WWII weapon law question

cbirunner · February 6, 2012, 04:12 AM

I was just wondering if anyone knew if there any particular laws and what the rules or laws were for weapons that were brought back by U.S. soldiers after WWII? Thanks

gyvel · February 6, 2012, 04:24 AM

Just the same laws that would apply to any other weapons. If they're not NFA weapons, then whatever existing laws that are out there in your locale would apply. If they are unregistered NFA weapons, then you have contraband carrying potential heavy fines and imprisonment.

MTT TL · February 6, 2012, 08:18 AM

If it is a fully automatic weapon it is illegal and there is no way at this time to make it legal. Being in possession of it could make you subject to arrest and prosecution.

musher · February 6, 2012, 08:32 AM

??

were or are?

MTT TL · February 6, 2012, 08:54 AM

Good point.

During WWII the rules were quite different than today. Soldiers under certain circumstances could bring back souvenirs including certain weapons. Soldiers could also buy US Army property (including weapons) under certain circumstances too. I know of no place that details these old rules.

cbirunner · February 6, 2012, 01:07 PM

I was just wondering what the steps would be to register them because they were not purchased, but rather brought home as souvenirs.

Carne Frio · February 6, 2012, 02:44 PM

Do you live in a state where registration is required ?
Are you asking about NFA type guns ?

carguychris · February 6, 2012, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Are you asking about NFA type guns ?

In case the OP is not familiar with NFA weapons, here's some documentation on the ATF website.

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/nfa/
http://www.atf.gov/firearms/guides/i...-firearms.html (keep in mind that this is by no means a list of every NFA firearm, just many of the common ones)

Here's probably the most crucial one to read:

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/nati...hine-guns.html

In a nutshell: Machine guns lawfully registered and possessed before May 19, 1986 may be owned by civilians. Those that weren't, basically can't.

Other NFA firearms can be registered, but the process is complicated.

Be aware that the NFA and ATF define a "machine gun" as any firearm that is designed to discharge more than one shot per trigger pull, or the parts required to convert another type of firearm to do so, e.g. full-auto conversion kits for semi-automatic firearms. IOW the semantic debates about what's a machine pistol, a submachine gun, an assault rifle, etc. are meaningless here; if it goes "rat-a-tat" when you pull the trigger once, the ATF says it's legally a machine gun.

For firearms other than NFA firearms, registration is entirely a matter of state law, and the question cannot be answered without knowing your (the OP's) state of residence.

cbirunner · February 6, 2012, 04:32 PM

The two guns would be a German Luger and a double barrel shotgun. I'm from Illinois so I am not sure about the registration laws.

carguychris · February 6, 2012, 04:42 PM

The Luger should not be NFA unless it's some really weird Luger I don't know about.

Some Lugers are capable of accepting shoulder stocks, which would normally make them NFA short-barreled rifles, but luckily for us, most historic Luger shoulder-stock-capable models have been specifically classified as Curios & Relics and are therefore exempted from the NFA.

If the Luger is a shoulder-stock model, take a look at the ATF C&R list and scroll down to Section III; the Lugers are on pgs. 35 & 36:

http://www.atf.gov/publications/down...-p-5300-11.pdf

The shotgun should not be NFA unless the barrel(s) is (are) under 18" in length or its overall length is less than 26".

IL may require state handgun registration, but I don't know for sure, as I've never had a good reason to check.

cbirunner · February 6, 2012, 04:56 PM

I don't know a whole lot about guns but I am pretty sure that the Luger is not able to accept a shoulder stock and I know the shotgun has a longer barrel than 18" and is over 26"

**Tom Servo** · February 6, 2012, 05:18 PM

Quote:

I don't know a whole lot about guns but I am pretty sure that the Luger is not able to accept a shoulder stock

Actually, there were some. They were called Artillery Lugers if I recall. C96 Mausers (and some Browning Hi-Power pistols) were also distributed with the stocks. Most of those are now classified as C&R which means they don't have to be registered on the federal level.

wally626 · February 6, 2012, 06:44 PM

Quote:

I don't know a whole lot about guns but I am pretty sure that the Luger is not able to accept a shoulder stock and I know the shotgun has a longer barrel than 18" and is over 26"

No registration in IL except Chicago. So if you are not in Chicago and have your FOID card you are good to go.

cbirunner · February 6, 2012, 08:29 PM

Great, thanks for all of the help.

MTT TL · February 6, 2012, 11:12 PM

If it did have an original shoulder stock well... the value would be extraordinary.

carguychris · February 8, 2012, 11:23 AM

I'm not familiar with shoulder-stock Lugers specifically, but other pistols set up for shoulder stocks typically have a vertical slot or tabs on the lower rear grip frame where the stock would attach.

As I said earlier, AFAIK the vast majority of Lugers were not outfitted for shoulder-stock use, and IIRC most of these date from the WWI era, although I'm no expert on these pistols.

February 6, 2012, 04:12 AM	#1
cbirunner Junior Member Join Date: February 6, 2012 Posts: 5	WWII weapon law question I was just wondering if anyone knew if there any particular laws and what the rules or laws were for weapons that were brought back by U.S. soldiers after WWII? Thanks

February 6, 2012, 08:18 AM	#3
MTT TL Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2009 Location: Quadling Country Posts: 2,780	If it is a fully automatic weapon it is illegal and there is no way at this time to make it legal. Being in possession of it could make you subject to arrest and prosecution. __________________ Thus a man should endeavor to reach this high place of courage with all his heart, and, so trying, never be backward in war.

February 6, 2012, 08:54 AM	#5
MTT TL Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2009 Location: Quadling Country Posts: 2,780	Good point. During WWII the rules were quite different than today. Soldiers under certain circumstances could bring back souvenirs including certain weapons. Soldiers could also buy US Army property (including weapons) under certain circumstances too. I know of no place that details these old rules. __________________ Thus a man should endeavor to reach this high place of courage with all his heart, and, so trying, never be backward in war.

February 6, 2012, 04:42 PM	#10
carguychris Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2007 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 7,523	The Luger should not be NFA unless it's some really weird Luger I don't know about. Some Lugers are capable of accepting shoulder stocks, which would normally make them NFA short-barreled rifles, but luckily for us, most historic Luger shoulder-stock-capable models have been specifically classified as Curios & Relics and are therefore exempted from the NFA. If the Luger is a shoulder-stock model, take a look at the ATF C&R list and scroll down to Section III; the Lugers are on pgs. 35 & 36: http://www.atf.gov/publications/down...-p-5300-11.pdf The shotgun should not be NFA unless the barrel(s) is (are) under 18" in length or its overall length is less than 26". IL may require state handgun registration, but I don't know for sure, as I've never had a good reason to check. __________________ "Smokey, this is not 'Nam. This is bowling. There are rules... MARK IT ZERO!!" - Walter Sobchak

February 6, 2012, 11:12 PM	#15
MTT TL Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2009 Location: Quadling Country Posts: 2,780	If it did have an original shoulder stock well... the value would be extraordinary. __________________ Thus a man should endeavor to reach this high place of courage with all his heart, and, so trying, never be backward in war.

February 6, 2012, 04:24 AM	#2
gyvel Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2009 Location: Northern AZ Posts: 7,172	Just the same laws that would apply to any other weapons. If they're not NFA weapons, then whatever existing laws that are out there in your locale would apply. If they are unregistered NFA weapons, then you have contraband carrying potential heavy fines and imprisonment.

February 6, 2012, 08:32 AM	#4
musher Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2005 Posts: 462	?? were or are?

February 6, 2012, 01:07 PM	#6
cbirunner Junior Member Join Date: February 6, 2012 Posts: 5	I was just wondering what the steps would be to register them because they were not purchased, but rather brought home as souvenirs.

February 6, 2012, 02:44 PM	#7
Carne Frio Senior Member Join Date: August 28, 2008 Location: Near Fairbanks Alaska Posts: 829	Do you live in a state where registration is required ? Are you asking about NFA type guns ?

February 6, 2012, 04:32 PM	#9
cbirunner Junior Member Join Date: February 6, 2012 Posts: 5	The two guns would be a German Luger and a double barrel shotgun. I'm from Illinois so I am not sure about the registration laws.

February 6, 2012, 04:56 PM	#11
cbirunner Junior Member Join Date: February 6, 2012 Posts: 5	I don't know a whole lot about guns but I am pretty sure that the Luger is not able to accept a shoulder stock and I know the shotgun has a longer barrel than 18" and is over 26"

February 6, 2012, 08:29 PM	#14
cbirunner Junior Member Join Date: February 6, 2012 Posts: 5	Great, thanks for all of the help.

February 8, 2012, 11:23 AM	#16
carguychris Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2007 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 7,523	I'm not familiar with shoulder-stock Lugers specifically, but other pistols set up for shoulder stocks typically have a vertical slot or tabs on the lower rear grip frame where the stock would attach. As I said earlier, AFAIK the vast majority of Lugers were not outfitted for shoulder-stock use, and IIRC most of these date from the WWI era, although I'm no expert on these pistols. __________________ "Smokey, this is not 'Nam. This is bowling. There are rules... MARK IT ZERO!!" - Walter Sobchak