Browning BAR (1918)?
I found this on a Jeep forum where I am a member. Somebody wanna go through the rules here for me (in plain english and not the BATF legal jargon)?
"I have a question maybe someone can help. I know someone who found a pre- patent BAR with a bipod and a bunch of clips hidden in a wall in the house they bought a few years ago. They would like to find someone to sell the gun but are not sure how to go about it. I am no firearms expert but from what I understand there are only certain licensed people who can deal with automatic weapons, correct? They had considered donating it to a museum but weren't sure if that was even possible. They don't want to turn it in because it is after all a piece of history.. any suggestions?"
My reply (which was a guess based on what I vaguely remember from reading a similiar post here was.....
"Can't be changed to semi auto without spending more than it's worth. You can't sell it to ANYONE as it has not been registered. The only legal thing to do is to turn it in to a local BATF office and they will demill (destroy) it. They will give your friend NOTHING for the gun. This is info I got from reading a similiar questoin on www.gunbroker.com in the "ask the experts" section on a similiar gun. That person also asked about donating it to a museum and the guys there seemed to think that after the BATF got through killing the gun there wouldn't be enough left for anyone to want it.
If it weren't totally illegal I would suggest they get a completely waterproof container and bury it. If they ever become legal again (doubtful) or we have a breakdown for economic or political reasons (certain to happen sooner or later) they could have it to protect themselves. Those old BAR's were made when guns were as much a work of art as a tool. It would be a travesty to destroy it. Take this question to the gunbroker forum and ask this question there. They may be able to legally transfer it to a law enforcement agency. Don't know if they'd get paid for it or not but it's better than just handing it over for the commie nazi BATF to destroy. That's be like finding a mint condition MB/CJ2 in a barn and finding out the govts gonna come destroy it "for your own safety".
Also, chat forums are not the best place to ask where you should dispose of illegal weapons.....
I do hope you'll get more advice on this before they do anything with that gun. It is something that could never be replaced......
Disclaimer: The above is written from "best I can remember" so anything written above should be thorougly researched before any action of any sort is taken... "
Anybody got the "real" rules on this?
"I have a question maybe someone can help. I know someone who found a pre- patent BAR with a bipod and a bunch of clips hidden in a wall in the house they bought a few years ago. They would like to find someone to sell the gun but are not sure how to go about it. I am no firearms expert but from what I understand there are only certain licensed people who can deal with automatic weapons, correct? They had considered donating it to a museum but weren't sure if that was even possible. They don't want to turn it in because it is after all a piece of history.. any suggestions?"
My reply (which was a guess based on what I vaguely remember from reading a similiar post here was.....
"Can't be changed to semi auto without spending more than it's worth. You can't sell it to ANYONE as it has not been registered. The only legal thing to do is to turn it in to a local BATF office and they will demill (destroy) it. They will give your friend NOTHING for the gun. This is info I got from reading a similiar questoin on www.gunbroker.com in the "ask the experts" section on a similiar gun. That person also asked about donating it to a museum and the guys there seemed to think that after the BATF got through killing the gun there wouldn't be enough left for anyone to want it.
If it weren't totally illegal I would suggest they get a completely waterproof container and bury it. If they ever become legal again (doubtful) or we have a breakdown for economic or political reasons (certain to happen sooner or later) they could have it to protect themselves. Those old BAR's were made when guns were as much a work of art as a tool. It would be a travesty to destroy it. Take this question to the gunbroker forum and ask this question there. They may be able to legally transfer it to a law enforcement agency. Don't know if they'd get paid for it or not but it's better than just handing it over for the commie nazi BATF to destroy. That's be like finding a mint condition MB/CJ2 in a barn and finding out the govts gonna come destroy it "for your own safety".
Also, chat forums are not the best place to ask where you should dispose of illegal weapons.....
I do hope you'll get more advice on this before they do anything with that gun. It is something that could never be replaced......
Disclaimer: The above is written from "best I can remember" so anything written above should be thorougly researched before any action of any sort is taken... "
Anybody got the "real" rules on this?
0
-
Well, if it is truly the real thing, and never registered, then it's value is exactly what it weighs in steel. How much is it per pound these days?
If you hang on to it and get caught...well....it's your ass.
But, yea, it is a real shame to lose it to the ATF.
______________________________________________________________
0 -
Could you legally transfer it to a law enforcement agency (like the local PD)? 0 -
That, I don't know.
______________________________________________________________0 -
some times in life you will find a situation wherein the best advice is to not ask...... Momma taught me that, she is always right. So, shut up, go away, and good luck.
IMHO0 -
bpost, your momma gave you the best advice. I am simply trying to help someone out who may otherwise end up doing something that may get them into trouble.
Mark Christian, I did a search on this and in a different thread you said "All you can do with it is give it to a police department, donate it to a museum, or surrender it to the BATF for destruction". Does that mean it can be donated or given to a PD without demilling it?0 -
quote: Could you legally transfer it to a law enforcement agency (like the local PD)?
Yes, the firearm could be transfered to a LE agency or a government funded museum on a Form 10.
"My faith, my country and my family will guide me; nothing more, nothing less" -Gen. Tommy Franks0 -
What I would do if I found it. Immediately strip all parts from the receiver as all parts except the receiver you can keep. Then torch cut up, bury, throw in lake, etc. the receiver as that is the illegal part to own. Then I would send the parts kit to Ohio Ordnance Works and have them install it onto a legal semi auto receiver. And what a neat story it would be to have with the now legal rifle. 0 -
On a silly note....I live in Charleston, SC, a city with MANY very old homes. Reading this post has me wanting to rip the walls out of my old place to see what I can find. LOL! Mabye something from the civil war era......
______________________________________________________________0 -
It would be sad to destroy such a fine rifle. During ITR at Camp Pendleton I carried on on our run out to a range, where we loaded and fired them. Other than the matter of about 20 pounds of weight, they were a dandy to shoot, could accurately fire the 20 round magazine without let-up, except for the instructor beating on you since it was supposed to be 3-5 round bursts. With the exception of the Browning 50, I'd say I liked the BAR best of all the rifles I fired between 1967 and 1970. 0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
9 comments