I was given a gun on Christmas Day by my mother-in-law which she believes belonged to her father. Many members of my family have been or currently are gun owners but none of my immediate family. I'm a bit of a history buff and I'd say I have a higher than average understanding of firearms and some of their history, but very little hands on experience. After getting her to stop waiving it around randomly showing it off, I looked it over quickly and locked it in my toolbox until I had a few questions answered. The weapon is not loaded, there is no ammo in the home that I know of, and, from a quick look over, probably does not function.

 

1) Where do I go to start finding information about legality/registration in NJ? If I intend to just sell it as is to get rid of it, is this less/more paperwork? I would assume no one has a bill of sale at any point left for this firearm.

 

2) What is it? It's a double-barreled, double-trigger, break-action shotgun with only "Central Arms Co." on the receiver. From what quick research I could do, it was a mass-produced $100 or so common weapon from 1900-1920. This one is in rough shape. Again, doing some quick research, I measured the discharge end of the barrel with an inside mic and think this is a 12 gauge. The fore-end is removable and is engraved 399703 on the end itself, not the firearm.

 

3) What does everyone think of tinkering around with it and fixing it up? Nothing show quality, but get it working properly and replace the missing parts. At the current rate of some normal home defense shotguns, this seems like a somewhat viable option to me if it turns out it has little/no resale value. I restore hot-rods so I'm a little mechanically inclined, I know how to read and follow instructions, and I usually know when I'm getting in over my head on something and need to take it to a professional. Where would be a good place to start sourcing replacement parts? I'm finding some stuff few and far between under "Crescent SXS".

http://njgunforums.com/forum/index.php?/topic/9657-firearm-purchasing-requirements-as-it-applies-to-nj-resident/

(I believe you will need to get a FPID card before you can legally sell it)

 

You can legally keep it in your home without a FPID in the meantime

 

In regards to (3) I would buy a cheap Mossberg 500 pump shotgun for self defense rather than depending on Ye Old Timey Hunting Shotgun for self defense

You may be breaking the law. If you don't have one, you need to get a Firearms Identification Card (FID). Apply at your local police department. Once you get it you can then take ownership of a firearm, you have to fill out a certificate of eligibility (COE) downloadable from the NJSP firearms site. NJ does not recognize antique firearms the way other states do. You need to give it back until you have your FID and complete the appropriate paperwork.

Once that is done and the gun is legally yours get a proper - lockable gun case so unautoriized people can't have access to it. It would be a good idea to take an NRA safety class to familiarize yourself with safe and proper handeling and care of firearms. If you are going to be a gun owner you need to be responsible. Some old firearms can't handle the pressures of modern ammunition. If this is an antique shotgun it may have 2 1/2 chambers, not the modern 2 3/4 chambers. If its an antique the patina makes it more valuable, trying to fix it up could devalue it. Have a gunsmith look it over and tell you if it's safe to shoot.

 

Troll much?

There is much information for you to learn. If you were in another state further west this would not be an issue.

 

 

If you have no ammo your house is safe. Search for a local NRA instructor and range and get some basics.

 

 

I say keep it. I have a .410 gauge that just showed up because an in-law was passing by and dropped off her dad's rifle to "the new gun nut in the family."

 

Get a FPID and fill put the Certificate of Eligibility. Do it ASAP so that the laws don't change before you can get in there.

 

 

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I was given a gun on Christmas Day by my mother-in-law which she believes belonged to her father.

 

No mention of filling out and exchanging COEs, no mention of a will declaring a new owner upon death.

 

This sounds like an illegal transfer to me.

Welcome to the forums. Take the advice of the above posters. Give the gun back and get your FID.

 

Do not, under any circumstances, fire that gun with modern loads if the barrels have a sort of "twisty" sheen to them like in the picture below.

 

http://www.hallowellco.com/damascus_twist_barrels.htm

 

This is a Damascus barrel. They used to make them in the same way you make a pig in a blanket. The took steel and wrapped it around a pole, then pulled the pole out. It was cheaper than trying to drill out bar stock and made for black powder guns. If you try to fire a modern day smokeless power round through there, the gun could very well explode.

 

There isn't much value in the gun anymore other than as a wall-hanger over your fireplace.

 

If you genuinely want a shotgun something for home defense, there are plenty of pump-action shotguns out there that will do a much better job.

ya case it up and give it back till you get things in order . Sounds like a wall hanger or maybe a fun restore project . Also always watch what you post on the net. Welcome to the forum and the hobby, It can be frustrating but mostly a fun hobby .

also, measure the length of the barrels, it it's under 18", I recommend you find a bandsaw and cut that shit up.

Back in the early 1900's, these house-brand shotguns sold for $10. Restoration costs today would exceed the value of the gun. If it has sidelocks with exposed hammers it probably has hammer-welded Damascus barrels. A boxlock action could have fluid-steel barrels, for these appeared on Crescent doubles in the early 1900's.

 

Bottom-line answer: It's a wall-hanger as others have noted.

How can he give it up (transport it somewhere) without breaking another law?

Thank you for all the responses, this is exactly why I signed up and asked questions before doing. The garage is on her property, so, even though locked up in my toolbox and among st my vehicles, can I still claim it as in her possession if need be? She made it very clear upon finding it that she wanted it gone by any means.

 

Seems it is worth little to nothing other than parts. Let's say worst comes to worst and I decide to dispose/destroy...disassemble the gun, cut the barrels in half lengthwise to make them useless. Any other preventative measures? I have a full shop, tools, lift, etc. Torch the barrels?

I'd say wait till the next gun buyback and get money for it.

leave it as is !! just hang onto it and maybe trade it off or sell it to some one . No gun should be trashed . If you where close to me I would buy it , just to hang on the wall. She doesn't need FID to sell just the buyer with COE and drivers license

I'd say wait till the next gun buyback and get money for it.

See if you can get a few bucks for it and go buy a basic new shotgun for home defense.

Thank you for all the responses, this is exactly why I signed up and asked questions before doing. The garage is on her property, so, even though locked up in my toolbox and among st my vehicles, can I still claim it as in her possession if need be? She made it very clear upon finding it that she wanted it gone by any means.

 

Seems it is worth little to nothing other than parts. Let's say worst comes to worst and I decide to dispose/destroy...disassemble the gun, cut the barrels in half lengthwise to make them useless. Any other preventative measures? I have a full shop, tools, lift, etc. Torch the barrels?

 

If she won't claim possession then there's not much you can do. It's good you indicated that you live on the same property because technically the firearm hasn't been been transferred anywhere and it remains in the same legal state as before the holidays. A legal state unknown to us because we don't know if she did the paperwork to legally inherit it in the first place as JohnP said.

 

You might as well get started on the FPID process. It's always good to have regardless of what you do with this shotgun. If you decide to buy a long gun in the future you will already have dealt with the delays and paperwork. If you transfer this gun to yourself you can leave the seller's FPID blank on the COE form.

 

If you intent on destroying it then I wouldn't mess with the barrels until the last step, if at all. You don't want to be in possession of a short barrelled shotgun at any point. I would remove the barrel and forearm assembly from the receiver via the hinge pin. Then saw or torch cut the front of the receiver behind the hinge pin to separate the hinge from the rest of the receiver. Then remove the firing pins if you can. Then saw or torch cut the top of the receiver between the breech face and the hammer in a vertical cut down thru the trigger guard. Now you have 4 pieces, none of which are a long gun. You could instead use a welder to make it internally non functional and hang it up as mentioned.

Thanks HM, I am really out on an island here with no idea what to do to try to do the legal/responsible thing. I do not believe she thought she had this in her possession - regardless, is there anything she needs to do from her end to "keep her in the clean?" Note to self: melt barrels to the point where they look like bar stock.

 

Looked up a lot of what was mentioned in this thread. I think at this point, based on the value of the gun versus the registration costs and legal processes/pitfalls, even though I would really love to become a firearms owner and "save" this one, the best choice is to scrap it with a combination of welder and oxy/ace torch and wash my hands of the situation. If anyone has a LEGAL method of disposing otherwise that would benefit others, please speak up shortly and I will be happy to help. Thank you NJ for making it so impossible for someone who wants to become a legal and safe gun owner to do so.

I was under the impression as long as your record was clean you could inherit from immediate family, no?

Thanks HM, I am really out on an island here with no idea what to do to try to do the legal/responsible thing. I do not believe she thought she had this in her possession - regardless, is there anything she needs to do from her end to "keep her in the clean?" Note to self: melt barrels to the point where they look like bar stock.

 

Looked up a lot of what was mentioned in this thread. I think at this point, based on the value of the gun versus the registration costs and legal processes/pitfalls, even though I would really love to become a firearms owner and "save" this one, the best choice is to scrap it with a combination of welder and oxy/ace torch and wash my hands of the situation. If anyone has a LEGAL method of disposing otherwise that would benefit others, please speak up shortly and I will be happy to help. Thank you NJ for making it so impossible for someone who wants to become a legal and safe gun owner to do so.

 

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong but I believe it is legal to have a long gun in your/her posession, confined to your property, without a FPID, COE or any paperwork whatsoever. The prior act of inheriting the shotgun may not have been performed legally but your/her culpability in that act can only be proven by information that you/she volunteers to the authorities. I do not think that the shotgun in its present state is violating any laws. And it's always best to keep your mouth shut as detailed in this presentation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wXkI4t7nuc

.. Again I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

 

Instead of destroying the gun your mother could sell it to a member here for a trivial amount. As a seller she does not need an FPID # on the COE but still may be a questionable transaction since we're not sure how the shotgun came into her legal posession. Maybe someone with legal experience can explain if this is allowed. I only post this idea to offer a glimmer of hope to those wishing that the gun doesn't get destroyed.

I think your right, lets not mangle what maybe the only common sense part of nj gunlaws, and the easiest to figure out. Of course said individual should still get yellow card, join nra, join a club, etc etc.

I'd wait for a gun buy back. Might as well get something for it.