ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS
In order to hold a gun for you (up to one week), I require your full name, address and
phone number for the invoice. Full payment will hold a gun for several months. However,
guns left after that time will be subject to storage charges.
All firearms (except antiques) must be shipped to a licensed dealer or licensed collector.
I must receive a signed copy of an FFL (Federal Firearms License) before I can ship.
Mail the FFL copy to the below address or fax a copy to 505-255-3633.
Antiques may be purchased by anyone, but your state may require shipment to a dealer.
Please check with your state authorities.
If you wish to purchase a firearm, and don't have an FFL, you may make arrangements through
any local dealer for delivery. A dealer should charge only a small fee for delivery,
so shop around. Remember that some states charge fees (or sales tax) in addition to the dealer fee.
We do not charge sales tax on mail orders, except in New Mexico.
By placing an order, you agree to the following terms:
TERMS OF SALE:
1. All guns are sold as collector's items only, with no guarantee of shooting condition.
Have any gun checked by a qualified gunsmith before shooting. Collector guns are often
full of old, dried up grease, and will not function unless properly cleaned and lubricated.
Use common sense. Shooting a gun with old grease in the bore can destroy the gun.
2. All orders must be paid in advance. We do not ship C.O.D.
3. We accept American Express, MasterCard & Visa, but prefer a guaranteed form of payment
(cashier's check, money order, etc.).
4. Personal & business checks are accepted. However, if you are a new customer,
your check must clear (about 3 weeks) before we ship your order. No refunds
until we are certain your check has cleared.
5. Exports:
We are unable to export modern firearms directly, but will ship to a licensed export agent - in the
United States. Books and Antiques may be exported directly. However, since customs clearance or
administrative procedures in other countries are beyond my control, once I ship the goods, all export
sales are final. No refunds on exports.
6. Shipping & Insurance:
Note: Packing and shipping charges apply to ALL sales. There are no exceptions to this policy.
a. Rifles: $25 Insurance normally included. Higher values at extra cost.
On request, buyer may purchase an $18 plastic hard case for shipping
rifles. I highly recommend a hard case for shipping protection.
Some fragile or expensive rifles will require purchase of a hard case.
b. Pistols: $20 (Normally shipped Priority Mail)
Pistol Insurance: Add $1 per $100 of value.
($1,000 valuation will be $25 shipping & insurance)
7. Please note: Seller reserves the right refuse service to anyone, and to cancel any order at any time.
8. Returns:
a. I offer a 3 (business) day return privilege on guns I sell,
subject to the following conditions, unless other arrangements are made.
b. After 3 days, all sales are final.
Items returned after 3 days (at seller's option):
- may be refused by seller.
- may be subject to a restocking fee.
- may be accepted as a consignment for resale.
c. All returns must be received in the exact same condition as shipped,
with all the exact same parts.
d. No refund if parts are lost, or it has been fired, damaged, or altered in any way.
If you lose parts, damage, alter, or shoot it, you own it.
e. Layaway purchases may only be exchanged for store credit or consignment sale.
f. Some items will be offered "as is" with no return privilege.
g. Packing and shipping charges are not refundable.
h. Book sales are final unless prior arrangements are made.
i. Price will not be negotiated after the item is shipped.
Send Payment (and FFL if appropriate) to:
Bob Adams
P.O. Box 23010
Albuquerque, NM 87192 USA
Explanation of Terms and DISCLAIMER
(for novice collectors and/or inexperienced, overzealous or malicious government agents)
I am not a lawyer, so the following is derived from many sources.
1. "All guns are sold as collector's items only," This has NOTHING to do with a collector's license.
This is a common phrase used by firearm dealers all over the world.
It simply means that there is no guarantee of shooting condition. It doesn't mean they won't shoot.
It means you should have any used firearm checked out by a gunsmith before firing.
See #1 in "Terms of Sale" above.
2. "Curio and Relic". A special category of older firearms as defined by law. These
firearms may be sold to someone who holds a Collectors License issued by ATF.
Some states (such as California) have additional restrictions.
From the ATF Website: ATF Curio & Relic Web Page
"Firearm curios or relics include firearms which have special value to collectors because they
possess some qualities not ordinarily associated with firearms intended for sporting use or
as offensive or defensive weapons. To be recognized as curios or relics, firearms must fall
within one of the following categories:
a. Have been manufactured at least 50 years prior to the current date, but not including
replicas thereof; or
b. Be certified by the curator of a municipal, State, or Federal museum which exhibits firearms
to be curios or relics of museum interest; or
c. Derive a substantial part of their monetary value from the fact that they are novel, rare,
bizarre, or from the fact of their association with some historical figure, period, or event."
3. "No Import Marks". This does NOT mean that anyone smuggled it into the United States.
This is a common term used throughout the industry. (A recent internet search showed 27.000+ results)
Foreign guns without import markings are not necessarily more valuable. Some are more valuable.
This phrase may indicate:
a. A war trophy brought back by a soldier at any time. These did not require import marks and are completely legal.
b. Any gun imported before 1968 does not need import marks. The Gun Control Act of 1968 was the
first time import marks were required for licensed importers. It is fully legal to own such a gun.
c. Any gun imported at any time by anyone other than a licensed importer does not require import marks and are
completely legal. Even today, a licensed dealer or Collector can import a gun and no import marks are required.
d. Sometimes I have been unable to find any import marks - which can be hidden under the grips, under the
slide, or are very tiny - all of which are completely legal).
e. Someone may have removed the import marks after importation, which is completely legal.
f. Some guns have come into the United States by diplomatic pouch.
4. "No Serial Number". Many guns made before 1968 did not have serial numbers (completely legal),
and there are hundreds of thousands (perhaps millions) that don't. Other firearms may have internal serial numbers.
Serial numbers were not required by federal law until 1968 for licensed Manufacturers and Importers. If anyone else
manufactures a gun, it is not required to have a serial number - or any other markings, unless it is ultimately sold.
There is nothing sacred about a firearm serial number. Originally, serial numbers were never intended to specifically
identify one single firearm. Serial numbers were originally placed on firearms for the manufacturer's convenience in
keeping track of what they made - not for ATF convenience to try to track each firearm. Accordingly, serial numbers
are not necessarily unique and the exact same serial number might be found on .many different firearms - even the
same make and model.
Even ATF openly admits that many firearms were made before 1968 without serial numbers,
and many manufacturers duplicated serial numbers - either accidently or deliberately on the same make and model.
Accidental serial number duplications were sometimes handled by the addition of an "A" or other letter to the serial.
Manufacturers might produce identical serial numbers for different contracts - as the buyer directed. Other makers restarted
serial numbers at the beginning of each year, with military Luger and P.38 pistols, and K98 rifles are obvious examples.
Consequently, there are thousands of duplicate serial numbers. This is evident the reporting of stolen guns (NCIC),
when such duplicate serials result in false claims of stolen firearms.
Further, numbers other than serial numbers are frequently found on firearms. Military regimental marks and unit numbers
may frequently be found along with property marks, registration numbers, contract numbers and rack numbers. These
may easily be confused with serial numbers by someone unfamiliar with such guns. These additional markings may also
be (legally) obliterated or removed as some have been. The authorities may not be able to discern the difference.
To further complicate the serial number issue, regardless of the passage of the 1968 Gun Control Act, U.S. laws do not
apply to any foreign country. Accordingly, foreign manufacturers continue to manufacture firearms as they did before,
Some, of course, specially produce firearms for the American market and attempt to follow configuration restrictions and
serial numbering as required by American law. These manufacturers continue to produce firearms as they did before -
some with no serial number, some with duplicate serial number, and even some with complete counterfeit markings.
Examples are being found in Mexico - and these can and do drift north into the United States. Recently photographed
examples include counterfeit AR-15 rifles with full Colt markings. These were obvious from the crude markings. Other
counterfeit firearms are more exact copies and will fool most experts.
Currently, licensed U.S. importers are allowed to use the existing factory-appliced serial number. However, since that number
"might" duplicate a previous serial on an imported firearm (prohibited by ATF), the importer is allowed to place a separate
serial number on every firearm. These firearms are then stamped with TWO serial numbers! Which one to record on your dealer
records? Either one!
Regardless of the problems with old serial numbers, it is illegal to obliterate an existing serial number, and.
"§ 478.34 Removed, obliterated, or altered serial number.
No person shall knowingly transport, ship, or receive in interstate or foreign commerce any firearm which
has had the importer's or manufacturer's serial number removed, obliterated, or altered, or possess or receive
any firearm which has had the importer's or manufacturer's serial number removed, obliterated, or altered
and has, at any time, been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce."
5. "80%" Receiver". ATF has ruled that receivers which are only 80% completed are not firearms.
(This means that additional work must be performed before they become firearms.)
Until the additional work is performed, they are the same legal status as a paperweight.
Anyone may order one - without any restriction.
If you are legally allowed to own firarms, you are specifically allowed to personally make a firearm (but not a machine gun).
It is completely legal under federal law - and you are not required to mark it in any way.
This also applies to completion of 80% receivers, should you choose to finish one.
However, you should be aware that it may be illegal under state law.
From an ATF Web Page: ATF FAQ Web Page
"For your information, per provisions of the Gun Control Act (GCA) of 1968, 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44,
an unlicensed individual may make a “firearm” as defined in the GCA for his own personal use,
but not for sale or distribution."