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Everywhere I looked on the Intertubes people warned me about getting an 03 FFL C&R license. They were right..
I sent in my application to the ATF with credit card info and a copy to my local chief of police.on April 24th. The card was charged within a week, so every day in May I anxiously checked my mail - nothing. Then on June 4th, at the 45 day point, I happened to see a non-descript looking envelope with a weird return address (it almost looked like junk mail, but it had first class postage), and there it was - my C&R 03 FFL had arrived. What a sweet way to start a week! I immediately made numerous unsigned copies (including three on my color printer just for kicks) and put the original away. The large envelope with C&R information came in the mail the next day.
After what I thought was an enormous display of restraint (mostly for my wife's reassurance), I faxed a signed copy of my new federal license to several online MilSurp sellers exactly a week later. Having spent the last few months drooling on my keyboard in researching potential purchases, I new what I wanted, and ordered a pair of CZ 82 pistols from Widener's.
Here is where the 'Oh my goodness' part comes in. After confirming by phone their receipt of my 03 FFL, I placed an online order late Tuesday night (it was probably very early Wednesday morning, but in my excitement I could not say for sure). The website never showed me any order info except that it was being 'processed'. This morning I called them up, and a nice lady said' "Well let me see. That order was shipped 'second day air' by UPS on Wednesday and should arrive today" (Friday). Sure enough, my friendly local UPS driver jumped out of his truck after lunch and with a smile and said: "Looks like you have a new toy!" Inside the box were a pair of CZ 82 semi-automatic pistols with holsters (a bit goofy looking, but brand new leather), an extra magazine each, as well as cleaning rod and lanyard, for < $236 each delivered to my door! NO local dealer FFL transfer fee and NO 72 hour Illinois waiting period after the NICS call is made!
One of the pistols is in better cosmetic shape than I had hoped - just some minor scratches and holster wear on one side of the slide, but no wear evident on the feed ramp or around the breech face at all. It looks very good to me, and I am happy with it. The other pistol looks for all purposes to be brand new. Not a scratch on it - not even on the slide rails or the bottom horizontal portion of the slide (do not know the correct name of that part of the pistol - sorry). Even my wife, when looking at the two firearms said: "Humph. Wow!"
Then I took a quick look at GunBroker.com, and sure enough, my lower than expected bid for a C&R elligible Walther P1 was the winner. Where does this end? Burn the credit cards.
Oh my goodness!
PS - pictures will be posted tonight or tomorrow when I get a chance. Do not know when I will get to fire them, since first I will need some 9x18mm Makarov ammo (I hear it is fairly inexpensive). I am not collecting thinking I will get rich on appreciation of value. I just like guns.
I can't help but wonder about that $189 Radom P64 on ClassicFirearms. It takes the 9x18mm Makarov too, doesn't it? Hmmm...what about a Bulgarian Makarov?
03 FFL applicant beware!
Edited by il.bill, 15 June 2012 - 06:47 PM.
