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DEWAT THOMPSON


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Say,

If I locate the Thompson of my dreams, can't it be DEWATED?? I noticed that the late J. Curtis Earl offered a DEWAT process, so I'm guessing that is still OK to do? As far as pricing, I guess I answered my own question with that, but does anybody here know if it's OK to DEWAT a Gun?

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Lionhart: What kind of loco weed have you been eating on that there ranch of yours. First we see a picture of you machinegunning horses and now you want to do the reverse of what I just went through? Are you what the indians call a contrair? (heard that line in a movie titled "a man called horse").

 

 

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Hawksnest

 

Isn't that pick from the Auto Ordince Catalog titled " Anti Bandit Gun ", however I agree with you http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/unsure.gif DEWAT http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/unsure.gif a perfectly good fuctioning Thompson !?!

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Devlin--

I was thinking that you lived in a state that didn't allow MG's. Maybe I was wrong.

 

Please clear the mystery of why you want to silence a live Thompson. The only thing I can imagine is that you might think the dewat could go places the MG can't. But, I'm sure you know that both are under the same NFA rules. Yea, I'm stumped.

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OK, OK,

This is why. I CAN'T own a Fuctioning FA. But Washington does allow DEWATS. Indeed, DEWATS are under the NFA! (Who said they were not?) In 1986 Curtis earl advertised a DEWAT Service. It states in part, "I can weld a plug in the barrel to render it inactive, and sell it to you tax free". Can't this be done today? I'm not trying to invite criticism, nor do I feel ignorant on what is an NFA Weapon, and What isn't. Of course, as I stated above, and in other Posts, DEWATS are NFA Weapons. Isn't there anybody else out there who can answer these questions, without a sarcastic tone? As to the Why this, or why that? My question is, if I found a Live Thompson, can't it be made into a DEWAT in pretty much the same manner that Curtis Earl use to do? That way, if the Laws ever change, or if I move, I can file the Form 1, pay the $200.00 Tax, and enjoy it!

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Yeah, No kidding. Sometimes easier said than done! I love my Project "X", but since I've been a Thompson Fanatic my entire life, it's about time that I own one. The only practical way to do so, is a DEWAT. And yes, DEWATS will continue to grow in value, like any other MG. Perhaps Laws may change, or perhaps I'll have a second home someplace where I can have my Thompson reactivated. But at this point, A DEWAT is certainly better than no Thompson! And they can be Restored to firing later down the road, like you had done with yours Hawksnest!
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Who in their right mind would dewat a thinning herd!? I agree with Chris.....MOVE to Indiana or Kentucky where it is leagal or hell even Oregon where all subguns are water cooled! http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/wink.gif

 

Mike

Mike's machineguns

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Lionhart, I will try to answer your question as best I can when I return to my office Monday. As a lawyer and class 3 license holder I think I know the answer but I want to check my Federal gun law books just to make sure. I'll post something Monday. Rob
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Devlin--

Well, I learn something new everyday. I had no idea dewats could exist where MGs couldn't. Given that fact and your situation, I'd probably consider doing that too. Didn't mean my inquiry to sound critical. I was just curious, so please accept humble apologies.

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Lionhart: Perhaps a simpler plan would be to buy a thompson that is already registered as a dewat. That is what I was lucky enough to find. I'm confident there are other registered dewats out there. http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/cool.gif
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Sgt..No offense really taken! No need to apoligize!

Hawksnet; Indeed, that is one possibility! Though I haven't seen many DEWATS come up for sale often. I would think that the majority of those have been reactivated. We'll see what comes up!

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Devlin,

 

I agree with your plan. As long as you can't have a "live" one where you live, the Dewat would be the next best thing and cetainly could be altered at some point in the future. Good luck with your search. Let us know what you find.

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Lionhart, I must say this sounds encouraging to me, wow! being able to own a dewat in Washington state, but how is this possible? as this state has taken considerable pains to dis-include us from all of the nasty harmfull machine guns, sbr's and aow's http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/mad.gif rest assured that will be eliminated by the governor, when they find out that we have found a http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/ohmy.gif "loop hole" in their comunist kalifornia gun kontroll plans for world domination.
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Devlin, I agree with Chris, full auto 45 and mp 40, move out of WA or vote the liberal politicans out of office. Since recently purchasing Frank Iannamico's excellent Machine Gun Buyers Guide and Owners Mannual, 2nd. ed. , I have been trying to decide between staying and fighting Chuck and Hillary, et al here in N.Y., or moving to one of the saner 35 states that allow smg's and mg's. http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/sad.gif It's sad but true, here and in the 14 other Socialist States of Amerika and the District of Columbia, we suffer under draconian, onerous gun laws and the concomitant mollycoddling of criminals and therefore, rising crime rates. http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/ph34r.gif The question: What to do? http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/blink.gif I should think a good start would be to find and elect more politicians who aren't afraid to carry a Tommygun, like the guy in my avatar, Sir Winston Churchill, former P.M. of Great Britain. http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/cool.gif

 

Regards, Walter

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LIONHART

Here goes. I have looked at Washington state law and do not believe you can legally own a dewat in this state. First I looked at Washington Revenue code 9.41.190. That statute makes it unlawful to own or posses a machine gun or any part designed and intended for use in a machine gun, in converting a machine gun or to assemble or repair any machine gun. This is a class C felony i.e. jail and fine. I then looked at the definition of Machine gun found in 9.41.010(7). It is somewhat different than the Federal definition as it does not address the dewat issue. So finaly I had to see if any Washington courts have looked at this issue. In the Case of State v Berrier the court found a firearms enhancement sentence was appropriate(more jail time) for a a person who commited a crime with an inoperable machine gun. The court said" An unloaded or even inoperable firearm is still a firearm for purposes of statute prohibiting the possession of a machine gun, short barreled shotgun or short barreled rifle..." In other words no dewatts. That is about as close as a Florida lawyer can get to interpreting Washington law. I checked Oregon and found you are ok to own machine guns as long as they are Federally registered. I would stay away from Dewatts in Washington and move accross the border into Oregon. I can fax or mail to you this information to read if you email me that information. Good luck Rob

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RKR,

Thanks for the info, and for your time, but there are a number of registered DEWATS in Washington State. No, the RCW doesn't mention DEWATS in general. I'll contact the ATF in Seattle. If anybody should know, it should be them.

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Curtis Earl stelight welded the barrel and breach (to comply with De-Wat regs) of the famous ornate Midas Touch Thompson for a customer in California. Now if that Colt could be subjected to such an indignity, then all other De-Wats pale in comparison. Do not know if the Midas gun was Re-Wated in subsequent sales to owners in Class III states.
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Delvin

 

How about this? Start a corporation in the nearest NFA friendly state of your choice.

That could be your answer. I have not done this but maybe someone here can guide you.

I know corporations can buy. I know you can arrange to store the weapon legally in a variety of ways OUT of the state of Washington, as I am doing this now. I live in Canada and my NFA collection has been in storage in bank safe deposit boxes, Class III dealers and in friends homes (in locked cases under my key control) and I have stored them in two different states.

What I am not sure about but feel fairly comfortable that it can be worked out is how the Form 4 is filled out for address with a corporation. Is a physical address required (I think yes) and if so can you get a physical address? Would a resident agent address for the corporation qualify ( I dunno )? Resident agents are usually a requirement.

 

I have heard others talk about dual residence, there you would need to qualify for residency in another NFA friendly state. This is another story.

 

Michael

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QUOTE (Sig @ Jul 14 2003, 07:20 PM)
I have heard others talk about dual residence, there you would need to qualify for residency in another NFA friendly state. This is another story.

ISTR that Washington residents still share a remarkably close relationship under the law with Alaska, and that Alaska has remarkable "liberal" (as in non-regulated) residency requirements -- and once you own the weapon legally (as an Alaskan resident), you can move it to a third state (including one where you do not have residency), so long as you retain control (safe deposit box, locked steeal box at friend's house where you keep all keys, etc.) and your possession in that third state is in accordance with that state's requirements.

 

I don't remember the exact details of Alaskan residency, but ISTR that you can homestead a chunk of land, provided you live four weeks a year on it, and make "improvements" every year, such as graveling yor dirt driveway one year, and planting a lawn the next, etc. ANd, as a bonus (AFAIK) this qualifies you for your share of the Alaska Oil Dividend each year (a dividend paid to all residents of Alaska, from proceeds of the Alaskan oil industry), which you could use to finance your hobby. Any Alaskan residents out there to confirm or deny?

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