Walk in. Walk out suppressed. Buy a suppressor from us — in store or online — and pick it up in our Saco shop on a Form 4473. How it works →
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NFA & Suppressors Transfers FAQ About Contact Policies
Transfers

FFL Transfers

Bought a firearm elsewhere or sending one in? Here's exactly how a transfer runs through our FFL, start to finish.

Bought a firearm online or from another dealer and need somewhere to receive it? Federal law requires it to ship to a licensed FFL for the transfer — that's us. Here's exactly how a transfer runs through Sticks & Stones.

How an FFL transfer works

When you buy a firearm from an out-of-state seller or online retailer, it can't ship to your door — it must be sent to a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) near you, who completes the transfer in person after a background check. As your receiving FFL, we take in the firearm, log it, run the paperwork, and release it to you once everything clears.

  1. Tell us it's comingBefore you buy, contact us so we can send our FFL license to the seller. Many sellers also accept an FFL from our records on file.
  2. The firearm ships to usThe seller ships to our address; we receive and log it into our bound book.
  3. We notify youWhen it arrives, we'll let you know it's ready for pickup and schedule you to come in.
  4. Form 4473 & NICS checkYou complete ATF Form 4473 in person and we run the NICS background check.
  5. Approved & releasedOn a proceed, you take your firearm home — subject to any state waiting period.

What you need to bring

  • A valid, government-issued photo ID with your current address (a driver's license that matches your address is the simplest).
  • You must meet the minimum age (generally 21 for handguns, 18 for long guns) and be legally eligible to purchase.
  • Any documentation your state requires (e.g. a permit or registration card where applicable).

Form 4473 & the NICS check

Every transfer includes ATF Form 4473 — the federal firearms transaction record — which you fill out in person. We then submit a NICS background check. Most checks return an immediate "proceed"; some are delayed for further review, and a small number are denied. We can't override or speed up a NICS result — it's run by the FBI.

How to send a firearm to the shop

Having a gun shipped to us for transfer? Make sure the seller has our current FFL on file, and ask them to include your name and a reference (order number) inside the package so we can match it to you quickly. If you're shipping a firearm yourself, follow the carrier's firearm-shipping rules. Email us first at sales@sticksandstonesweapons.com and we'll confirm the shipping details and our address.

Transfer fees

$35 per firearm. NFA items — suppressors, SBRs and the like — are $50 each and transfer on an ATF Form 4. The federal tax stamp is $0 as of 2026, so the $50 is our fee and not a tax.

Bought your suppressor through Silencer Shop? It counts as ours: pick it up at our Saco shop on a Form 4473 (Maine residents), with no transfer fee.

Fees are per item, not per shipment: two rifles in one box are two transfers. We'll confirm the total before you send anything — no surprises at pickup.

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Transferring a suppressor? A can you own coming to the shop, a private sale between two people that we handle, or a can bought elsewhere and shipped here goes on an ATF Form 4 — $50, with a $0 tax stamp (2026). The in-store Form 4473 is for suppressors you buy from us, and a can bought through Silencer Shop counts as ours: Form 4473, no transfer fee (Maine residents). Browse our suppressors. SBRs and other NFA items are on a Form 4 too. See NFA & Suppressors for how that works.
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Have something to transfer? Email sales@sticksandstonesweapons.com or use the contact page and we'll get you set up.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Transfer rules vary by state and change over time; we'll confirm the current requirements for your transfer before it ships.