How to: Gifting a Heritage Firearm

My dad passed away a year ago, and since then, both of my sons have gotten married and sadly, he was not there to be part of their big days. I wanted to give them something to remember him, because I know he would have given them each a special, personal gift. I went back and forth, trying to choose a unique item that would invoke fond memories of their Grandpa Ade that they would enjoy and perhaps even pass down to their future children. When I decided on a gun, a Heritage Barkeep, I first needed to do some research on the legalities of the gift-giving of a firearm. I wanted to make sure everything I did was on the up-and-up.

The Legalities

I began researching gifting a firearm on the National Shooting Sports Foundation's (NSSF) website, which contains a wealth of knowledge on anything firearms related. After a little digging, I concluded that in the state of Ohio, where I live, it is perfectly legal to purchase a firearm as long as the recipient meets the following criteria:

• Lives in the same state. If my sons and I didn't live in the same state, under federal law, I would have to ship the firearm to a licensed firearm retailer in their state. Then, after a background check, that retailer could transfer the firearm.
• Is of legal age to own the firearm. This also varies depending on the type of firearm, if it is a long gun or pistol.
• Has no legal reasons denying them ownership of a firearm – for instance, a felony on their records.

Please understand that the legalities of gift-giving a firearm vary from state to state. For instance, some states require a transfer through a licensed firearms retailer with a background check, and others require the recipient to have a specific license or permit. There are even states that don't allow their citizens to own specific firearms or may even limit the size of the magazine. It's important that you research your own state before even considering gift-giving a firearm. You do not want to put the recipient in a situation where the recipient now owns something illegal.

Although there is no paperwork in Ohio for giving my sons their gifts, I suggested that they record the serial number, make and model of their firearms. Additionally, storing a photo of each firearm along with this information in their document safes would be wise. It's important to document every firearm you own in this way, as it provides valuable information for insurance purposes and can be helpful to the police in case of theft.

The Gift

On April 3, my dad's birthday, I presented both boys with their gifts at our little family party we had to honor him. Choosing the Heritage Barkeep was a no-brainer. Both boys saw it earlier when I worked on the article “Heritage Barkeep: Evoking Childhood Memories” and mentioned it looked like a fun little gun.

Then, I perused the Heritage Firearms store for another article and found all the fun accessories that went with the Barkeep. When I saw the .22WMR cylinder engraved with The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, I knew they had to have that. Clint Eastwood was one of my dad's favorite actors, and he always quoted him from different movies. If Clint Eastwood isn't your thing, there are a bunch of different engraved cylinders you can choose from with a wide variety of themes.

I also thought the Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) coated cylinders looked really different, so I gave each son one of those .22LR cylinders to add a little bling when they wanted it.

I packaged all of this in a Heritage Barkeep cedar wood presentation box. Then, as a little bonus, I gave them both a metal flask with the Barkeep logo engraved on the front. All this, packaged together, made a meaningful gift, sure to remind my sons of their grandpa – whether they are out plinking on the range or just looking at everything in the presentation box. I know my dad looked down proudly as I handed my sons their gifts. I'm sure if he were still alive and I mentioned this as a wedding gift, he would have definitely wanted me to place the order.

Final Thoughts

If gifting a firearm is legal in your state, you might also consider including some additional items such as a holster, ammunition, a lock box or a small lockable gun case. However, if the legalities of giving a firearm as a gift seem complicated, you could choose to purchase the accessories and include a gift certificate for the firearm instead, along with a photo. Heritage Manufacturing offers a variety of choices in firearms and accessories that can create lasting memories for both the gift giver and the recipient at reasonable prices.

About the Author

Michelle Cerino, aka Princess Gunslinger, is a firearms trainer, writer, hunter and adventuress. She entered the firearms industry in 2011 as a national training company's co-owner, president and trainer. At the same time, she began competing in both 3-Gun and NRA Action Pistol, becoming a sponsored shooter. 

Currently, Michelle is the managing editor at “Women's Outdoor News” and the author of numerous posts on the site. As a firearms trainer, she works with Apex Shooting and Tactics, instructing the Faster Saves Lives program in northern Ohio. Michelle also manages the social media for FASTER Saves Lives and Vera Koo. You can find more of her writings at “Shooting News Weekly” and the NRA's “Shooting Sports USA.”