pdursin

The Berywn Rod and Gun Club in Bowie, MD. has reopened it's outdoor rifle and pistol ranges as of last July. We allow full auto firearms of rifle and pistol caliber - but not .50 BMG - on our ranges. Berwyn is a private club, so you must first become a member, then pass a qualification with our class III officer before you can shoot full auto. However, we're here and we welcome responsible new members interested in full auto. Please Email me if you want more information. Pete Dursin

This looks very much like the assault weapons bill now being considered in Maryland, except that the effective date here is in September, 2004. We have a Democrat controlled legislature, so there's a chance that some version of this may pass in spite of considerable opposition by those affected.

Hurridale, I paid $7500 for a Savage 1928A1 in July, 2002 and was offered $12,000 for the same gun by a dealer in November, 2003. Admittedly, I probably got a very good deal on the purchase but that's a pretty hefy increase in 16 months. The dealer told me that he could sell the gun right then for a profit at that price. If you want to get the highest price you can, put your toy up for auction or start contacting some of the dealers that do a lot of advertising. Pete Dursin

Dennis Todd was at the show in Upper Marlboro, MD. yesterday and Saturday. He had several Thompsons there, but I didn't bother to inquire about his prices. I know from experience that he's pretty high. He's the one who offered me $12K for my rewat 1928A1 last November because he could make an immediate profit on it. I turned him down. I talked to a doctor at the show who had just paid $15k for a 1921 Colt with a 3 digit serial number. I didn't see the gun but he thinks he got a good deal. He's buying automatic weapons as an investment - also owns an Uzi, a Colt AR-16 and a couple of others. It must be nice to have that kind of money. Pete Dursin

Welcome to the board, Rsliver My Savage 1928A1 was a rewatt and the inspection marks on the left front area of the receiver were almost obliterated in the refinishing process. If you don't see the marks easily, look under a strong light with a hand magnifier before you give up. Best Regards, Pete Dursin

You could try Brownell's catalog. They sell gunsmith supplies, parts and accessories. They're on the web at www.brownells.com. I know that they carry barrel weights for shotguns but am not sure if they have something for a High Standard pistol. Regards, Pete Dursin

Thanks for all of the good wishes!! I greatly appreciate all of the information I've picked up on this board in the year since I got my Thompson. Best regards, Pete Dursin http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/smile.gif

I was talking to Dennis Todd, an auto weapons dealer from Pennsylvania, at a Maryland gun show yesterday (11/22). He had a 1928 AC for $16,500 in decent condition. His people offered to buy my 1928A1 military Thompson for $11K - 12K, to resell for more than that. My Thompson isn't for sale, but this seems typical of the prices here. Pete Dursin

It's not illegal to own magazines of more than 20 rounds in Maryland. You just can't buy or sell them within the state. I can go to Virginia or Pennsylvania and buy as many XXX mags or drums as I can carry as long as I buy them in Virginia or in Pennsylvania, or wherever else I decide to travel. You can also cram more than the designed number of rounds into some of the 10 round magazines provided with new semi-automatic pistols since 1994, but I don't think that this changes those mags into post-ban hi-cap magazines under federal or state law. I have bought XX magazines from dealers in Maryland since the law took effect. I was going to buy a couple at the last local gun show but the prices were too high. What aggravates me about Sportsman's Guide is that they've misinterpreted the law and made it impossible to contact them to point out the error of their ways. They're also being inconsistent if they're worried about liability because they sell functional black powder arms and have sold functional 1890's vintage military rifles that are far more likely to hurt someone than a couple of XX magazines.

I ordered two of the XX magazines on their website last night. I got an Email today that they would not sell me those magazines because I live in Maryland. It is legal to buy and own the XX magazines, though not the XXX mags, in Maryland. When I called customer service, they read me some legal dept. mumbo-jumbo that basically said they wouldn't sell these items in Maryland, whether it was legal or not. From what I'm seeing about the condition, I'm just as glad they wouldn't sell me the mags. Still, I wonder what else they won't sell me that's legal to own here. I'm going to reconsider how much business I do with them in the future. They did sell and ship to me two sets of the 1921/28 "full auto parts set". I'm surprised they don't have the same liability concerns with those as they do with the magazines.

I just tried to order a bolt on the web site and got an "out of stock" message.

JDH, I was with WE from 1967 thru 1975 in the Defense Activities Division in Winston-Salem, NC.. I was involved in facility power systems, radio, data and teletype comm systems and test planning for a number of the NAVFACs but didn't actually get to travel much. I never did get to Barbados, but did get to Delaware, Bermuda and Hawaii. I also spent some time in the Boston and Portmouth shipyards working on shipboard equipment for that side of the operation. I knew the field people who did get to the sites, but can't remember any names after all this time. That was a great project to be involved with.

JDH, I was involved in designing and installing the sub tracking systems and associated communications at NAVFAC Barbados, and others, in the late 60's and early 70's. That was a pretty good system for it's day. The military wouldn't take me because of my vision, so I did what I could to contribute.

Lionheart, Have you checked to see what ATF considers to be a legal Dewat today? I'm no expert, but I think that ATF has tightened the standards somewhere along the way. When my Thompson was originally dewatted, the right side of the receiver was cut with a torch. I'm not sure you can get away with just plugging the barrel any more.