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Unregistered Class III in attic ?

20K views 34 replies 33 participants last post by  Cooper  
#1 ·
So I hear stories, but how many do you think are really sitting around in someones attic, or basement? I know there has to be some.
 
#2 ·
i actually ran across a guy that was selling sten guns from ww2 for 600 bucks... something jus seemed fishy tho, i thought they may have been stolen or something like that so i i never did it but im sure there are tons of older ww2 vets and even vietnam vets taht have trophys from downed enemies
 
#3 ·
I know for a fact that there are some. All I can say on a open forum.

Buddy found his grand dads Thompson in his attic, luckily it was registered.
 
#5 ·
Actually , there are probably Hundreds of them across the country in barns and attics, or secretly Buried...By Law, The BATFE was supposed to have 60 days of Amnesty in 1968 for these to be registered, but they only did 30 days.They were overwhelmed with thousands at that time from those people who heard about it. There were a lot of people who were working in other states, on ships, etc or at the time NEVER heard about the Registration Window and never got to register their WW2/ Korean war trophies that they brought back.
Several groups have tried to get the amnesty re-instated for the remaining 30 days that Congress set forth so that More War trophys could be legally Registered and Owned/sold. They have had No Luck with the BATFE or Congress so far in this matter. Which is stupid on the Governments part because it allows those weapons to be Untrackable and UNTAXABLE (200.00)
Even DeWATS (deactivated War Trophies) with intact receivers are supposed to be Registered just Like fully operational weapons, because of a change in The Rules Years ago by BATFE...
 
#6 ·
I'm not sure if "unregistered Class IIIs" are an urban myth or a legend with a kernel of truth at its core. I do know that prior to the Machine Gun Control Act of 1934 intended to take Thompsons and BARs out of the hands of organized crime, anyone who could afford one could buy either one legally and there are people who did. My dad ran across a kid from the backwoods of Kentucky who was an artist with a Thompson during basic training in 1940. The kid's granddaddy had bought one in the late 1920s and the family used it to chase revenooers away from the still, the kid claimed. I myself ran across a man at a surplus store who was feuding with both his Chief of Police and the BATFE. His grandfather had bought one, his uncle inherited it, his cousin inherited it from the uncle and he'd inherited it from his cousin. The local cops had locked it up until his tax stamp came through; but after it did, they did not want to return it to him. He wound up having to take the police to court to get his Thompson back from them. So they're out there.

Likewise, I've heard stories about GIs who brought back Schmeissers from World War II, Korean war vets who brought back Thompsons captured from the ChiComs and grunts who brought back AK-47s from Vietnam. But it's always the "friend of a friend" stuff that is a warning light you're dealing with an urban myth and not facts when they are talked about. I myself have never laid eyes on a real Class III not in the hands of the police, registered and tax-stamped or not.

I can't say the stories are hot air and I won't they aren't. And I have to point out that someone who really does have an unregistered, untaxed full auto gun is not going to go out of his way to let the fact be known. Until and unless the yankee gummint either declares another amnesty on Class IIIs or until the law is changed to allow any honest citizen to own one (and I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for that), the truth of the matter will never be known.
 
#7 ·
If a reasonable percentage of those stories had any validity I would start collecting attics, basements, cellars, barns, and garages. Not neccessarily in that order
 
#8 ·
I refuse to answer this question.
As allowed under the Fifth Amendment, of the U.S. Constitution!
 
#9 ·
I don't think a rusty old gun in the attic collecting dust is going to get you in too much trouble under the defense of even a public defender. And, when you do come across it, you can always apply for the tax stamp at that point.

If they find one in your home that looks like it has been kept up, cleaned, ammo & accessories for it found as well and it is something you obviously have known about...that is what will get you in trouble.
 
#10 ·
I don't think a rusty old gun in the attic collecting dust is going to get you in too much trouble under the defense of even a public defender. And, when you do come across it, you can always apply for the tax stamp at that point.

If they find one in your home that looks like it has been kept up, cleaned, ammo & accessories for it found as well and it is something you obviously have known about...that is what will get you in trouble.
Uh...NO you can't apply for a tax stamp...Until there is an Amnesty , it cannot be registered. It will be confiscated and destroyed...
Dont EVEN try it !!!
 
#14 ·
I'm sure. Think about how they were freely available and readily made in the 1900s-1930s for the open market, and again how many men went to Europe in WWI, Russia in the 1920s, South America in the 30s, Europe in WWII, Asian theater in WWII, Korea in the 50s, Vietnam, etc. etc. etc.

Look at the problems with the later wars with smuggling, how about that Seal that got busted with FA AKs, I'm sure it's done and done often. Not everyone is dumb enough to talk about it either.
 
#15 ·
I refuse to answer this question.
As allowed under the Fifth Amendment, of the U.S. Constitution![/QUOTE


Don't take this wrong. Please.

But to some, that kind of a comment/statement in and of itself can be construed as self-incriminating.


Not saying you are or did self incriminate yourself. I'm just saying that to some, it could seem that way.



As to the question put forth by the original poster, I have no doubt there are many unregistered class III firearms floating around in basements, safes, hidden walls, buried and in attics.
 
#17 ·
I was in a gunsmith shop when a gentleman came in with an Hopkins and Allen
single shot .22 rimfire with a supressed barrel on it. It had no sights on it and he wanted the Gunsmith to fit some sights to the dovetails in the barrel. As he was ahead of me and we were talking about guns he told me this was his grandfather's rifle that has been passed down to him. When the smith came out he looked at the rifle and asked to see the man's tax stamp and registration as he'd have to order some sights and then fit them to the rifle. The man asked what he meant and the smith asked if the rifle was registered as AOW or a suppressed rifle. The man said he did not understand and the smith explained the deal as best he could and then told the man to take the riflle out of his shop. They are out theirand there must be plenty of them.
 
#18 ·
Yes there are a lot of vet bringbacks and other unregistered guns. I have collected and own a number of machine guns at this time and I have on several occasions met people who have "found" guns that apparently have no paperwork on them.

The usual procedure is to turn the gun over to an attorney who can then request status from BATF. If it's registered, as does happen sometimes, the gun can be returned to the owner or executor of an estate. If the owner is deceased, there is a procedure whereby the weapon can be transferred to the rightful heir taxfree. If it's not registered, my personal recommendation is to strip every possible part off the gun and have the attorney surrender the receiver to BATF. At least the parts can be sold.

There is absolutely no way an unregistered gun can ever be registered, transferred, sold, or otherwise disposed of. It is contraband plain and simple and must be surrendered to BATF.

I have no idea how many unregistered guns are still out there but it is a shame they must be destroyed, as many of these guns have a lot of history behind them and they belong in a museum. There's also the loss of revenue to the government since they can't ever be sold or transferred. I wouldn't be surprised at all if there were hundreds of thousands of guns still out there.
 
#21 ·
I still want to go through "old" chicago and see how many former gangster hideouts might have one or two hidden in the walls. If I ever did find one, nobody, but the most trusted people I know would know about it.

For me, it would just be another skeleton in the closet, for me to know about and relish in its glory. I would then have to purchase a few Kahr Arms versions so if the word got out, there would be a few "Thompsons", but not the one they looked for.
 
#22 ·
Talk to the owner of your local gun shop or an FFL who handles estates. They will all have at least one story for you about the one they turned in, and 5 they won't tell unless you get em good and drunk.
 
#25 ·
Well for what it's worth....

i don't know why anybody would want one. full auto is a waist of ammo and accuracy. I'll take semi any day.
Legally owned and transferable MG's are rather valuable items these days. In 1986 the law was changed, it stopped the manufacture of machine guns that were available to be sold to a private citizens. Since then due to the limited number, prices have skyrocketed. A M1A1 Thompson that was available for $ 500.00 to $ 1000.00 (plus transfer tax of $ 200.00) are now bringing $ 15,000.00 plus! Rare guns are way out of reach for the average joe. I have seen MG 42's sell for $ 40,000.00. The last transferable mini gun was over $145,000.00.
I will agree that if I want to hit a target precisely, give me a good bolt action any day, but for putting the biggest s*%t eating grin on someones face there is nothing like a belt fed weapon!



[SIZE=+1]Life's Journey is not to arrive at the grave safely, in a well preserved body.
But rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting: "Holy shit... What a Ride"!!
[/SIZE]
 
#26 ·
I remember as a kid, going with my dad to some guy's garage for some reason. No idea who he was or why we went there, but I'll never forget the German MG43 he had laying across the rafters in his garage! Big ol' machinegun just laying up there, covered with dust. Probably early 60's, I recognized it from my Sgt. Rock comic books.