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WW-2 Japanese MG

Fatstrat
A co-worker told me last nite that his GF was in WW-2 (Pacific) and had smuggled home a Japanese Machine Gun. We don't know which model or "type".
Then in the 1960's, Grandpa got cold feet and buried it in a wooden box in his back yard. The location is reportedly known. Altho the property has long been sold, and is now a vacant lot.
I'd imagine after 30+ years under ground in the midwest, it's not in very good condition anymore. Probably unfireable. Would it still be a Class 3 if recovered?
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Comments

7 comments

Date Votes
  • Pearyw
    It would be illegal.
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  • mark christian
    If it was not registered before the close of the 1968 amnesty for registrations of all National Firearms Act weapon in possession as of that date then it cannot be registered now. This firearm, functional or not, is contraband and possession is subject to heavy fines and possible prison time. Notify the local/regional BATFE office and make arrangements to hand it over. No Class 3 dealer can touch the gun, it is now outside of all commercial channels of trade.
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  • Fatstrat
    quote:Originally posted by mark christian
    If it was not registered before the close of the 1968 amnesty for registrations of all National Firearms Act weapon in possession as of that date then it cannot be registered now. This firearm, functional or not, is contraband and possession is subject to heavy fines and possible prison time. Notify the local/regional BATFE office and make arrangements to hand it over. No Class 3 dealer can touch the gun, it is now outside of all commercial channels of trade.

    I live in Okla. The gun is reportedly buried in KCMO. I'm not going to go to the trouble of recovering it, if I can't keep or sell it.
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  • perry shooter
    couldn't one recover the item then give BATF the receiver only and then sell the parts [?][?] just a question or can't one donate to a Museum. Question #2
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  • mark christian
    quote:Originally posted by perry shooter
    couldn't one recover the item then give BATF the receiver only and then sell the parts [?][?] just a question or can't one donate to a Museum. Question #2




    Whether or not the BATFE allows you to retain the parts is on a case by case basis and nothing is an absolute. The firearm can be donated to an accredited museum (government or private) with the approval of the BATFE but the museum has to be authorized to file a ATF From 10 and also get it approved. Once again, this is on a case by case basis and not just any museum is authorized to obtain these types of items. Just how interested an accredited museum is willing to go to file the Form 10 on a 70 year old machine gun that has been in buried the ground for 30 years is any one's guess. The only absolute in these cases is that no private party or dealer can retain possession of the firearm, that is etched in stone.

    if the old guy had just written a letter to the ATF back in 1968 and just said that "I have this old Jap machine gun serial number ###### that I want registered" he would have had the fun of playing around with the gun for 40 years and then passing down to his kids something that can be worth over $10,000 (depending on the model). He decided to hide it, worried about it for 30 years and in the end it became at best a worthless piece of rusted scrap iron and at worst a whole lot of trouble for anyone who finds it.


    I'm sorry your post shows my edit. I hit the wrong button by mistake and did not actually intend to edit anything from your post
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  • Grasshopper
    I really doubt if there would be anything left other than rust and more of the same even IF there is such a weapon/ I would not chase the dog...imo...nambu
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  • Fatstrat
    There's supposed to be a flag w/it too. I doubt if it's any good either.
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