33 replies to this topic

[LIONHART]

Hello,
Now that I've learned that I can own a DEWAT Thompson, Tax Free on a Form Five, I'm doing a Price Check. Any help here would be appreciated!!

[LIONHART]

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?

[hawksnest]

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").

[Bisley45]

Hawksnest

Isn't that pick from the Auto Ordince Catalog titled " Anti Bandit Gun ", however I agree with you DEWAT a perfectly good fuctioning Thompson !?!

[Sgt]

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.

[LIONHART]

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!

[The1930sRust]

Move.........

[hawksnest]

Better yet. Work to get your state law changed and to vote those politicians out of office.

[LIONHART]

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!

[full auto 45]

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!

Mike
Mike's machineguns

[rkr]

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

[LIONHART]

Rob,
Well I do thank you Sir! Looking forward to any information that you may be able to find!

[Sgt]

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.

[hawksnest]

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.

[LIONHART]

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!

[gijive]

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.

[mp40]

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 rest assured that will be eliminated by the governor, when they find out that we have found a "loop hole" in their comunist kalifornia gun kontroll plans for world domination.

[hawksnest]

hardrede: I stand corrected You are absolutely correct. I guess Iam showing early signs of CRS

[Walter63a]

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. 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. The question: What to do? 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.

Regards, Walter

[rkr]

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