Fenton
- Drew McDermott
- Jan 6
- 2 min read
Firearm Collection Pickup: A Safe Way to Sell 26 Guns Before Retirement
This local story reflects the real decisions I help families and collectors make when retirement, relocation, or estate transitions require selling firearms safely and legally in Missouri.
A longtime Fenton resident, age 65, was preparing for retirement and a move to Florida with his wife. Over decades, he built a practical, well-maintained firearm collection, 26 total guns, ranging from sporting rifles to tactical shotguns and classic models.
A Walmart Parking Lot That Changed Everything
His first attempt to sell online led to a face-to-face meeting with a buyer in a Walmart parking lot. He told me later that the exchange felt immediately uncomfortable. Nothing about the situation felt structured, verified, or safe. He did the right thing and walked away.
That night, he started researching safer alternatives. He found MDRF Enterprises, a federally licensed FFL dealer in Saint Louis with a 13-year local presence, an A+ BBB rating, and more than 80 verified Google reviews averaging 4.9 stars. Those reviews repeatedly highlighted a consistent theme: safety, documentation, compliance, and respectful in-person firearm handling.
In-Home Appointment, Inventory, and Market Documentation
We scheduled a private in-home evaluation in Fenton. Over several hours, each firearm was:
Photographed individually
Logged by manufacturer and model
Inspected for condition using the Photo Percentage Grading System
Prepared for a full Fair Market Value valuation
This was not priced at the kitchen table. After completing the inventory, we brought the full log back to the shop, researched recent verified sales comps, applied accurate market valuation, and produced a multi-page written estimate explaining how each firearm was priced and why.
Payment, Transfer Documentation, and Next-Day Pickup
After reviewing the estimate, he agreed to move forward. The next day, we returned with a certified business check, completed all required transfer forms, ran NICS and stolen-firearm verification checks where applicable, and safely removed the entire 26-gun lot in a controlled, licensed pickup.
No parking lots. No strangers. No unclear transfer process.
Collection Highlights
The firearms included a diverse mix of modern and classic working collection staples:
Smith & Wesson M&P15 (2 rifles)
Savage Axis (2 rifles)
Mossberg Patriot (2 rifles)
Mossberg 100 ATR
Savage 110
Ruger M77 MKII
Remington 870 Tactical
Mossberg 500, 500CT, 500 Maverick
Stevens 94, 320
Norinco SKS
Winchester 1897
Davenport Arms Company “Expert”
ATI Bulldog
ATI Bulldog
Dickinson XX2T (2 shotguns)
ATI Bulldog
A true cross-section of firearms built with purpose over time.
Why This Story Matters
This case reinforces a critical reality for gun owners in Missouri:
Unstructured private online firearm sales create unnecessary exposure to unpredictable behavior, unverifiable buyers, unclear chain-of-custody, and avoidable safety risk. Even
when laws are not broken, uncertainty is risk.
Working with a licensed FFL dealer provides:
Verified Fair Market Value with documented comps
Secure certified payment
Legally compliant firearm transfers
Stolen-gun verification checks
Clear chain-of-custody control
Zero exposure to unknown private buyers
Most importantly, it provided peace of mind during a major life transition, retirement and relocation.
Retirement and relocation often require difficult decisions about firearms. Our overview of firearms during major life transitions in Missouri outlines how to downsize a collection safely, legally, and with full documentation.
Comments