Trophies of war

BoogieMan · February 14, 2013, 07:16 PM

Many firearms in the US were brought back by our fine men and woman through the years. I have herd of trophies of war paperwork filed in some cases. Other times its not mentioned but it does say no importers stamp.
Is this a federal or state issue?

BigD_in_FL · February 14, 2013, 08:27 PM

Why is it an issue at all? What time frame are you talking about?

Puddle · February 15, 2013, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Other times its not mentioned but it does say no importers stamp

This is interesting, but exactly what says no importer's stamp? I have heard of WWII 'trophy' weapons being brought back, but that was a long time ago. Is there some way to bring back modern weapons from current conflicts? If so, I have never heard of it. But I am genuinely interested in hearing about such a law if one exists.

**44 AMP** · February 15, 2013, 07:07 PM

The attitude on war trophy weapons has changed a lot since WWII. Mostly because the regular infantry class rifles these days are assault rifles (and here the term is being used correctly), and so under US law they are machineguns, and not legal for private citizens, as they cannot be legally registered because the registry has been closed, since 1986.

SO, no bring back AKs, or any other select fire or full auto arm can be functional and brought into the US as a "war trophy", at least, not by any private citizen. I believe the DEWAT category of war trohy is still allowed to be approved.

What "no importer's stamp" means is that the gun was brought into the US before 1968. It may be a war bring back, or it may have been inported befrore 68 when the requirement for an importer's stamp went into effect.

All the lack of a stamp does is allow for the possibility that the gun was taken from the enemy's hands or supply stocks and kept by someone who brought it back to the states. Something like a picture, with the signed insciption "Luger #4321 taken from Obfw Schnauser by Cpl Mazzeli, 11/17/43" makes the gun worth a lot more, to some people. Or the registration papers from the military as a war trophy, again, extra value, to some people.

Guns with proof of history are often the "won in a poker game" often on the ship back. Still a valid piece of history, and worth more than the "imported more than 23 years after the end of the war" category, again, to some people.

How much more, and to whom varies widely. Personally, I have some marked and unmarked milsurps, the importers mark doesn't matter to me. I'm interested in the type more than the markings.

vranasaurus · February 15, 2013, 09:22 PM

It is almost impossible to bring back firearms. My unit found a gold plated dragunov in an amnesty box. Our Bn Co and staff went through a bunch of hoops to bring it back as a piece of unit history but the customs guys confiscated it before we left.

The attitude toward war trophies has become more restrictive as we became more politically correct. Not to mention the importation restrictions have become better enforced. Basically we have mps acting as customs agents that basically search every vehicle and every bag as we leave country.

BoogieMan · February 15, 2013, 10:16 PM

44 AMP- I think you answered most of my question. Thank you. I was referring to old Korean and prior conflicts. In my particular case it is a WWI Hungarian Manlicher without import stamps. But I often see older Luger, P-38's, Mosin, etc... That do not have a import stamp. i was just a bit concerned about putting them in my collection.

hermannr · February 15, 2013, 10:41 PM

Private weapons purchased overseas and brought back with the proper paperwork still don't have a commercial inporters mark.

If I remember correctly, Prior to 1968 there was no such thing anyway.

February 14, 2013, 07:16 PM	#1
BoogieMan Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2012 Location: South Jersey Posts: 2,217	Trophies of war Many firearms in the US were brought back by our fine men and woman through the years. I have herd of trophies of war paperwork filed in some cases. Other times its not mentioned but it does say no importers stamp. Is this a federal or state issue? __________________ Concentrated power is not rendered harmless by the good intentions of those who create it. Milton Freidman "If you find yourself in a fair fight,,, Your tactics suck"- Unknown

February 15, 2013, 10:16 PM	#6
BoogieMan Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2012 Location: South Jersey Posts: 2,217	44 AMP- I think you answered most of my question. Thank you. I was referring to old Korean and prior conflicts. In my particular case it is a WWI Hungarian Manlicher without import stamps. But I often see older Luger, P-38's, Mosin, etc... That do not have a import stamp. i was just a bit concerned about putting them in my collection. __________________ Concentrated power is not rendered harmless by the good intentions of those who create it. Milton Freidman "If you find yourself in a fair fight,,, Your tactics suck"- Unknown

February 14, 2013, 08:27 PM	#2
BigD_in_FL Junior member Join Date: December 20, 2012 Location: The "Gunshine State" Posts: 1,981	Why is it an issue at all? What time frame are you talking about?

February 15, 2013, 07:07 PM	#4
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,817	The attitude on war trophy weapons has changed a lot since WWII. Mostly because the regular infantry class rifles these days are assault rifles (and here the term is being used correctly), and so under US law they are machineguns, and not legal for private citizens, as they cannot be legally registered because the registry has been closed, since 1986. SO, no bring back AKs, or any other select fire or full auto arm can be functional and brought into the US as a "war trophy", at least, not by any private citizen. I believe the DEWAT category of war trohy is still allowed to be approved. What "no importer's stamp" means is that the gun was brought into the US before 1968. It may be a war bring back, or it may have been inported befrore 68 when the requirement for an importer's stamp went into effect. All the lack of a stamp does is allow for the possibility that the gun was taken from the enemy's hands or supply stocks and kept by someone who brought it back to the states. Something like a picture, with the signed insciption "Luger #4321 taken from Obfw Schnauser by Cpl Mazzeli, 11/17/43" makes the gun worth a lot more, to some people. Or the registration papers from the military as a war trophy, again, extra value, to some people. Guns with proof of history are often the "won in a poker game" often on the ship back. Still a valid piece of history, and worth more than the "imported more than 23 years after the end of the war" category, again, to some people. How much more, and to whom varies widely. Personally, I have some marked and unmarked milsurps, the importers mark doesn't matter to me. I'm interested in the type more than the markings. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

February 15, 2013, 09:22 PM	#5
vranasaurus Senior Member Join Date: November 16, 2008 Posts: 1,184	It is almost impossible to bring back firearms. My unit found a gold plated dragunov in an amnesty box. Our Bn Co and staff went through a bunch of hoops to bring it back as a piece of unit history but the customs guys confiscated it before we left. The attitude toward war trophies has become more restrictive as we became more politically correct. Not to mention the importation restrictions have become better enforced. Basically we have mps acting as customs agents that basically search every vehicle and every bag as we leave country.

February 15, 2013, 10:41 PM	#7
hermannr Senior Member Join Date: March 24, 2011 Posts: 730	Private weapons purchased overseas and brought back with the proper paperwork still don't have a commercial inporters mark. If I remember correctly, Prior to 1968 there was no such thing anyway.