How can you tell if a firearm is "clean" before you buy?

[Guest v3bahumut]

A friend of a friend wants to sell me a rifle, but thinks that it may be, in his own words, "a bad gun"

He says the guy he bought it from may have sold it to him to get rid of it, he thinks it may have been used for illegal purposes.

How can I find out if the rifle has a history?

[Guest clownsdd]

Do yourself a favor, forget the rifle. And I would be careful around the friend.

[Garufa]

Run Away from it. You probably could get it checked out if you had the serial number and called the law but if anything was amiss there will be questions.

Edited January 31, 2009 by Garufa

[Guest bkelm18]

Just because it may have been used in a crime doesn't mean it will have a "history". It could have been used in crimes but if the gun was never stolen or ID'd as the weapon used in the crimes, then nothing is going to show on any report.

[Guest v3bahumut]

Do yourself a favor, forget the rifle.

Run Away from it.

This is what I've been thinking.

[The Average Joe]

Do yourself a favor, forget the rifle. And I would be careful around the friend.

Chances are, if someone says a gun MIGHT be dirty, it probably is.....

+1 Good advise, clownsdd.

[Guest jdavis]

Chances are, if someone says a gun MIGHT be dirty, it probably is.....

+1 Good advise, clownsdd.

+2 real good advise.

[Fadex]

Run away. Far, Far, Away. Don't look back....keep going.

[DaveTN]

How can I find out if the rifle has a history?

You can check with your local PD; many will run it for you.

As far as checking it without risking it being seized; you can’t.

If it is stolen or wanted anyone that runs it will have to explain why there were running it and where it is.