sniklac

I support the NRA and send occasional donations along with my membership. BUT politics is always compromise. Yes, the NRA says that this bill is a GOOD thing and fixes problems but let's not forget that the NRA backed the 1986 National Firearms Act too. The NRA felt that by adding some rules to keep funs out of the hands of felons would be good (so do I.) But in order to get the votes of the anti-gun folks, they allowed several other pieces to go through, believing, (incorrectly,) that they would immediately be able to get the "no new machine guns" clause overturned in Federal Court. We all know how that turned out. It really should be black and white. Anytime we get messing around in gray areas we are setting ourselves up for trouble. It is getting so I am not sure if I can trust ANYONE in the government anymore. JFK (who my parents did not like because he was too liberal,) was more conservative than 99% of today's Republicans. Clarence

However, it is quite legal in the USA to make your own semi-automatic weapon per the ATF. BUT there are very specific rules. It MUST NOT be easily convertable into a full auto weapon. The trouble is the ATF is very subjective on how they define "EASY". I have done a Sten semi-auto and am working on a Sterling semi-auto. I am still researching the Thompson semi-auto. Yes, I know about the West Hurley guns. I own a 1927-A3 (that is the .22 cal version.) I also own a .45 cal Commando "Thompson Clone". I also own a shop, a mill, and a lathe and enjoy the pride and effort of DIY in my hobby. So, yes it is legal to build your own gun. No, it is not legal to build or rebuild a machine gun. Know the rules, follow them. If you are building it for your own personal use, you do not even need to be a manufacturer with all the expensive permits. Building for your own use, you may even sell 1 (ONE ONLY) per year, I guess if you got tired of one or something. (I've never had that happen.) No limit on the number you may build, only sell. You may even get permits to build your own suppressors or SBR (short barreled Rifle). Know and follow the rules. Clarence Disclaimer: Do a google search, I am not a lawyer nor am I qualified to give legal advise. I am a hobbiest that has done research on the Internet for my own use.

Hello, Jayrbenz, I have a CATCO semi-auto. If you still need the info, I can measure it up and let you know. Clarence I am not only a pacifist but a militant pacifist. I am willing to fight for peace. Albert Einstein - Interview with George Sylvester Viereck (January 1931)

I just purchased a dummy Lanchester SMG from IMA-USA. It is built from all original parts except for the solid aluminum receiver that has a bolt slot machined about 1/4" deep. I purchased Peter Laidler's book, "The Guns Of Dagenham" which covers the Lanchester, Patchett, and Sterling. It says the manufacturing date is stamped in small numbers on the magazine well. So, I eagerly checked my mag well and it says, 70. It should have said 40, 41, or 42. So, my question: Is 70 a date of newly manufactured Lanchester mag well parts for dummy guns or did the armory restamp guns when they were rebuilt or something else? Thanks for any replies. Clarence I am not only a pacifist but a militant pacifist. I am willing to fight for peace. Albert Einstein - Interview with George Sylvester Viereck (January 1931)

Way back around 1963, I was a preteen, my dad and I went on "Fathers & Sons Campout" sponsored by my church group. Someone had arranged for the local police or sherrif's department to come and talk about shooting safety and laws. They showed up with a Thompson, a 50 rnd drum, and a couple 30 round sticks. After talking about the gun, they unloaded it on the hillside in a couple short bursts and one long sustained one. I was hooked. I wanted to own one, to shoot one. There were so many myths and rumors of regulations and red tape to owing one as I was growing up, I didn't realize how easy it would be to get one. I have drooled over them for years, and then suddenly the 1986 Gun Control Act was passed. In the mid 1990s I purchased a Thompson .22LR in semi-auto. Later, I purchased a cheap Volunteer Arms Commando (a Thompson "Clone",) in .45. What a blast, even in semi-auto! I researched the rules and realized for the first time that the myths and rumors and red tape weren't anything to be afraid of. I put some money into an "investment" for the future and so I got the class III. Wow! It is everything I had hoped and more!!! Forty some years in anticipation and oh so worth it! (Although, with .45 ACP running about 40 cents per round, I shoot my Thompson 1928A3 .22LR semi-auto the majority of the time.) Clarence

There is a Yahoo Group where someone has posted pictures of a scratch-built MkI. The URL is: http://sports.ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/st...tos/browse/6400 The Peter Laidler book, "The Sten Machine Carbine" has great photos, information, exploded parts diagrams, etc. of the MkI. The receiver and housing is the same as a MkII, the barrel appears to be the same as a MkIII. The only major difference appears to be the muzzle bushing which is removable and allows the barrel to be removed. Note that the development of the MkII and the MkIII took place at almost the same time. The MkII was designed by the military, initially as a paratroopers model, that could be put into a smaller carrying package. The MkIII was designed by Lines Brothers, which was a contractor that had been making MkI parts. Clarence