diff --git a/applications/test/DynamicList/DynamicListTest.C b/applications/test/DynamicList/DynamicListTest.C
index 1c882b6ff3..f08f2d54a7 100644
--- a/applications/test/DynamicList/DynamicListTest.C
+++ b/applications/test/DynamicList/DynamicListTest.C
@@ -100,6 +100,15 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     Info<< "<dlB>" << dlB << "</dlB>" << nl << "sizes: "
         << " " << dlB.size() << "/" << dlB.allocSize() << endl;
 
+    // try with a normal list:
+    List<label> lstA;
+    lstA.transfer(dlB);
+    Info<< "Transferred to normal list" << endl;
+    Info<< "<lstA>" << lstA << "</lstA>" << nl << "sizes: "
+        << " " << lstA.size() << endl;
+    Info<< "<dlB>" << dlB << "</dlB>" << nl << "sizes: "
+        << " " << dlB.size() << "/" << dlB.allocSize() << endl;
+
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/applications/test/sort/sortListTest.C b/applications/test/sort/sortListTest.C
index 89252ae1f3..34a756dae7 100644
--- a/applications/test/sort/sortListTest.C
+++ b/applications/test/sort/sortListTest.C
@@ -70,6 +70,13 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     Info << "sorted:   " << b << endl;
     Info << "indices:  " << b.indices() << endl;
 
+    labelList flatten;
+    flatten.transfer(b);
+    
+    Info << "flatten:  " << flatten << endl;
+    Info << "sorted:   " << b << endl;
+    Info << "indices:  " << b.indices() << endl;
+
     Info << "End\n" << endl;
 
     return 0;
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/List/List.C b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/List/List.C
index 5d6c1608f7..4bc73c590f 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/List/List.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/List/List.C
@@ -432,14 +432,20 @@ void Foam::List<T>::transfer(DynamicList<T, SizeInc, SizeMult, SizeDiv>& a)
 {
     // shrink the allocated space to the number of elements used
     a.shrink();
-
-    if (this->v_) delete[] this->v_;
-    this->size_ = a.size_;
-    this->v_ = a.v_;
-
-    a.size_ = 0;
-    a.v_ = 0;
     a.allocSize_ = 0;
+
+    transfer(static_cast<List<T>&>(a));
+}
+
+
+// Transfer the contents of the argument SortableList into this List
+// and anull the argument list
+template<class T>
+void Foam::List<T>::transfer(SortableList<T>& a)
+{
+    // shrink away the sort indices
+    a.shrink();
+    transfer(static_cast<List<T>&>(a));
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/List/List.H b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/List/List.H
index 4f51878d45..c3fada1d62 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/List/List.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/List/List.H
@@ -63,7 +63,8 @@ template<class T, label Size> class FixedList;
 template<class T> class PtrList;
 template<class T> class SLList;
 template<class T, unsigned SizeInc, unsigned SizeMult, unsigned SizeDiv>
- class DynamicList;
+    class DynamicList;
+template<class T> class SortableList;
 template<class T> class IndirectList;
 template<class T> class BiIndirectList;
 
@@ -173,6 +174,10 @@ public:
             template<unsigned SizeInc, unsigned SizeMult, unsigned SizeDiv>
             void transfer(DynamicList<T, SizeInc, SizeMult, SizeDiv>&);
 
+            //- Transfer the contents of the argument List into this List
+            //  and annull the argument list.
+            void transfer(SortableList<T>&);
+
             //- Return subscript-checked element of UList.
             inline T& newElmt(const label);