Does an out of state gunsmith need to hold an FFL in order to ship a gun for repair?
Thank you.

to be a gunsmith in any fashion requires an FFL, the sole exception being the few guys who only work on antiques. If you want him to work on your gun and it is not an antique, he needs to be licensed.
Steve

Any one doing gunsmithing and charging a fee is technically in the business and that person needs FFL if complete gun or a receiver is going to be shipped to him. On other hand if you are shipping some thing like barrels for rebluing the receiving guy doesn't need a FFL.

It sounds like Bob is more asking about the shipper. Maybe not.

A gunsmith can receive from anyone and also return it to the same person he received it from.

I checked with the NRA lawyers and they said a person can do any gunsmithing chore in state, but they CAN NOT recieve recievers from out of state. To have recievers shipped directly to you for repair, modification or whatever from another state requires a FFL.

bill

They are wrong......very, very wrong.

If I read the OP correctly he is asking whether an FFL is needed to ship a gun for repairs, interstate.

In that case the answer is you do not need to hold an FFL to ship a gun, only to receive a gun. You yourself can ship the gun direct to the repair facility as long as the facility holds an FFL to receive and work on it.

As a practical matter,the shipper will need a copy of the receiver's FFL to be able to get anyone to accept it for shipping.
Mike

i think according to the atf you need an ffl to do any work on modern firearms including bluing, but i could be wrong

Bob,
if you mean does he need an FFL to receive a gun,yes he must have an FFL. You can not send a gun to anyone interstate that does not have a FFL (except yourself)
The "shipper" if unlicensed can send a long gun USPS, or a common carrier. If its a hand gun-and he is unlicensed he must use a common carrier (or pay an FFL to ship it USPS on a 1508)and pay overnight fees.
If for repair the gun can be returned to you directly if you shipped it.

https://www.atf.gov/content/firearms-frequently-asked-questions-unlicensed-persons

https://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/gunsmiths.html#license-activities

"Q: Is an ATF Form 4473 required when a gunsmith returns a repaired firearm?

No, provided the firearm is returned to the person from whom it was received.

[27 CFR 478.124(a)]

Q: Is a license needed to engage in the business of engraving, customizing, refinishing or repairing firearms?

Yes. A person conducting such activities as a business is considered to be a gunsmith within the definition of a dealer.

[27 CFR 478.11]

Things may have changed in the last year Mike, but I have never been asked for the recipients FFL when shipping USPS, UPS or FEDEX.

Having said that you the shipper must have a copy of it and I keep them just in case.

There is an interesting read from the NSSF about retaining a copy of the FFL

http://nssf.org/retailers/posts/WAN-Time-to-Retain-Copies-Federal-Firearms-Licenses.cfm

" Though many retailers tell our consultants they believe they must retain these copies indefinitely, just as often our consultants are asked, "Just how long do I have to retain these FFL copies?"

The answer may be surprising: A retailer does not have to retain them at all! The section of ATF regulations that govern the providing of FFL copies is 27 CFR 478.94. In pertinent part, this regulation states:

"A licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer selling or otherwise disposing of firearms, and a licensed collector selling or otherwise disposing of curios or relics, to another licensee shall verify the identity and licensed status of the transferee prior to making the transaction. Verification shall be established by the transferee furnishing to the transferor a certified copy of the transferee's license and by such other means as the transferor deems necessary: Provided, That it shall not be required (a) for a transferee who has furnished a certified copy of its license to a transferor to again furnish such certified copy to that transferor during the term of the transferee's current license … ."

The fact that another copy need not be furnished during the term of the current license implies that the first copy is retained; however, there is nothing in this section that explicitly requires the retention of the first FFL copy. Further, ATF regulation 27 CFR 478.129, which provides guidance on the retention of firearms records and forms, makes no mention about the retention of FFL copies.