History Hunter

That's a relief. I had heard of a dealer getting arrested for selling saw-cut Uzis, but I think he had a large quantity, suggesting he was doing the saw-cutting himself. This is just the one, and can get it from a really old collector's estate. Thanks for the reply. I'm going to get a couple other opinions, but I think they will be the same as yours (you said what I was thinking ... that old dewats are not contraband). It's cool to see a complete gun, numbers matching.

I think I put this in the wrong forum ... http://www.machinegunboards.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=16318

I have a tube gun that shoots great. When I first got it from Ruben Mendiola, it wasn't functioning very well. Ruben stepped up to the plate and took care of me ... had the gun sent off at HIS expense to a friend, who made it run flawlessly. It's a lesser known tube gun, I think by a company called "S&S" or something like that. The gun is a pleasure to shoot now, and consumes just about any brand of ammo. Thanks, Ruben!

I actually bought the gun as a refinished C&R last week. Gun was registered during the 1968 amnesty (I got the original amnesty paperwork with the gun). Most likely, it was parkerized by the veteran, before being given to the registrant, from whom I bought the gun. I don't think I'll go through the hassle of having it refinished, as it won't add to the value of the gun in my opinion. Gun is fully functional, and will make a great shooter. I won't keep it however, because I have a tube gun that works like a champ.

I have come across an STG 44, all numbers matching, with the receiver saw-cut in two places, with all three receiver parts present. In addition, the barrel is plugged with what I assume is lead. I have not handled an STG44 parts kit before, and want to be sure I'm legally safe to buy and sell it. I know that more recent "dewat" guns must be "torch cut" but I think in the old days, one could get away with saw cuts. Anybody know the answer for this? Thanks!!

I really thank you guys ... saves me from a problematic gun.

And, by the way ... of ALL of the machineguns I have owned/own, I love shooting the MP40 the most ... well, it's probably a tie between the MP40 and the Thompson family ...

Thank you guys. It's definitely an amnesty gun, but I had never seen a finish like this on an MP40, and was wondering what was "going on" here. Here's what I got from one dealer/collector: __________ I had a chat with Craig about this gun but did not see pictures until now. It looks very good but the bolt is mismatched being off the receiver number by 120, and the mag well is 611, which is also on the receiver forward of the ejection port and on other parts. So, it is a mismatch. The trigger frame screw just forward of the trigger guard is an incorrect replacement for the two piece screw that is factory. My opinion is that it should bring a premium as a Steyr made, phosphated gun, which are scarce, but it is not A-1 due to the mismatched parts and the screw. Steyr is the only factory to use Bonderizing and phosphate finishes on their guns. ___________ On the other hand, I got ANOTHER email from another friend who I respect, who told me this gun was totally screwed-with. The strange thing is, the guy who owns this gun ... IS the owner from the 1968 amnesty, and swears this is how he got it. I would love to get to the bottom of this, and REALLY appreciate your comments, and information.

Hi guys ... this is my first post on this forum. I'm an SOT FFL, and was recently sent a Steyr MP40 (BZN42) with what appears to be a grey phosphate or bonderized finish. The gun was registered in the 1968 amnesty by the person who transferred it to me. He states that he got the gun from his neighbor, as-is, who gave it to him, in the early 1960s. The gun is mismatched numbers (most are the same). Mag well has "COS" code on it (Mertz?). Here's my question for you MP40 experts ... 1) Did Steyr ship guns with a phosphate type finish (and is this one of them)? 2) Did they ship guns with mismatched numbers? Spoke to a couple of knowlegable friends, who gave me conflicting information. If the answer to the question above is no, then I've got a messed-with gun on my hands. I just want to get to the bottom of things, so I do not misrepresent this piece when it comes time to sell it.