$30 FLAT. NO SURPRISES.
If you bought a firearm somewhere else — an online retailer, an auction, or a private seller — it has to ship to a licensed dealer near you for pickup. That’s what I do. You buy it, it comes here, I run the background check and hand it to you in person.
Transfers are by appointment only.
What it costs
What I take
I handle standard transfers — new or used, handgun or long gun, same price and same process for either. A firearm coming from a private party, in state or out, is fine too, as long as it ships to me legally.
I also do NFA transfers: suppressors, short-barreled rifles and shotguns, AOWs, and transferable machine guns. A suppressor bought through my Silencer Shop link goes on a Form 4473 like any other gun. The rest go through the ATF and take longer. How that works is below. Transfers go to New Hampshire residents only.
How it works
- You buy the firearm. Online, at auction, or from a private seller.
- You give the seller my dealer information. Email me at transfers@oldjohnsonfirearms.com before it ships and tell me what’s coming. Most sellers want a copy of my license sent directly — I’ll handle that. If you’d rather talk it through first, call and I’ll walk you through it.
- The seller ships it to me. Send me the tracking number when you have it, so I know what to expect and when.
- I let you know it’s here. You’ll hear from me within a day of it arriving and being logged — usually within a few hours.
- You book a time and come in. Bring your ID and payment.
- We do the paperwork and background check. You fill out a Form 4473, I run the check, and in most cases you take it home the same visit.
Want to see the paperwork first? See a blank Form 4473 (example) Revised August 2023
NFA transfers
Short-barreled rifles and shotguns, AOWs and machine guns work differently from a standard transfer. The ATF has to approve the transfer to you before I can hand it over. A suppressor bought through my Silencer Shop link doesn’t wait on the ATF.
Buy a suppressor
Buy it on Silencer Shop through my dealer link. Silencer Shop takes payment and ships it to me. I call you, you come in, fill out a Form 4473, and take it home once the background check clears. No Form 4, no ATF wait. The whole process
You have to be 21 to take a suppressor.
NFA items bought somewhere else
- You buy it. The seller sends it to me on a dealer-to-dealer form.
- Once it’s here, we start the Form 4 to register it to you.
- It waits here until the ATF approves it.
- When the approval comes back, I call you. You come in, do the paperwork, and take it home.
$40 each. Call or email before you buy and I’ll walk you through the cost and the paperwork.
What to bring
A valid New Hampshire driver’s license or state ID with your current name, address, and date of birth. That’s usually all it takes.
If you’ve moved recently and your license still shows the old address, bring a second government-issued document with your current address — a vehicle registration, an NH hunting or fishing license, a voter ID card, or a tax bill. A utility bill, lease, or bank statement won’t work for this; it has to be government-issued.
You have to be 18 to take a long gun and 21 to take a handgun.
You have to be 21 to take a suppressor.
Ship to
Old Johnson Firearms
19 Old Johnson Road
East Hampstead, NH 03826
Include your full name so the box can be matched to you. Shipping address only — pickups are by appointment, no walk-ins.
Hours and appointments
Stated hours are Monday through Friday, 9 to 5, by phone. But I’m not tied to a retail schedule — text or email me in the evening or on a weekend and I’ll get back to you, usually within a few hours.
Everything runs by appointment.
If the check is delayed or denied
Most checks clear in minutes. Long guns run through the FBI, which is fast. Handguns in New Hampshire go through the State Police, which can take longer — sometimes well beyond a day. If I haven’t gotten a response after three business days, federal law lets me proceed, and I will.
If the check comes back denied, I can’t release the firearm to you — there’s no exception to that, and I can’t hold it while an appeal plays out. It goes back to the dealer who shipped it, and the cost of return shipping is yours. If you think a denial is wrong, you can appeal it through the FBI. The $30 fee stands either way; the work was done.
If you don’t pick it up
If your firearm arrives and I can’t reach you, I’ll hold it for 30 days. After that it goes back to the shipping dealer, with return shipping at your cost.
Common questions
What does a transfer cost? $30 for the first firearm, $10 for each additional on the same shipment. NFA items bought elsewhere are $40 each. Suppressors bought through my Silencer Shop link have no transfer fee.
Do you do suppressors? Yes. One bought through my Silencer Shop link is a Form 4473 and a background check, no ATF wait. One bought anywhere else is an NFA transfer; see NFA transfers above.
Can I buy a suppressor through you? Yes. Buy it on Silencer Shop through my dealer link. Silencer Shop takes payment and ships it to me, and you pick it up on a Form 4473. There’s no transfer fee on those. How it works
How do I get your license to the seller? Email me before it ships and I’ll send it where it needs to go.
How long does it take once it ships? That depends on the seller and the carrier. Send me the tracking number and I’ll watch for it. Once it’s here and logged, you’ll hear from me, usually within a few hours.
Can my spouse pick it up for me? No. The person the firearm is for has to be the person who fills out the paperwork and passes the check. Buying a gun on someone else’s behalf is a straw purchase, and it’s a felony.
Can I just stop by? No, it’s appointment only. Call or email and we’ll find a time that works.
Do you sell firearms too? Yes — new and used, and I can order from distributors. I also take firearms on consignment. See what’s for sale, or ask me to find one.
Ready to start one?
Send me what you’re buying, who’s shipping it, and the tracking number when you have it. I’ll get my license to the seller and let you know when it’s here.
