Firearm Insights for Estate Profess

If you need to sell a firearm in St. Louis, your options range from pawn shops and ranges to gun stores and online auctions. Each offers different levels of safety, value, and documentation. After more than a decade as a licensed FFL and certified firearms appraiser, I break down which choices work best and why estates, collectors, and private sellers often get the strongest results with MDRF Enterprises.

When an estate includes imported firearms, attorneys often miss a critical detail. Many imports, including the Draco, carry two legally binding serial numbers. In this case, the factory numbers matched, but the importer serial had been defaced, instantly converting the firearm into federal contraband. A routine transfer could have become a serious violation without a proper inspection.

Understanding firearm value starts with knowing which standard applies. Fair Market Value, Marketable Cash Value, and Appraised Value all serve different purposes in estates. Here is how each one works.

Selling firearms from an estate without professional help can lead to serious legal, financial, and documentation problems. Many families in Missouri try to handle estate gun sales themselves, but missing records, undervalued items, and compliance risks often turn a quick sale into a costly mistake. Learn the safer way to protect value, stay compliant, and close probate smoothly.

When a family inherits firearms, the biggest question is how to sell them safely, legally, and for the best value. This guide compares auctions, licensed dealers, and private sales in St. Louis—explaining when to use each, what documentation is needed for probate, and how to avoid costly mistakes. Includes a comparison table, checklist, and practical advice from a certified firearms appraiser.

Firearms in an estate aren’t just valuables — they’re regulated assets. A proper appraisal must do more than set a price; it must create a legally defensible record that withstands probate, insurance, and potential disputes. At MDRF Enterprises, our certified appraisals combine USPAP standards, photographic documentation, and comparable sales data to deliver reports attorneys and fiduciaries can trust.

Buying a storage unit in Missouri and finding guns inside isn’t as simple as selling them. Federal law requires legal ownership and a proper transfer, and Missouri rules can involve estate claims or original owner rights. Learn the safe, legal steps for handling firearms from storage units, and how MDRF Enterprises can provide on-site appraisals, cash offers, and full ATF-compliant transfers in the St. Louis area.

Firearm transfers in the U.S. are governed by both federal and state laws. Whether selling, gifting, or handling inherited guns, you need to follow the rules to stay legal. This guide explains how transfers work, common pitfalls, and why using a licensed dealer can protect everyone involved.

Selling firearms from an estate in Missouri is not like selling other property. Federal law requires every transfer to go through a licensed FFL with proper records and background checks. Families and executors who try to handle it alone risk legal and probate problems. The safest way to sell quickly and fairly is to work with a certified appraiser and licensed dealer who can provide both accurate valuations and ATF-compliant transfers.

Inheriting firearms comes with more responsibility than most estate items. Learn how to safely and legally sell a gun collection in Saint Louis. This guide explains the process, safety steps, and legal requirements so families and professionals stay compliant.

Firearms in an estate can create challenges for executors and families. This guide explains how to sell, appraise, and legally transfer inherited guns in Missouri, including finding a trustworthy buyer, understanding appraisals, and ensuring compliance with state and federal firearm laws.

Firearms are unlike any other personal property in probate. Attorneys who overlook compliance can expose themselves and their clients to serious risk. Here are five pitfalls to avoid.

Marijuana laws in Missouri have changed, but federal firearms rules have not. Estate professionals can face hidden liability if they transfer a gun to an heir who uses marijuana—even if that heir has a state-issued card. Here’s what you need to know to keep families safe and avoid compliance mistakes.

Estate professionals often treat firearms like any other household item, but the ATF does not. Taking possession, transporting, or even advertising guns without a license can create serious legal risk. This guide highlights five gray areas where good intentions can go wrong and shows how working with a licensed FFL keeps executors and estate companies compliant and protected.

Firearms and the Executor’s Role Settling an estate is never simple, and when firearms are involved, the complexity rises quickly. Unlike furniture or jewelry, guns are highly regulated and require specialized attention at each step of the settlement process. As executor, you must protect the estate, follow the law, and make sure firearms are handled with accuracy and care. The following steps outline how to integrate firearms into the standard estate settlement process witho

When settling an estate, firearms cannot be treated like ordinary household goods. Missouri law requires court approval for significant personal property, and federally regulated firearms can disrupt sales, mortgages, or asset transfers if overlooked.

Form 706 requires estates to report all assets at fair market value, including firearms. Certified appraisals ensure accuracy, compliance, and protection for executors and families.

Estate collections sometimes contain more than hunting rifles. MDRF Enterprises, now licensed as both an FFL and SOT dealer, ensures every firearm—common or highly regulated—is handled legally and safely.

Not every firearm looks like a rifle, shotgun, or pistol. The ATF classifies certain serialized parts, like AR-15 lowers, handgun frames, bolts, and Sig FCUs, as firearms. In an estate, these items are often overlooked and mishandled. This post explains why they carry the same legal obligations as complete guns and why families, attorneys, and estate professionals need licensed expertise to avoid serious liability.

Every week, we hear the same thing from private sellers: “I paid $1,200 for this, and it’s still in perfect condition. I saw it listed on GunBroker for $2,000. Why are you offering less?” We understand. Firearms aren’t just objects; they’re investments, heirlooms, and sometimes even symbols of trust. However, when it comes time to actually selling a gun , many sellers confuse what it cost with what it’s worth in today’s market. This post breaks down the difference between F