1945 M3a1

192ndkid · 10-02-2009, 09:43 PM

I have couple questions guys..First I was do some work on a house the other day for a customer,Inside a wall was this news paper wrap'd up SMG.Upon Letting the women know about it ,she said it was more than likley her husbands .Now he passed away almost ten year prior,and was in the army over in France.She asked if i wanted to maybe purchase it for the work I was doing...Hell ya i want it but there is no way i could get it legaly could I..?I asked if she could dig up any paper work for it but she did not remember ever seeing here husband with this weapon and had sold his others years ago.
So please tell me what i could do or what she should do with this sweet cherry of a SMG .

SwedeSteve · 10-02-2009, 10:19 PM

It's non-transferable. You get caught with it, you go to jail, and probably never get to buy a gun again !! That simple. I know it's tempting, but you should have her call the cops and let them take it away.

PAPA G · 10-03-2009, 12:54 AM

could always bury it for SHTF day

SightNSqueeze · 10-03-2009, 01:06 AM

If she was advised of the legalities and liabilities, couldn't she then apply for and receive a Class III license and then sell the weapon to another Class III holder? Wouldn't that make the weapon legal and none of the participants liable since she has no knowledge of the weapon's origin? I would hate to see her lose the value of the weapon and a person who wants legally denied it. Just a thought.

JimBob · 10-03-2009, 02:37 AM

There is no way to make this weapon legal due to changes made to the 1968 GCA in 1986.To get a license to sell NFA weapons you must first have a Type 01 FFL and then it's going to cost you about $5000 to get a license to deal in NFA weapons.It would if legally possesed require a $200 tax stamp.You don't say I have the weapon give me a license.Not to mention the probability of it being stolen gov't.property.The best course of action and only legal option open to her is to contact the ATF or local law enforcement and explain the circumstances of it's recovery and turn it in.It just ain't worth a $25,000 fine and up to 10 years in the iron bar hotel with Tyrone as a roommate.Some time ago there were postings on some of the firearms boards about several NFA firearms found in a creek by law enforcement.They weren't found to be reported stolen and most likely were found when somebody died and the heirs didn't know what to do with them so they pitched them.

matt760 · 10-03-2009, 02:46 AM

Could the firearm be demilled and turned into a dummy and be legal. Weld the chamber, weld the firing pin hole. Maybe even weld the action closed?

It would destroy most of the value as an original firearm but would still be cool to have.

Would this work? I mean if it doesn't function, then its not a firearm, right? Or am I way off here?

Maybe contact a museum and see if they would be interested in displaying it.

JimBob · 10-03-2009, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt760

Could the firearm be demilled and turned into a dummy and be legal. Weld the chamber, weld the firing pin hole. Maybe even weld the action closed?

It would destroy most of the value as an original firearm but would still be cool to have.

Would this work? I mean if it doesn't function, then its not a firearm, right? Or am I way off here?

Maybe contact a museum and see if they would be interested in displaying it.

Who would do the demilling.That would be an accessory to felony possesion of an unregistered NFA firearm.

rondog · 10-03-2009, 11:42 AM

It's a damned shame is what it is, and IMO it's a criminal act by our stupid government to force laws like this on its citizens. There's NO reason for the government to deny honest citizens the right to own and enjoy guns like this when they turn up, it's a crime against our society.

JMHO, of course. I know there's people that would do stupid things and commit crimes with SMG's, but honest folks that find great-grandpa's war trophy should NOT have to give it up or face prison.

JimBob · 10-03-2009, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rondog

It's a damned shame is what it is, and IMO it's a criminal act by our stupid government to force laws like this on its citizens. There's NO reason for the government to deny honest citizens the right to own and enjoy guns like this when they turn up, it's a crime against our society.

JMHO, of course. I know there's people that would do stupid things and commit crimes with SMG's, but honest folks that find great-grandpa's war trophy should NOT have to give it up or face prison.

If I remember correctly only two crimes have been commited with a legally registered NFA firearm.Both times the perps were LEO.

192ndkid · 10-03-2009, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rondog

It's a damned shame is what it is, and IMO it's a criminal act by our stupid government to force laws like this on its citizens. There's NO reason for the government to deny honest citizens the right to own and enjoy guns like this when they turn up, it's a crime against our society.

JMHO, of course. I know there's people that would do stupid things and commit crimes with SMG's, but honest folks that find great-grandpa's war trophy should NOT have to give it up or face prison.

Rondog you are so right on..! and quoted twice...good words

It is a shame I had along talk with her and told her when I found it.I would love the ( rifle ?) but I cant take it

And that I would ask around and find out what to do with it,I should go see her this monday.It IS a real nice piece the husband did a nice job of wrapin it up when he stuffed it in the ceiling.I was redoing her bathroom for her and he had it stuff up in the ceiling in a garbage bag ,damn thing almost fell on my head..! I have to admit thought when I open'd it and saw what it was ,I kinda got sticky fingers.It was so damn cool in my hand and who knows how long it has up there for, I wanted to walk out and just slide it into my car...But my mom raised a good boy and could not do it..I will tell her unless she can find any paperwork that more than likely she will have to call the police and turn it in .That it is in the eyes of the GREAT one's it's illegal.Maybe I will ask if I can take a photo so i can always feel like indiana jones when he found the lost ark....lol

SightNSqueeze · 10-03-2009, 01:55 PM

192ndkid, that's probably a good idea to let her know what she "possibly”, has and the "possible" legalities involved ... just for her information only. It's obvious that, as of now, she doesn't "know" that she has a “possible” illegal weapon. Of course, for all intensive purposes, you don't "really" know that yourself since you didn't closely examine it. But given the possibilities, definitely share your thoughts with her and explain her options. It would be great if a military museum could have it, if and when it’s cleared by ATF and hopefully not destroyed. Greasers (M3 SMGs or Grease Guns) were made out of stamped metal and only cost the Army about $20-25 when they were produced. Even though an original Thompson sub-machine gun is more valuable, there were only about 600,000 Greasers made compared to more than 2 million Thompsons of all models. I know the Parris Island museum here near Beaufort would love to have it. I'm sure there are some military museums in Florida that would like it too.

wunhunglo · 10-03-2009, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rondog

It's a damned shame is what it is, and IMO it's a criminal act by our stupid government to force laws like this on its citizens. There's NO reason for the government to deny honest citizens the right to own and enjoy guns like this when they turn up, it's a crime against our society.

JMHO, of course. I know there's people that would do stupid things and commit crimes with SMG's, but honest folks that find great-grandpa's war trophy should NOT have to give it up or face prison.

I very much doubt that this piece is a "war Trophy" as such, more like Stolen US Government Property!!!

ironhead7544 · 10-03-2009, 06:23 PM

If its not registered its contraband. Check the net for similar threads to learn what to do. Dont take it home.