We Buy Guns, a national online firearm purchasing platform, today reported continued growth in its purchases of transferable machine guns and other Class III firearms. The company has completed 21 transferable machine gun purchases since mid-2025, when it began publishing dedicated machine gun valuation content and simplified its platform for owners looking to sell NFA firearms.
So far in 2026, We Buy Guns has completed 15 transferable machine gun purchases, compared with six in all of 2025, and the dollar volume has risen by a similar margin. Since 2025, machine guns have made up less than 0.5% of firearm submissions but about 9% of total offer value. Individual purchases have ranged from about $4,500 to $30,000.
"Machine gun transactions are built on trust," said Chris Wing, owner of We Buy Guns. "A seller is handing over a rare, highly regulated firearm and relying on us to manage a federal transfer process that can take weeks or months. The volume will always be small. What matters is that more owners are choosing to complete that process with us."
Recent purchases include a Colt Model 1921 Thompson, a Frankford Arsenal M16A1, a Smith & Wesson Model 76, a Vickers machine gun, an MP40, a Ruger AC556K and several MAC and M-11 variants. We Buy Guns publishes a valuation guide for many of the models it buys, including the Colt 1921 Thompson, and keeps current price ranges in its machine gun valuation hub.
Managing the transfer
Transferable machine guns can only change hands through an approved National Firearms Act transfer. We Buy Guns coordinates that process from start to finish: valuation, paperwork, coordination with licensed dealers, and insured shipping. Because NFA approvals take longer, the company keeps machine gun offers open for up to a year, compared with 30 days for standard firearms. On average, a machine gun purchase takes about 28 days from the accepted offer to the firearm's arrival, compared with about four days for a handgun.
"The process of selling them a Class 3 firearm could not have been any easier or professional," wrote Dick Caster, who recently sold an M2 carbine to the company. "They are extremely efficient and treat you as a VIP."
Support for estates and executors
NFA firearms often turn up during estate administration, when executors may be unfamiliar with the federal transfer requirements. We Buy Guns works with executors, estate attorneys and families to identify regulated items, document and value collections, and handle compliant transfers, so the estate doesn't carry that burden on its own. Selling directly to the company also avoids consignment commissions and the long timelines that often come with auction sales.
"Executors have a responsibility to get fair value while staying compliant," said Wing. "We handle the regulatory work and give them a clear, direct offer."
Resources for executors and attorneys are available at www.webuyguns.com/resources/estates
About We Buy Guns: We Buy Guns is a national online platform and licensed Federal Firearms Licensee that enables individuals to sell firearms online through a licensed, compliant process. The company manages shipping, verification and payment, providing a streamlined alternative to private sales and traditional resale channels. We Buy Guns serves individual firearm owners, estates and collectors throughout the United States.
Learn more at www.webuyguns.com