Where do you keep the receipt to a new gun that you've purchased?

Question

Should you keep it with the gun and/or in the gun case or keep it in the safe?

Does it really matter? Like for example a cop asks you to prove it is yours we only have our license but it doesn't say what guns you have. Do you need to prove it's yours on the spot or do they have to think that it's stolen?

I'm new to gun ownership and just got my license. They didn't go over anything about receipts in the classes.

Answer 1

If the gun has not been reported stolen, then the presumption is that you are the legal owner. And yes, I have had police check when I have been stopped for a traffic violation while carrying a gun. It's no different then when they run the license plate on the car. You don't have to prove it is your car (it's legal to borrow a friend's car) the burden is on the police to prove it is stolen.



That said, I do have a spreadsheet that lists all my guns by make, model, caliber, and serial number. It shows when I bought each one, and how much I paid and on guns I have sold it shows when I sold it and for how much. It is just for my personal reference and for if I have to file an insurance claim, but if there was any questions about a gun I own it would be useful as well.

Answer 2

There is no legal requirement to keep a receipt.



However, for insurance purposes - keeping it may be smart. However, recipts printed on most modern equipment (heat sensitive paper) dont last much beyond a few months. What you need to do - depends on your insurance policy. If you have $4,000 in guns and your home owners policy only cover $2500.... here you will need to have receipts, an apprasal, or documentation you actually still owned it, such as a shipping manifest when you moved. If your policy is $2500 and you have $25,000 in guns - this means you need to 'schedule' the guns on your policy - usually by make, model, serial number, and you prove the value when you schedule the item. Cost is usually $3 a year per $1,000 coverage and is money well spent if you travel with your guns allot.



Mark Jack - has the best solution. Scan the receipts and save them. You need to do this anyway so you can take advantage of the 1 year or limited 5 year warranty most guns come with. Pictures - are very smart too. Be sure to include close ups of any custom work. (I have a Ruger stainless 77 in 338 as my moose + big bear gun. If my insurance company just handed me a new 77 in that caliber.... I would be out the cost of the Leupold scope ($800) and the rifle threading, custom muzzle brake, and trigger job - $300.) Here, a picture would be hugely important.

Answer 3

When a cop suspects a gun is stolen they run the serial number in a national database. As long as it doesn't come back stolen you're fine. That said I keep my receipts in a file in my safe. I had to have a separate insurance policy for my guns due to the value. So my insurance company has on file a list of all the guns with current market value ,any upgrades done to the gun,and serial numbers. They also have a DVD with pictures of all the guns and scopes.

Answer 4

There is no more legal requirement to keep a receipt for the ownership of a gun than a TV. Nor can the cops force you to prove ownership. That said, it is important to keep stuff like that for insurance purposes and to CYA. It is not a good idea to keep the receipt with the gun. I keep the receipt in a file cabinet with the other receipts and long the info in my firearms database. It doesn't have to be in a safe.

Answer 5

I have a folder in my desk inside my room where I store all my firearm related purchase receipts and doccuments. It's a bright colour so I know what it is. You can keep a folder in the safe, gun case or wherever but I just choose to keep everything inside my desk.



Cheers

Kurt

Answer 6

Keep it in the safe. As has been mentioned the text will start to fade. Make a copy if need be. Most states you don't need a receipt. Just remember where you bought it from and they keep records there.

Answer 7

Keep it in a fireproof safe or in a safety deposit box at the bank. My son had his truck stolen in Tucson and inside was my HK 45 and his Century Arms Cetme. The Cetme showed up at a pawn shop so I produced a copy of the original reciept and a picture of the original box with the serial number and it was delivered to me within a week of the hearing.



Now, the Safety Deposit Box? Lets say you have NFA Tax stamps for your suppressors or machine gun. If your house catches fire and those papers burn up and all of a sudden fire investigators discover all these suppressors or NFA weapons and your paperwork burned up in the fire and can not explain what they are doing there and no Stamps to go with them? That could cause alot of problems for you. So just to be safe, keep a log seperate from your guns, and reciepts (with serial numbers) locked up safely away from them.



If you are lucky enough to live where you can own NFA weapons, keep a copy of your tax stamp with the device. Most range masters will accept that as proof of legality. If not, it doesnt take long for a judge to hand it over once you show up with your original stamp.

Answer 8

i keep my gun receipt records in my pistol safe. they have little value outside of insurance purposes or for records keeping on your end for things like if your place got broken into and stuff was stolen. having the paperwork with gun serial numbers makes everything go a whole lot smoother when making the police report.



if the cops want proof about your gun (assuming you live where all guns are registered and transfers of guns must go thru a licensed dealer) they have to check their own records.



i treat my gun receipts much like my tax returns or paycheck stubs- just hang on to them even if they just collect dust for 50 years. why not hang on to them? its not like they take up that much room in your filing cabinet. and if one day you determine you need to make them 'disappear' they're made of paper, last i checked paper is quite flammable... but the government will always have the record even if your copy got 'misplaced'.



it is good practice to keep track of your firearms, such as using a spreadsheet to list your gun's make, model, caliber, and serial number. it is handy to have in case of bulargy or other kinds of loss/damage.

Answer 9

The burden of proof is on the officer. He needs the serial number of a stolen gun. If it doesn't match yours, that's all he needs to know.

Answer 10

I keep the receipt taped in the owners manual. I have a file for all owner manuals as I can't always remember certain things about each firearm such as will it shoot +P.

Answer 11

I normally scan it with my printer and take a pic of the gun with its serial number visible. The ink will fade on the original so it's good to have a digital copy.

Answer 12

I just toss mine. Never been a problem. I can't prove the Pepsi that I bought at Walmart is mine, the Tractor from John Deere, or even the corn that I bought at the CO-OP.

Answer 13

I would have to say that I have lost or misplaced most of my receipts.

I was checked out by a cop at target practice while in an improper area and he did a stolen ser. no. check. He did not ask for proof of ownership.

Answer 14

i keep my receipts in a safe place in case my guns are ever stolen. a cop cannot request that info from you. they can run the serial number. if it comes up stolen you have to prove its yours. if the gun is not stolen, you have nothing to worry about.

Answer 15

I keep them in a cigar box in my gun safe. And, I keep a file on my computer of; photo of the gun, date bought, where bought, price, description of the gun, serial number, and I keep a backup of the file in the cloud.

Answer 16

A cop will run the serial numbers on it anyway.

Answer 17

up to you on receipt .....as for cops asking you to prove it's yours they would need a WARRANT to even look at the serial number unless you give them permission .......

Answer 18

Where do you live that you'd need to worry about such a thing?

Answer 19

in a safe. its good to have when selling the gun.

Answer 20

they know who's it is by the serial number

Answer 21

in my designer jock.