The Gun Desk

Clipboard in One Hand, Calm Answers in the Other

I’m Drew McDermott, a licensed firearms dealer and the owner of MDRF Enterprises, based in Saint Louis. I didn’t grow up dreaming about collectible guns or rare rifles. What I’ve always cared about is helping people fix things, especially when it comes to legal gray areas and high-stakes decisions involving firearms.

After years in the private sector solving operational problems for other companies, I started my own business in 2012. It didn’t take long before I realized how many families had no idea what to do when a loved one passed away and left behind a safe full of guns. Probate rules, ATF forms, interstate shipping, appraisals, none of it is intuitive. So I leaned in, learned the law, built trusted processes, and started showing up when people needed real answers.

These days, I spend my time helping heirs, estate attorneys, and liquidators figure out what’s legal, what it’s worth, and how to handle it all without risking a felony or a family feud. I’ve handled everything from forgotten .22s in dusty basements to entire collections scattered across three states.

The Gun Desk is where I write down what I’ve seen, what I’ve learned, and what most people don’t know they need to ask. Because when it comes to firearms and estates, not knowing can cost you.

When the Guns Were Already Gone

When two elderly brothers passed away just months apart, their out-of-state niece inherited a home filled with fifty years of belongings, gun safes, ammunition, and reloading equipment. But when professionals were finally called in, every firearm was already gone. This real-world Gun Desk case reveals how missing guns create permanent legal exposure, why ammo and reloading gear still carry liability, and how the right professionals prevented a bad situation from becoming far

Drew McDermott

Best Places to Sell Firearms Near Me (St. Louis)

I buy and appraise firearms in St. Louis. If you need a fair, legal sale fast, this guide compares local FFLs, pawn shops, online buyers, and auctions.

Drew McDermott

That Time the ATF Knocked, Five Years After a Legal Sale

A legal gun sale should be the end of your responsibility, but sometimes it is only the beginning. This true story from the Gun Desk shows how a private sale years later brought the ATF to a former owner’s door — and why proper transfers protect you from unexpected legal trouble.

Drew McDermott

Can I Sell Guns as an Executor or Liquidator Without a License?

Are you legally allowed to sell firearms as an executor or estate buyer? This post explains when you need a Federal Firearms License—and when you don’t. Learn how to stay compliant and avoid ATF scrutiny.

Drew McDermott

Plastic Fantastic

I first spotted the Remington Nylon 10C behind glass in a Vermont hardware store. It looked more like a sci-fi prop than a .22 rifle, but that plastic-stocked plinker changed everything. Light, rugged, and ahead of its time, the Nylon 10C was more than a rifle—it was freedom in a box magazine.

Drew McDermott

Winchester Model 98 Signal Cannon appraised during a Kirkwood estate firearm evaluation

Boom in the Backyard

Some calls are routine—others stop you in your tracks. That’s what happened when I got offered a Winchester Model 98 Signal Cannon. I didn’t know much about them, but one look brought me right back to being twelve, dreaming of fort battles and Fourth of July booms. Here's how I came to own this piece of Americana and what happened when I finally lit the fuse.

Drew McDermott