Frank I.
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Posts posted by Frank I.
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My first machine gun was a converted Colt AR-15, I bought it new as a semiauto for $400.00. I did a form 1, and Charlie Erb milled it for a GI sear for $50.00. During the 1980s the economy was not like today, $200.00 was a lot of money, and the LE signature was a problem for many. I sold that gun in the 1990s for $1500.00 and had a hard time finding a buyer. I also had a semi-auto Norinco AK I bought new s/n 0000031, for $295.00 Charlie Erb converted it for $125.00. After the 1986 ban, prices were increasing fast, I offered it to all my friends for $2300.00, they told me I was crazy, I was able to eventually sell it for that price. The 7.62x39 ammo was expensive and hard to find.
I posted this article before, but it is a look at how machine gun buying was "back in the day".
https://archive.smallarmsreview.com/display.article.cfm?idarticles=3854
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1 hour ago, RoscoeTurner said:
I remember passing on a Sten years ago primarily because the $200 transfer was more than he was asking for the gun.
That was a common occurrence. Charlie Erb's Sten tube guns were $150.00, I often heard the phrase "I'm not paying a $200.00 transfer tax on a $150.00 gun."
Those same Sten guns sell for as high as 10k today. Who knew?
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From 1987, I love reading the old publications from the 1980s...totally different vibe in those days.
$3k WAS a lot for an M3 back then, they were always priced slightly higher than military Thompsons, primarily because there are fewer of them available.
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No, I don't have that info... BUT
H&R Sale
M55s 1A, 0001, 114310,
M50s: 206, 654, S4855, S4948, S5017, S4764 S5100, S5102, X17, (.45) X15 (9MM)
M65 X16
Reising Submachine Gun Dates of Production
From records submitted to ATF
1941 Serial Numbers: 101-8500
1942 Serial Numbers: 8501-73600
1943 Serial Numbers: 73601-114317
1950 Serial Numbers: K101 to K973
1951 Serial Numbers: L101 to L3589
1952: No production
1953 Serial Numbers: N111 to N327
1954-1956: No production
1957 Serial Numbers: S4700 to S5607
Former Marine Reisings in storage at the Quantico Marine base (2019)
MODEL 50:
154
11372
15696
53097
113539
MODEL 55:
13189
15296
44531
62230
62934
62818
Model 60:
1333
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I have documentation from H&R verifying that Reising submachine guns with an S serial number prefix were manufactured by H&R in 1957.
In addition, there were six S-prefixed serial number Reisings (S4855, S4948, S5017, S4764 S5100, S5102) sold at H&R's 1985 asset reduction sale approved by the bankruptcy court. Despite popular internet lore, there was no bankruptcy auction. The asset reduction (gun) sale was approved so H&R could keep its factory operating. In addition to the Reisings, there were 29 H&R M14s, and 60 U.S. marked H&R M16A1s. There is a lot of H&R history in my 2nd edition M14 book.
After H&R went out of business, Numrich bought Reising parts and they did assemble guns from those parts, which did include receivers. A 1988 SGN ad listed them for $695.00.
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I got lucky a few months ago, there was a M3A1 barrel assembly on GB for a "buy it now" price of $125.00, I bought it.
After it arrived, I discovered that the barrel was one of the rare Vietnam-era chromium-lined barrels, mounted in a Guide subcontractor DTD (Detroit Transmission Division) barrel collar. I had one before, but reluctantly sold it.
Oddly, M3 and M3A1 parts are getting somewhat hard to find, except for the magazines. At SAR West 2025 just about every vendor had GG mags on their tables, as low as $25.00 NIW. Many were post-war, Vietnam era Parkerized finish, made by Jahn (J marked)
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While pursuing tables at SAR West 2025 I saw two Savage milled grip mounts with broken retaining tabs, the seller had no details.
I always thought that perhaps a carry sling attached to the front swivel put stress on the grip mount? And thus the introduction of the front grip barrel band, primarily for the later riveted grip mount.
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Not sure if this was posted before...
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A few years ago, Phil invited me to the NRA headquarters in VA to give a presentation on the M14 rifle. Afterward, we went out to dinner. While BSing I just happened to mention that I had just bought a silencer on a form 4, he asked if I had mailed the paperwork in yet. I said no, and I had the forms with me. I gave them to him, and it was approved in two days! This was back when form 4 transfers were taking 6 months. The approved forms came from DC, not Martinsburg, WVA.
Phil and Mark Keefe were also helpful during research for my M14 book The Last Steel Warrior, by sharing vintage photos and taking guns off the museum's display for me to photograph.
RIP Phil, it was a privilege to know you!
Frank I.
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What I have seen happen over the years; a gun gets posted at a higher than normal selling price, and gets sold rather fast, that now becomes the "new" benchmark price.
Most recently, auction results have had a similar effect.
"The prices you balk at today, you will be glad to pay tomorrow."
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Marlin marked barrel collars are fairly common, I would think an Guide Lamp-subcontractor or Ithaca marked barrel, would be desirable for either one of those M3A1 mfg. The page below are Guide Lamp WWII sub-contractors in 1943.
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The springs aren't attached to anything inside the receiver tube it should pull right out.
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M3A1 barrel sells for $576.00 on GB, standard issue (not a Vietnam era chromium-lined barrel)
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On 11/22/2025 at 5:06 PM, Frank I. said:
From the late Mike Free's former collection.
30-06 and .30 carbine calibers and Colt TSMG serial number 221
Does anyone know who won the bid on the 30-06 and .30 carbine caliber Thompsons?
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7 hours ago, First Sergeant said:
Holy grail mags were plentiful at SAR this year it seems.
And some good deals... Nice 20 rd Thompson mags $25.00 and 30 Rd for $26.00, lots of grease gun mags new in the wrap for $25.00.
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I found a few elusive M3 - M3A1 items at the SAR West show
HARD to find ITHACA (ITG) marked magazines (thanks to First Sargent and Auto Rotate who found them). I have looked for an ITG marked mag since John Bosio showed me one at the TATA meet a few years ago. Ithaca had a contract to manufacture 70,000 M3A1s in the 1950s, by the time production got under way the Korean War ended and the contract was cancelled after 33,000 M3A1s were made.
The 2nd find was the 77-coil 15.5" long M3-M3A1 recoil springs that were designed to replace the original 1943 design that were 13.5" -.75" in length. No doubt the springs were redesigned to prevent damage to the rear of the receiver caused by the bolt hitting the back plate. The only revision to the original with the 15.5" springs I have seen was date 1966, but the package the springs I found was dated 1952.
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On 11/26/2025 at 11:40 AM, Brian06 said:
Are there any videos of them firing? That I would want to see!
Mike wouldn't fire the 30-06 or the .30 carbine Thompson.
He also had 5 or 6 RARE German FG42s, but would never shoot them.
Most of the guns he shot were post-May samples
He had 98 machine guns, mostly Thompsons, WWII German, and HK
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When I was researching the Model 76 book, I went to S&W to get some background info. No one that I spoke with even knew that S&W ever made a submachine gun.
Most of the '76 prototypes are in storage upstairs at the Springfield Armory museum.
In the video the S&W rep says that it was called the Model 76 because of the cost of manufacture. That statement is incorrect; the Model 76 nomenclature was just a simply a production control number. However, the factory suggested retail price was $76.50, they were available from Demain Police Supply in N.C. for $73.44.
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From the late Mike Free's former collection.
30-06 and .30 carbine calibers and Colt TSMG serial number 221
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Made for M1-M1A, was part of the M1A1 "upgrade" to lower cost and expedite production. Since the M1-M1A1 had no provision for a drum magazine, the raised area (bump) on the catch to secure the drum was not needed.
Other transitional "upgrades" were...
Riveted grip mount, "pin" type safety and selector levers, stamped sling swivels, bolt with fixed firing pin.
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1 hour ago, Abody71 said:
odd-ball question. Is the hammer face damaged in a way to make the opening smaller and not letting you firing pin retract properly? Like I said just an odd-ball question.
No perfectly round...
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On 11/14/2025 at 3:17 PM, Abody71 said:
Curious about what period the rifles are from with problems. I have serial number 61xx. So an early production.
I have experienced one problem, an worn out extractor. It wasn't broken just worn out. I have an original style firing pin. Without the firing pin spring, the pin protrudes an inch when dropped into the bolt.
Mine, that eats firing pins, is a 1957 production S-prefix Model 50.
The original firing pin lasted for a long time, but that isn't the case any longer. I have had no luck with the aftermarket titanium pins.
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I have posted this on several forums for maximum exposure.
The most common failure on Model 50-55 Reising submachine guns is broken firing pins.
There are a lot of smart and skilled individuals in the class III community. The community needs one of these individuals to design and manufacture a Reising SMG firing pin that will last for at least a few thousand rounds.
Original steel firing pins are impossible to find; the only new manufacture pins available are those made of titanium. I cannot get one to last more than 500 rounds before the tip breaks off.
There have been some semi-successful advancements, like the inertia modification described in the link below. In my experience, the inertia modification works best with original steel firing pins, the titanium pins not so much.
The inertia firing pin thread (unfortunately, the photos are gone)
There is another individual on machinegunboards.com who was doing some experimenting I have pasted a link to his thread. On his last post, he had not yet been successful.
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M3 blurb from 1987
in The U.S. M3-M3A1 Message Board
Posted
Well, there have been some positive events in the NFA world recently...
The LE signature being eliminated, FAST transfers via Eforms, many Pre-May guns are now transferable, and the removal of the $200.00 tax on SBRs, SBS and suppressors. There is a lot of pushback on the elimination of the tax, citing that since no tax is being collected, they should not be NFA. That could very well backfire, it is very possible that many states will ban them if there are no federal controls in place. In fact in Pennsylvania, a bill was already proposed to ban any shotgun with a barrel under 18" (and FTRs). The bill was defeated by ONE vote, but is sure to be presented again.
Just my 2-cents