FOIA Success!

[darrylta]

After several years of haggling / appeal protests with the ATF regarding my Colt Monitor, I'm happy to report they have conceded to my demands.

 

The results of the first FOIA was the typical blacked out transfer pages. I contested their reasoning that they could not divulge the original purchaser's

identity due to their common individual privacy standing. I stated that Colt originally only sold the Monitors to verified government Police Departments

or State Penal systems. With that factual statement, their stand that the individual privacy concerns was in fact not correct or applicable in this case.

 

Yesterday I received a copy of the original transfer document!

It was purchased by the Washoe County Sheriff Dept. "Jail House" in Reno Nevada in 1934.

 

After some quick researching, I see that machine guns were used on several

Dillinger is coming to Reno events in 1934, I can see where it would come in handy :-)

 

Now I will have to contact the local Sheriff to see if there is any history on the gun.

 

It was sold to a dealer in 1973.

 

I guess, not taking 'No" for an answer, paid off in this case.

 

-Darryl

Edited September 18, 2014 by darrylta

[dalbert]

darrylta,

 

That is awesome! Quite an accomplishment, and it sets precedent for others. Makes complete sense, too.

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

[timkel]

You struck gold...a rich history. Keep going.

[darrylta]

I contacted the Sheriff's Dept. historian yesterday, he stated that he had a lot of photos of the

gun with deputies and newspaper articles regarding Baby Face Nelson's run in with the Washoe

Sheriff's Dept. in Reno.That in main part is why the county bought the Monitor, both Nelson and

Dillinger where on a rampage.

 

It will intersting to see what he actually has,

 

-Darryl

Edited September 20, 2014 by darrylta

[MG34bar]

Darrylta,

 

I remember when that Monitor was up for sale back in 1973 or 1974, as I was a traffic officer with the Reno Police Dept. (Reno is the largest city in Washoe County). I was also an FFL dealer and had my application "in" to get the class 3 registration (it came through in 1974) but too late to buy the Monitor if I even could have afforded it at the time. The Sheriff at that time (of the Washoe Co. purchase) would have been either Russell Traythen or Ray Root.

By the way, when I retired from the police department (1990) they still retained a nice 1921 Thompson that had been found in a stolen car in a parking garage in Reno at about the same time Baby Face Nelson was in town and staying at an address on Caliente Street in Reno. Nelson is suspected of the kidnap/murder of Roy Frisch on 3/22/34. Frisch was about to testify against the Reno Casino owners for whom Nelson sometimes worked. Don't know if the PD still has the Thompson or not.

 

Joe

[darrylta]

Joe,

 

Thank you for the info, it's a small world isn't it. I've been doing some research on Nelson, it's apparent that he was a stone cold killer in his own right.

 

The historian I'm talking to is a Mr. Gist, a retired captain I beleive. He seems very interested in supplying the Dept's history with the gun.

He also touched on the Frisch murder, something about the body being dropped in a mine shaft or a well?

 

Did you get have any range time with the Monitor? If so how did it do, and was it very popular with the other officers?

 

I bet you never thought you would see or hear of the Monitor again? It is a small world.

 

Thanks again,

Darryl

[MG34bar]

Darryl,

 

I never shot the Monitor, but I did see it. I was a BAR man in the Army (ask me about carrying the heavy thing for 10-15 miles at a time across Ft. Ord, California in 1962) and have had many different BARs over the years. I currently have only one FA (a 1943 NESA) and one OOW SA at this time, and a Savage M1A1 Thompson (kept those two when I let my Class 3 go in 1986).

Doug Gist is a good man and I'm certain will be a great assistance to you in getting further research on your new gun. Congratulations on your new rare piece.

 

Joe

[MG34bar]

Hi Again Darryl,

 

Just noticed that in Ballou's book "Rock..." on page 99 he notes a Colt BAR sold to Washoe County (the one in Nevada is the only county in US so named) with a date of sale of April 23, 1931. Do you think that your gun was perhaps made in 1931 but not sold to Washoe County until 1934 or maybe the county bought two of them?

 

Joe

[darrylta]

Joe,

 

Mine, # C-102801 was sold to the Washoe Conty Sheriff Dept.with a side note "jailhouse" on 9/25/34 as per it's first transfer form.

As far as them having two Monitors, that would be good question for Mr. Gist.

Was Jim referring to a Monitor on the 1931 dated sale, it could have been a standard BMR/BAR?

I'd have to do some research, I've also got Jim's book, I'll have to check it out.

 

Thanks,

Darryl

Edited September 21, 2014 by darrylta

[darrylta]

I've got a photo from the Sheriff's historian showing the Monitor in a 1954 exhibit display case.

Does anyone recognize the leather strap that's on it?

Thanks,

Darryl

Edited September 25, 2014 by darrylta

[jl7422]

Cool photo-- does the '07 Winchester appear to have a longer barrel than the usual length?

[MG34bar]

The sling on the Monitor looks like the standard (for a BAR) leather sling, that was similar to the US rifle sling, but somewhat longer, and IIRC had an extra set of sling hooks. Looking at the diagrams in my "Colt Automatic Machine Guns and Rifles" (as reprinted in 1993 by Class Three Ordnance of Fairfax, VA), the Monitor (R80) shows that sling as part No.140 on plate No. 5 of the diagram on page 7 of the copied brochure.

 

Joe

[darrylta]

Thanks Joe,

I think I already have that original sling in my collection. I bought it for a 1918 Colt BMR I have.

-Darryl