6086

Transfer approved 9/2. Five months pending at ATF and 7 months since I wrote the check.

Yeah, transfers do take very long time. Just learned that my GG is in transit now and it should arrive early next week.

You really scored, Guy! Here's a pic of mine in transfer. http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?...8447&p=71054482[/img]

November 2004 SAR, Kent Lomont's ad lists an "M3 Greasegun C&R" at $12,500. It is not listed in the December issue, so one can assume it sold. Then there's the rewelded, non C&R, "super rare" M3A1 RIA that sold for $20,000 this February, unsubstantiated reports of M3's selling in the $16k range, and my $17,000 C&R Lend Lease M3. It appears that C&R M3's rose 28%-36% since Lomont's November 2004 advertisement. Wow. http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/ohmy.gif Perhaps I could have shaved a grand or two off the price of my M3, but I sincerely doubt it. IMO the dealer and the previous owner did their homework and priced it relative to the condition of other M3's that they had knowledge of. A little higher than the rest but not ridiculous. The last guy in the door usually pays a higher price of admission and I'm OK with that but my MG buddies are going to give me hard time for sure. http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/tongue.gif I'd be happy to post a pic but can't figure out how. I'll send one via email if you'd like to see. PM me with an email addy. And yes, thank you, I would like to put a can on this M3. Your design would be appreciated. Tom

Way, way too much. 17k. I sold a nice MG a few months ago, the gain on that sale made it easier to buy this one. The M3 Greasegun has been on my "buy" list for several years. The time to buy was now. From other conversations I learned that C+R M3's have been moving in the 16k range, but those that have been publicly available were in relatively rough condition. However, I haven't seen any M3's for sale in the public forums so I am not the best judge of current market conditions. That this M3 came from a known good guy with a guarantee made the difference. Had it been offered by someone not well known I'd have been reluctant to jump in without vetting both the seller and the item being sold. It's difficult to justify MG prices anymore. But they are what they are, and if you want something rare or in good condition you're gonna pay for it and you gotta jump fast because there's another guy looking for the same thing. I've been culling the herd, selling some items and buying others as my interests evolve. I've been shooting a variety of 9mm smgs for years but prefer the power of the .45acp. I'm getting concerned about the mileage being put on my Colt 21AC and thought a greasegun would fit in nicely with all my other WWII era stuff. Besides, it's fun to shoot, it's unusual, and it's far more interesting to me than a MAC, UZI, or MP5. Tom

Just when I thought I had kicked the habit a C+R Brit proofed Guidelamp M3 pops up. It's nice, judging by the photos. It's black, 214,xxx serial #, crossed cannons stamp, "P" proof, and another mark that I can't make out (a crown, perhaps?) at roughly 3 o'clock of the front sight. 90% finish remains, honest wear, no dents or signs of abuse, a nice piece. Offered by an established and reputable RKI, there's no way this deal could be wrong. So I did it. Guess I'll be driving the old Ford pickup one more year....

Thanks all! I ordered two of each and will have the posters professionally mounted and framed. A buddy who owns a cherry 1921A, a Bridgeport M1928A1, and a restored M1 will certainly enjoy the poster and catalog. I can't afford another Thompson but can spend for a couple posters. Ha! Tom

I saw the program/catalog of the collector convention last summer and am seeking the poster to give to a collector-friend. If anyone knows where to find one I'm interested. Thanks - Tom

I was refering to one of the Colts posted on subguns and discussed in a thread below. My apologies for being cryptic; I was a bit shocked when I read the advertisements.

Original! FBI case! L Drum! XX mags! Oiler (oooh, an oiler)! Badges! 1936 catalog! More badges! Another L-drum! Oooh, a glass case! How do great deals like this make it all the way to the internet? http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/laugh.gif

While poking around a local gunshop about 4 years ago I found a 1943 Colt 1911A1 with a GI replacement slide. The gun showed years of use, but not abuse. The blue refinish was all but gone and the barrel was shot out. What made this ugly gun attractive was that the lower appeared to have all the correct, if not original, parts for a 1943 Colt, and the slide was uncut and had it's original front blade and rear sight. There was no way this was going to be a collector piece, so I could do no harm. I figured that the old war horse deserved a decent retirement, and that it could be made into a nice plinker and conversation piece. It was fitted with a Jarvis barrel, a spherical bushing, a full-length guide rod, new springs, the trigger was cleaned up and the slide/frame fit was tightened. Mark Graham of Arizona Response Systems applied his "classic patina" finish. The final touch was a set of period checkered brown plastic grip panels. The result was a tasteful restoration of a WWII 1911A1 with a few modern updates. It looks like a '43 Colt on the outside, but it's as accurate and dependable as any modern .45 I own. Actually, it's my favorite. It's not a collectible, but it isn't a reproduction either. Point is, if you want a WWII-era 1911A1 shooter and can't spend for an original condition speciman, consider scouring the gunshops and shows for relics that can be restored and enjoyed. BTW, I spent WAY too much on this project. The beater 1911A1 cost $450 (it was worth $250 by any standard at the time, I later learned) and the restoration was another $450. This was before the repros appeared. No regrets, though. - t

Bought my Colt 21AC in July 1999 from a local dealer who bought it with another client in mind. It was being transfered from out of state and all he had was a blurry polaroid photo. He explained that the other client passed on it because condition couldn't be determined by the photo. He said if I didn't like it when it came in he'd sell it for me, but he needed a decision and the money quickly. So I bought it. Heck, it was a Colt Thompson and I wanted one. Not sure what the going rate for a Colt was five years ago, but this turned out to be a smart buy at $8,500 and change. It's not a pretty museum piece, but it's a nice clean shooter, and it's mine. Since then I've seen loads of Colts, Bridgeports, Savages, and Westies at shows, shoots, and in private collections. Never have I been offered one at less than "market" price or something that I would consider a "must buy now" price. Seems to me that most owners of NFA items tend to have some idea of what their toys may be worth. However, there is the occasional screaming deal that requires one to sell a kidney or hock the kids to raise funds for a particular item. This happened to me a couple years back when a broker/buddy called with an opportunity to buy a cherry Maremont M60 from a private collection for just over half of what they were going for at the time. The owner knew exactly what he was doing and wanted to sell the M60 for what he paid for it a couple years earlier. I sold a bunch of preban semiautos and bent a couple credit cards in a hurry to take advantage of what turned out to be a terrific offer. No deception or selective representation of fact was involved. IMO, the best deals are those in which all parties benefit and no one gets screwed. - t

Just finished off a case of S+B and am staring at two cases of Federal American Eagle 230 gr ball. Never had problems with either in my 21AC, Reising, 1911's, or HK USP's.

Doug - Thanks for all your help with determing the pedigree of the barrel on my 21AC. When you get home, I'll camp on your doorstep until you make a replacement 21 barrel for me! ;-) FWIW, gang, Doug helped me figger out why Colt 21AC #6086 has a thicker-finned barrel with a Type I Cutt's comp. We're guessing that sometime in the mid 1930's the original barrel was removed and the comp installed on a factory replacement barrel. Could have been done locally but probable that it went to New York for service. The major relief was Doug's confirmation that the barrel is a correct factory replacement for the period, and not a Savage or WH. - Whew!- Tom Mayer

What do you make of this? A late 1928A1 with "US" ground off, "A1" overstamped "AC", and an "x" suffix serial number. This Thompson has correct AO parts, smooth barrel, and is not parkerized. Could it be a firearm pulled from inventory and sold to an approved civilian agency during wartime?