions about registration and training, especially if s/he sells firearms as well. The laws vary from state to state.
posted by aberrant at 1:24 PM on January 7, 2007

Also, ask the gunsmith what kind of ammo it was designed to eat, and if it is now "archaic" or whatever that word is, don't try to run something through it that looks like about the same size.
My father left me an Astra 300 something, from WW II, and 9 mm is close enough some folks have used it, but it's as likely to blow up in your face as not according to the books. If they don't make ammo for yours anymore, have the nice man clean it up nice and frame it. (Unless you have kids, then lock it up until they are grown.)
posted by unrepentanthippie at 1:49 PM on January 7, 2007

You should be aware that federal law and probably most state laws require all firearms to have a serial number.
If your home made gun doesn't have one just be aware that this could cause you some problems.
As far as the 40 year old ammunition goes it might not be a big problem. It really depends on the maker.
If the ammunition is a common caliber like .38 or .22 then just buy new stuff.
If it is some odd caliber it might have some collector value especially in an original box.
If you decide you want to destroy the ammo you can kill the primers by soaking them down with a solvent like WD-40.
posted by prjo at 1:56 PM on January 7, 2007

prjo: The serial number requirement might only apply if the gun was made or imported after the passage of the Gun Control Act of 1968.
posted by dcjd at 2:28 PM on January 7, 2007

Since it's a one-off, stamp a "1" on it...
posted by polyglot at 3:17 PM on January 7, 2007

The Blue Book of Gun Values may give you some idea what they are worth - likely not much more than a couple hundred dollars but you never know.

40 year old ammo is not necessarily unsafe. If it was stored properly, odds are it's ok. With an inertia bullet puller, you could pull a bullet. As long as the components are not corroded, its fine. (Some ammo actually has been known to corrode from the inside out).

Ditto others, no registration here in AZ. Although you'll want to be aware of the concealed carry laws
posted by whatisish at 3:50 PM on January 7, 2007

>> I doubt the handmade one even has a serial number.

Handmade? Ditto on the gunsmith recommendation.
posted by frogan at 4:42 PM on January 7, 2007

One is a 5 shot revolver that someone made him as payment for repair services.

Did the guy actually make the revolver for your grandfather, or did he just use it to make payment?
posted by b1tr0t at 7:43 PM on January 7, 2007

If you are not fully confident in your ability to recognize and correctly deal with a hang-fire and a misfire - my guess based on your question is that you are not - you should dispose of the old ammo as suggested above, and not fire it. You can be shot dead in the process of opening a weapon to find out why it didn't go off when you pulled the trigger, and older ammo is more likely to do this.

Some jackass *always* answers that old ammo can be "just fine" here on MetaFilter. They're not completely wrong, but these people possess specialized experience, knowledge, and equipment that a novice shooter lacks.

I mean, really, recommending an inertia bullet puller to someone who "knows nothing about firearms?" What are you thinking, whatisish? Where is your brain? There are safety issues to consider here. People should never operate outside their appropriate comfort zone where firearms are involved.

If you want to enjoy shooting, rather than just put some bullets down a barrel, may I suggest the following:

Obtain appropriate eye and ear protection. Drugstore foam earplugs aren't adequate.

Take an NRA-certified firearm safety class. A little confidence in what you're doing goes a long way to make it more fun. And it *is* fun.

Consider purchasing a firearm of your own. A very nice, no-compromises, high quality new revolver or pistol can be had in the $300-$400 price range. You get the benefit of a modern firearm, in the calibre and design of your choice, with the manufacturer's original documentation and warranty.
posted by ikkyu2 at 7:57 PM on January 7, 2007

I'll just toss in my two cents here -- both for safety reasons and because it's quite possible that the guns could have significant value, don't fire or make any modifications to them before you have a trusted gunsmith look them over. If you don't have a gunsmith that you trust, get several opinions and don't trust the first word you get. While most people are good and honest, it's not totally unheard of for a store owner to pull the wool over some rube's eyes and misrepresent a valuable firearm as junk, in the hopes that they'll sell it on the cheap. (I've seen it happen.) If there are gun shows going on in your area, you might want to bring some photos and show them around, see if you can find someone who's familiar with what you have. (Bring photos, not the real guns.)

Don't do anything to them until you know what you're doing. Absolutely don't go stamping or otherwise marking anything on them. And don't try to disassemble anything without the right tools (by which I mean actual gunsmith's tools; the screwdriver you open paint cans with is not an appropriate implement for working on firearms, even if it looks like it would work).

Also, I wouldn't throw out the ammo just because it's 40 years old. I've shot surplus WWII ammunition that's quite good (you just need to meticulously clean afterwards, because its residue is corrosive). Depending on how it's been stored and what kind it is, it may very well be worthless and need to be disposed of, but you don't know that. At the very least, somebody else may be able to use the brass cartridge cases for reloading. A local gun store can tell you more, and point you in the right direction to relieve yourself of it, if that's the appropriate route.

In short: don't do anything rash. Take your time, and be deliberate, at least until you know what you're dealing with.
posted by Kadin2048 at 9:45 PM on January 7, 2007