Weapon transfer: how it works legally

Buyers and sellers handle the transfer of a firearm directly with each other — Gunfinder, as a marketplace, is not involved. To ensure the handover is legally compliant, you should know the following basics. This article is a general guide and does not replace legal advice.

Before the Transfer: Verify Authorization

Under § 34 WaffG, a firearm requiring a permit may only be handed over to an authorized recipient. As a seller, you must therefore verify the buyer's acquisition authorization before the transfer. How this works and which authorization applies to which firearm is explained under Who am I allowed to sell a firearm to?

Transfer in Person or by Shipping

There are two ways to carry out the actual transfer:

• In-person handover: the safest option. You verify the acquisition authorization and ID on the spot and hand over the firearm simultaneously.
• Shipping: Firearms may only be shipped via an authorized carrier who verifies the recipient's authorization. Ammunition must always be shipped separately. You can find details in the Guide to Shipping Firearms.

After the Transfer: Notify the Authorities

The transfer must be reported to the Waffenbehörden:

• As the buyer, you must report the acquisition of firearms requiring a permit to your local Waffenbehörde within 14 days.
• As the seller, you notify the authorities of the handover and have the firearm removed from your Waffenbesitzkarte.

The relevant forms — purchase agreement, acquisition and transfer notifications — can be found under All Forms for Hunters and Sport Shooters.

Hand Off the Hassle

If you'd rather not deal with verification, shipping, and visits to the authorities yourself, selling your firearm through a dealer via firearm purchasing services is a straightforward alternative — the buyer takes care of a large part of the paperwork.