You can sell your privately owned firearms without an FFL, but you cannot actually have a dealership or gun selling business without it. Different states may have different regulations, particularly on the transfer of handguns (states with a pistol permit system may require a pistol permit to be submitted even in a private sale, while some states strictly require all private sales of handguns to go through an FFL dealer).
Blackpowder guns are exempt from the Gun Control Act of 1963. This is the law that requires a Federal Firearms License (FFL) to send guns by mail. So, no. You don't need FFL to mail black powder guns.
A licensed FFL dealer can sell firearms to the public. But, a private party can sell guns to another private party.
Generally, you're required to have a Type 7 or Type 10 FFL to manufacture firearms. <><><> The type 7 FFL is required to make guns for sale. In most of the US, it is legal to make your own firearm, but it cannot be sold, and cannot be an otherwise regulated firearm (no machine guns, short barreled shotguns, etc)
In the past I have as a Type 1 FFL holder. But my FFL was for my gun smithing business rather than the sales business, so I'm not so much into selling guns.
all firearms have to be shipped from one state to another via FFL dealer........
Any FFL licenced firearms dealer can order one, although you can't buy one in California. Additionally, you can check Gun Broker, Auction Arms, Guns America, and other websites, although you'll still have to have any firearms you order online received by an FFL licenced dealer.
Figures are unavailable for some countries but without doubt many, many millions
MAYBE if you worked for the ATF and it hasn't passed through to private hands with a wide speriod in between... I say N instead of a number, in my state it's 10 (Illinois) FFL->FFL, FFL->Private, also recorded/reported (phone call with details/approval). Private->Private recorded and mostly not reported back and they have a shelf life of N years and then often destroyed (its like gun owner religion) . There has been recent "if sold at gunshow laws" that require a seller to call if physically at the GUNSHOW. They will refuse to record the sale if you are not PHYSICALLY at the gunshow. You can do the math on that one. So if I gun is used in a crime. Manufacture to FFL, FFL-FFL/Person tracked, if that person sold the gun less the N years ago he SHOULD have a record of who he sold it to, if over N years, it could have been sold and recorded a many times but who knows who's doing it?
Jesse James Guns were sold online in 1883 Jesse James Guns were sold online in 1883
They are. To perform any kind of work on a firearm for money, you're required to hold a Type 1 FFL.
A great place to look for guns for sale is on www.gunbroker.com, there are also many store in areas that sell guns, If you find the gun on gunbroker, you will have to buy the gun through a FFL liceanse holder
Because there is no registration for airsoft guns there is no record of how many were sold.