What if you found a Thompson submachine gun? - Page 4

Armybrat · February 20, 2011, 11:49 AM

My Dad brought one of these Belgian made BARs back from France in 1945. My Grandpa dewatted it by soldering a small brass plug in the breech, then Dad got a registration paper of some kind from the FBI (No BATFE in those days).

I used to play Army with it when kids could do those kinds of activities.

My brother donated it to a National Guard WWII museum a few years ago.

Webleymkv · February 20, 2011, 12:57 PM

While I understand that I couldn't legally keep it, is there any way I could at least make sure that it went to a museum or something of that nature rather than going under a saw or torch? Honestly the biggest temptation to put it back where I found it and never tell anyone would come from knowing what the ATF might do to a historical artifact if I told them.

Willie Lowman · February 20, 2011, 01:38 PM

What are the current rules on reactivating a registered DEWAT?

We are all talking about finding fully functional TSMGs... What if uncle Fritz had a few M1A1s that had been registered as Deactivated War Trophies? Can they still be brought back to full function as a transferable or would they be post samples?

kylen · March 14, 2011, 11:59 AM

If I found one I would turn it in. I have no need for any machine guns. I also think it would be very ignorant for anyone to keep one or to tell others to also break the law. That just gives the liberal anti gun people more fuel for their fire... be safe be smart.

seansean1444 · March 14, 2011, 02:14 PM

keep it real real quiet that you have it lol

David Hineline · March 14, 2011, 08:30 PM

NFA registered Deactivated War Trophies transfer no tax. If you want to re-activate them then pay the tax and they are live and transferable.

David Hineline · March 14, 2011, 08:33 PM

here is a reproduction BAR for $19,000 so I hope your brother took the donated value of around $30,000 for an original off his taxes.

http://www.subguns.com/classifieds/i...uery=retrieval

mboylan · March 31, 2011, 08:47 PM

The problem here is that possessing an illegal machine gun is like possessing a kilo or so of heroin or cocaine for distribution in the eyes of the law.

4-10 years in prison. No possibility of parole or early release.
Up to $250,000 in fines.
Stripped of your right to vote.
Stripped of your right to own or even handle firearms.

My recommendation to anyone who inherits or finds uncle Bob's unregistered tommy gun is lawyer up and let the lawyer have possession of it. Look like hell for bring back papers. Have the lawyer call the ATF and check to see if it is registered. If all else fails have the lawyer turn it in to the ATF anonomously.

It just ain't worth it.

February 20, 2011, 01:38 PM	#78
Willie Lowman Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2009 Location: Uh-Hi-O Posts: 3,006	What are the current rules on reactivating a registered DEWAT? We are all talking about finding fully functional TSMGs... What if uncle Fritz had a few M1A1s that had been registered as Deactivated War Trophies? Can they still be brought back to full function as a transferable or would they be post samples? __________________ "9mm has a very long history of being a pointy little bullet moving quickly" --Sevens

February 20, 2011, 11:49 AM	#76
Armybrat Senior Member Join Date: May 10, 2009 Location: Round Rock, Texas Posts: 976	My Dad brought one of these Belgian made BARs back from France in 1945. My Grandpa dewatted it by soldering a small brass plug in the breech, then Dad got a registration paper of some kind from the FBI (No BATFE in those days). I used to play Army with it when kids could do those kinds of activities. My brother donated it to a National Guard WWII museum a few years ago.

February 20, 2011, 12:57 PM	#77
Webleymkv Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 10,446	While I understand that I couldn't legally keep it, is there any way I could at least make sure that it went to a museum or something of that nature rather than going under a saw or torch? Honestly the biggest temptation to put it back where I found it and never tell anyone would come from knowing what the ATF might do to a historical artifact if I told them.

March 14, 2011, 11:59 AM	#79
kylen Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2010 Location: North Florida Posts: 253	If I found one I would turn it in. I have no need for any machine guns. I also think it would be very ignorant for anyone to keep one or to tell others to also break the law. That just gives the liberal anti gun people more fuel for their fire... be safe be smart.

March 14, 2011, 02:14 PM	#80
seansean1444 Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2010 Location: ithaca, new york (home of the ithaca shotguns!) Posts: 395	keep it real real quiet that you have it lol

March 14, 2011, 08:30 PM	#81
David Hineline Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 1999 Location: South Sioux City, Nebraska Posts: 704	NFA registered Deactivated War Trophies transfer no tax. If you want to re-activate them then pay the tax and they are live and transferable.

March 14, 2011, 08:33 PM	#82
David Hineline Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 1999 Location: South Sioux City, Nebraska Posts: 704	here is a reproduction BAR for $19,000 so I hope your brother took the donated value of around $30,000 for an original off his taxes. http://www.subguns.com/classifieds/i...uery=retrieval

March 31, 2011, 08:47 PM	#83
mboylan Senior Member Join Date: March 31, 2011 Posts: 120	The problem here is that possessing an illegal machine gun is like possessing a kilo or so of heroin or cocaine for distribution in the eyes of the law. 4-10 years in prison. No possibility of parole or early release. Up to $250,000 in fines. Stripped of your right to vote. Stripped of your right to own or even handle firearms. My recommendation to anyone who inherits or finds uncle Bob's unregistered tommy gun is lawyer up and let the lawyer have possession of it. Look like hell for bring back papers. Have the lawyer call the ATF and check to see if it is registered. If all else fails have the lawyer turn it in to the ATF anonomously. It just ain't worth it.