All of this extra hassle and double-dipping by dealers doing transfers is absurd. You just need to find an FFL dealer who is willing to comply with the law as written, and quit giving business to those who are using lame excuses to pick your pockets.
This goes double for guys who insist on doing FFL transfers for known Antiques.
I simply make damn sure to let any seller know they must include a legible photocopy of their Drivers License when they ship the gun, or it will be returned at their expense. I don't know if there is an actual requirement to have the seller provide a copy of a Drivers License, but it does make sense to simply have a paper trail if a gun turns out to be stolen. The FFL has no more assurance that a gun shipped to him was not stolen than if it came across his counter face-to-face. Having an FFL at both ends of the transaction does nothing to assure that the gun isn't stolen either.
A couple years ago, a seller shipped a new Marlin 1895 .45-70 without including the copy of his license. The FFL simply held the gun until the seller faxed the copy of his Drivers License. I had to wait one extra day to take possession. Big deal. The FFL I use now usually charges me $25.00, but sometimes does it for less. Time to shop around if you are getting clipped for $40 or $50 at each end. Use your head people.
