New here? Read this first.
Canadian Firearm Exchange is a member-to-member marketplace for licensed Canadian firearm owners. Below is the short version of how joining, verification, and dealing with other members works. This page is maintained by Canadian Firearm Exchange and is a summary — it does not replace the Firearms Act, Canadian Firearms Program guidance, or our full guidelines.
Members deal directly — members are responsible for due diligence
Canadian Firearm Exchange is a venue that connects members. We are not a party to any transaction: we do not take possession of items, hold funds, process transfers, or provide legal or shipping services. Members deal directly with one another and are solely responsible for their own due diligence on every deal.
- •PAL verification — Confirm the other member's firearms licence with the Canadian Firearms Program (1-800-731-4000 or CFP Online) before any firearm changes hands.
- •Payment — Agree and complete payment terms directly between members. We never hold funds, and payment should only be sent once licence verification and transfer steps are satisfied.
- •Transfer and legal — Complete every CFP transfer, registration, and record-keeping requirement, and comply with the Firearms Act and all applicable provincial and territorial laws.
- •Safe shipping — Ship only through lawful carriers and approved methods (such as Canada Post's firearm-approved service), package items securely, and follow carrier rules for ammunition and restricted items.
Signing up
Who can join?
Canadian residents who hold a valid PAL or RPAL, or who want to buy and sell non-firearm gear such as optics, reloading supplies, hunting equipment and archery. Accounts are individual — no shared logins.
What do I need to create an account?
An email address you control, a username, your province, and your postal code. You confirm your email, then send a one-time $0.01 Interac e-transfer to verify your account. Every sign-in afterwards uses a one-time code emailed to you (two-step verification is mandatory and can't be turned off).
Can I bring my reputation from another marketplace?
Yes. During sign-up you can declare feedback from Canadian Gun Nutz, Gunpost, Town Post or another site. It shows on your profile as member-reported until an administrator verifies it.
Verification
Why do you verify identity?
Verification keeps the marketplace to real, accountable Canadians. It deters fraud, makes disputes resolvable, and it is why members can trust that the person on the other end of a deal exists.
What does verification involve?
You provide your real name, city and province, confirm the link we email you, then send a one-time $0.01 Interac e-transfer to admin@canadianfirearmsexchange.ca with the reference code shown on your verification screen. No credit card or banking details are ever collected or stored by us.
When does it happen?
After you confirm your email and sign in, we show your verification screen with your reference code. Once you've sent the e-transfer, tap "I've sent the e-transfer" and an administrator confirms it — usually within one business day. Until you're verified you can browse, but you can't list, message, or transact.
Why an e-transfer instead of a card?
A one-time $0.01 Interac e-transfer proves a real Canadian bank account and name without us ever handling card or banking data. It's non-refundable, charged only once, and there is no subscription. Members verified before this step remain verified — nothing is required from them.
Do you check my firearms licence?
We do not act as a licensing authority. Licence checks happen between the buyer and seller through the Canadian Firearms Program at the point of transfer, exactly as the law requires.
Compliance
Who is responsible for a lawful transfer?
You are — both sides of the deal. For a non-restricted firearm the seller must verify the buyer's PAL with the Canadian Firearms Program (1-800-731-4000 or CFP Online) before the firearm changes hands. For a restricted firearm the transfer must be approved and registered by the CFP before the buyer takes possession.
How do I verify a buyer's PAL before a transfer?
Sellers must confirm the buyer's licence directly with the RCMP before any firearm changes hands, and record the CFP reference number. Use the official portal: RCMP Individual Web Services sign-inor call 1-800-731-4000.
What can't be listed?
Prohibited firearms, devices and magazines, anything captured by the May 2020 Order in Council, and any item you can't lawfully transfer to another Canadian. Listings are reviewed and non-compliant ones are removed.
Any provincial rules I should know about?
Some provinces and territories add their own restrictions and shipping limits. Filter listings by province and confirm local rules before you commit to a deal.
Do I need to keep records?
Yes. Keep the CFP transfer reference number, the other member's name, the make, model and serial number, plus the date and price. Those records protect you if a transfer is ever questioned.
Dealing with other members
How do I contact a seller?
Use the message button on the listing. Keep negotiation and transfer coordination inside platform messaging — it creates a record we can refer to if a dispute arises and protects you from impersonation.
How does payment work?
Payment is arranged directly between members. We don't hold funds. Never send money, documents, or a firearm before the other member is confirmed and the CFP transfer process is complete.
What if something goes wrong?
Report the listing or profile using the report button, or email admin@canadianfirearmsexchange.ca. We review reports promptly, can suspend accounts, and cooperate with law enforcement where required.
Feedback & reputation
Why does feedback matter so much?
Feedback is the backbone of trust here. Because deals happen directly between members, the only public record of how someone conducts themselves is their feedback score. Buyers and sellers check it before committing, so a clean, honest record is the most valuable thing you own on this platform — it's often the difference between a quick sale and no responses at all.
When can I leave feedback?
Feedback opens once a deal is marked completed (sold, found, or traded). You'll see a 'Leave feedback' prompt on your My deals page and inside the deal itself. Both the buyer and the seller can leave one rating each, so make sure to leave yours — leaving feedback also encourages the other member to leave one for you.
Can I change feedback after I submit it?
No. Feedback is permanent and can't be edited or deleted once submitted, for either side. The confirmation prompt warns you of this before it goes live, so take a moment to rate fairly. There's no opportunity to revise a rating up or down afterwards.
What does my feedback score look like to others?
Your profile and the badge beside your username show your positive and negative counts and an overall percentage. A score is built up one deal at a time, and it follows you on every listing and message you post. You can also declare feedback you earned on Canadian Gun Nutz, Gunpost, or Town Post at sign-up — it shows as member-reported until an administrator verifies it.
What if I get unfair negative feedback?
If a rating is false or retaliatory, email admin@canadianfirearmsexchange.ca with the deal details. We don't remove feedback lightly, but we will review the record and the conversation, and we can act where a rating is clearly dishonest or abusive.
Ready to go deeper?
Read the Buyer Guidelines, Seller Guidelines, and our compliance overview. For authoritative answers on licensing and transfers, contact the Canadian Firearms Program at 1-800-731-4000 or CFP Online. For platform questions, email admin@canadianfirearmsexchange.ca.
Sellers verify a buyer's PAL here: RCMP Individual Web Services sign-inor call 1-800-731-4000