Black River Militaria CII

Oiler from UD42 in my possession, previously owned by Berkeley Police Dept. Berkeley, WVA Hand engraved in small letters in receiver at receiver/stock joint: WPD W 13 Remains of a decal that had the PD details are on the stock The Thompson oilers are almost twice as long as the UD oilers. Both sides of body are impressed with oval. Body is 2 1/8" long; cap is 1 5/8" long. Width is1" Thickness is 1/2' Body is non-magnetic so is nickel. Oval bottom is recessed Top edge of bottom stamped: PAT'D APRIL 22 '05 Center stamped in larger font: MADE IN U S ABottom edge stamped: PAT'D APRIL 6 97

Amend the above post about Lomont's 1915s: the guns were apparently registered but were in various states of disrepair and perhaps DEWATS, etc and, Lomont did whatever work was necessary to put them back in good functional condition. FWIW

The barrel has an MP40 front sight block with the MP40 muzzle nut. The MP38 had a front sight mount with the fitting for the spring loaded muzzle cap. So, it is not a complete MP38 kit.

The C+R MG42s that I have seen on the market over the last five years or so including the couple that I have reactivated for customers who acquired them during that time, have been in good shooter grade condition but certainly not "collector" grade condition. The values have risen significantly for such "average" condition guns and buyer's are paying between $40-50K for these examples. I have watched a couple such 42s that sell in that range in the last few weeks. I have two customers looking for C+R 42s and willing to pay into the mid $40k for a decent shooter grade example. A well crafted and finished, welded transferable MG42 is far more acceptable now than years ago for good money given the dilution of the condition of the C+R guns offered at high and ever rising values. Reman MG42s on the market are fairly scarce, in my experience, so that adds a bit of a premium simply because a welded gun can be bought at a discount to current prices of vintage guns. In my view, without seeing the gun, but understanding that cosmetically it remains not fully restored, the value is in the $35K plus range. Remember you are really buying the "transferable" paperwork. The welded MG34 is in a similar situation as the 42 as far as C+R examples reaching new heights in value. But, I don"t think welded examples have an equivalent premium simply because the 34s are nowhere near as popular as 42s. I don't have a feel for the number of welded registered MG34s in the NFRTR but the ones I have seen were all done by cutting a part of the receiver that was the most easily repaired. A common ploy used by shops/individuals with marginal welding and fitting skills. I recall that the cosmetics were usually only fair with a couple of them reblued but others just leaving the weld ground back and in the white seemed to be the mode. The 34s don't have the appeal of the 42s so a welded example has less value in comparison, in my view. Assessing the value of the MG34 is more difficult but I'd say it might be worth $20-25K. FWIW

Is this Sten registered under ATF/NFA regs? Curious.

I have a Costa Rican 7mm example as well as a 6.5 and will check to see the fit of the 6.5 barrel in the 7mm receiver. The rule of thumb with receivers built for a barrel of one caliber that can also accept barrels of a different caliber, is that the the different caliber barrel will not headspace correctly or actually lock in place. This prevents the different caliber barrel from actually being able to fire a round.

I've had a working relationship with Ruben for a few years repairing his MGs and he is certainly honest and upfront. Regardless of how you chose to handle the transaction Ruben will treat you right. All up front or 50/50 and other arrangements have worked for many, many years. There are anomalies now and then but 99% + of these transactions are completed to the satisfaction of the participants. FWIW

"Many of these have found their way to civilian hands. The AL markings, while not common, are definitely not rare." Well, being pre-May sales samples, they are ineligible for transfer to "civilians", meaning private individuals, so circulate among FFL licensees, with some still in police departments, and possibly other official government agencies, etc. I'd guess that most of them have been sold by PDs to raise funds for police needs. FWIW

MGs with an Interarms, Alexandria, Va stamp are pre-May sales samples, imported between 1968 and 1986, with transfer restricted to dealers only. After the '68 Amnesty and the GCA, all live MGs imported had to be stamped by the importer and were registered as dealer restricted sales samples. Pre-May samples can be retained by a dealer after he gives up his FFL/SOT. FWIW

Just got the same response to my inquiry.......

How did the grips get so worn on a 1911 with such a clean, new park finish? i have some 1911s that at least look like they were used at Iwo Jima.......

Currently have a selectfire Bushmaster in my inventory. Certainly a no frills, all function firearm. Puts out an impressive muzzle blast, too.

Sterling mags were not crinkle coated in my experience. Original finishes are very durable, commercial or mil spec.

You laugh and mock the misfortune of others, but sadly, crooked dealers have sold MGs on their books that did not belong to them. This has happened with MGs in estates where a co-owner in a gun business with an SOT passed away and the other co-owner sold the MGs on their books that belonged to the deceased. Also know of several situations where a transferee waiting on an approval passed away and the dealer sold the MG without the knowledge of the family. This info is anecdotal and we know about it because the executors of the dead transferees followed up on the thefts, but the co-owner thief got away with it. I knew the co-owner whose MGs were stolen by his former business partner. This was many years ago but there have been another example or two since. Lesson to be learned. FWIW

A minor correction: Registration under BATF+E/NFA regulations does not confer ownership. ATF has no authority concerning ownership of registered NFA. An SOT to whom a transferring MG is registered does not "own" the MG. He is only the registrant. Ownership is conferred by payment for the purchase the MG. The person to whom the MG was sold, bequeathed, or otherwise is designated the "owner" through specific payment or legal documentation does not lose ownership when the MG temporarily transfers to an SOT in his state of residence for subsequent transfer to him. FWIW