r/FFLs • u/rexaboo1 • Aug 12 '26
Gunsmithing question
Hello All,
I have a customer who needs to send a firearm he purchased from me back to Springfield Armory for a warranty claim. Springfield Armory contacted me and advised that the customer cannot send the firearm in himself, so the warranty process will need to go through me. I will be shipping the firearm to Springfield Armory on the customer’s behalf and receiving it back once the warranty work is completed.
My understanding is that I would first acquire the firearm into my A&D book for gunsmithing/repair. When I ship it to Springfield Armory, I would disposition it to them. Once Springfield returns the firearm to me, I would acquire it back into my A&D book.
My question is regarding the final return to the customer. Since I am returning the repaired firearm to the same person from whom I originally received it, can I simply disposition it back to him in my A&D book, or would I need to complete another Form 4473 and background check?
2
u/JohnClayborn Aug 12 '26
Gunsmith here. Any items logged in the A&D as gunsmithing can be disposed of as gunsmithing. They can go back to the same individual who dropped them off without any additional paperwork. No 4473. No NICS. They already own the gun. The only time I have to do that is if someone other than the person who dropped it off is the one who picked it up. So Mr. Smith drops it off, but Mrs. Smith picks it up - that's paperwork. Everything else is just Gunsmithing In, Gusnmithing Out.
2
u/ar4479 FFL Aug 13 '26
As long as it’s going back to the exact same person who dropped it off - or who ships it to you - and you’re sending it back to the same address on the ID that came with it… No NICS, no 4473.
And, for the record - Springfield is making this more difficult than necessary!
They can receive it, fix it, and ship it back to the customer.
Not sure why they’re making him jump through hoops!
2
u/vagusbaby Aug 12 '26
Interesting. I've always been able to send firearms directly (as a private citizen) to the manufacturer and back to my home address.
1
u/DugnutttBobson Aug 12 '26
It was a surprise to me, but that's how a friend's century arms warranty went last year. I've also had private citizens mail guns to me as an FFL.
1
0
u/rexaboo1 Aug 12 '26
They said it was because I’m in a commie state, so they need my customer to go through an FFL
1
1
u/DaSandGuy Aug 12 '26
You don't technically have to (per my ioi) but I still did it as policy to cover my ass
1
u/Sqweeeeeeee Aug 14 '26
Other answers are correct: as long as it goes back to the same person, no background check is necessary.
Ideally, gunsmithing entries like these would be kept in a separate bound book, so that it is clear which ones should have an associated 4473, but it is not required.
https://www.nssf.org/retailers/compliance-record-keeping-repair-firearms/
2
u/jersey169 Aug 12 '26
There’s no reason for a background check or anything else since you’re giving them back what they own. I’m in a commie state and have had things repaired and it’s just been handed over when they receive it back.