Blade Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 I hope someone can answer this for me. I currently live abroad and have access to a few Tommy Guns from a foreign country. They are willing to sell a few to me and will provide export documentation. I am not a dealer nor an importer and want to purchase for private use/collection. What if any, type of license/registration work do I need to do with the ATF? Weapon will be authentic, full auto probably 30's era. I plan to move back to the U.S. between 1 1/2 and 2 years. I am having a hard time finding the proper forms on the ATF website because I am not making or purchasing these from a licensed dealer. Thanks for any assistance. -Blade Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drbones2nd Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 The answer is pretty simple. You cannot, period. Even if you were an sot/ffl, and had a letter of request from a government agency, you still would not get them. This is why legal full auto thompsons in the U.S. are soo expensive. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bt3_guns Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 Also European deactivation standards are not the same as US standards and so you should not even but a deactivated gun in Europe and try to bring it back to the states. DOing so is just asking for a lot of problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blade Posted January 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 My dreams are now crushed. I thought there might be a simple solution. Apply for registration, get approval, and be good to go. Guess I was wrong. Thanks for the words. Hard to see such a great opportunity fade away to own a piece of history from one of the European battlefields. And when i say great opportunity, I was going to get them for nearly nothing at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD. Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 Blade,Welcome to the Board. Your getting good advice from the above members. However, since time is on your side, send the BATFE a letter requesting to do what you have outlined and obtain their official response. I believe you will find their answer the same. I do know one person who owns a deactivated Colt Thompson in Europe. It is in the legal possession of one of his friends with the hopes it will some day be importable to the USA. I believe it was a small investment at the time so not much will be lost if the US import laws never change. If you have access to any Thompson's overseas, we would enjoy pictures and serial numbers, especially if any of the Thompson guns are of Colt manufacture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSMGguy Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 You might purchase it and enjoy it while you're there. You can always sell it before returning to the US. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gio Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 How do the folks that sell parts sets import? Could a person contact a importer like Don from Omega and have them shipped to them? I realize that the recievers would have to be cut but you would have the guns. Frank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james m Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 If you strip these down to parts without the receiver and barrel I expect you can just bring them in yourself. At that point you're not bringing in a gun just parts. You can probably check on this with US Customs.Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reconbob Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 (edited) Technically speaking the parts to a Thompson - or any other gun - to be legally importedmust be declared on ATF Form 6 "Importation of Arms, Armaments, and Implements of War"and as such can only be imported by someone with the necessary license who is alsoregistered with the Department of State, etc. etc. The parts are held, inspected, and releasedto the buyer. Now, we all know that there are dozens of guys on Gunbroker in Europe selling and mailinggun and machine gun parts to the United States, and they seem to get away with it in the smallquantities they deal in. I do not think customs would look the other way if you tried to bring in a couple of parts sets.Maybe you could mail them piecemeal to yourself and hope to survive or bypass customsinspectors,..of course, no one would knowingly violate the law! Bob Edited January 18, 2012 by reconbob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james m Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 Good point Bob: and I see all kinds of gun parts being sent internationally as well. I have never heard of anyone getting into trouble for doing this as long as it's small quantities. I was assuming this guy was going to bring back the frames stocks etc. off just a couple. I know if you're going to import any gun parts in quantity a Form 6 is required. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghostsoldier Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 ...And go ahead and pick out a comfortable "room" in Leavenworth, so they will be ready for you once you sign that 20-year "lease". Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike in pa Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 My dreams are now crushed. I thought there might be a simple solution. Not to sound too harsh, but if it was that simple or easy everybody would be doing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merry Ploughboy Posted January 20, 2012 Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 Anybody besides me remember a few years back when Sportsman's Guide apparently had a bunch of NIW L drums somewhere in Europe lined up and ready to ship but weren't able to get the licensing do so? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bt3_guns Posted January 20, 2012 Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 Blade -- PM me when you get the chance. I live in Germany right now. I am considering buying one and leaving it with a fellow collecter here in Germany against the day that the law changes and we can import. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darrylta Posted January 20, 2012 Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 Can you imagine if gun laws were changed that allowed a glut of cheap WWII Thompsonsto make land fall here and be registered........The prices on our present guns would droplike a piano dropped from 20 stories. Not that it would happen anytime soon with machine guns I hope. I've heard that thelarge quantity of Korean Garands are being allowed to repatriate, but not the M1 carbines,something to do with it's mags? Most politicians do not know that machine guns are legal in most states. It may be best tolet sleeping dogs lie and not rock the boat. -Darryl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnshooter Posted January 20, 2012 Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 (edited) Can you imagine if gun laws were changed that allowed a glut of cheap WWII Thompsonsto make land fall here and be registered........The prices on our present guns would droplike a piano dropped from 20 stories. Not that it would happen anytime soon with machine guns I hope. I've heard that thelarge quantity of Korean Garands are being allowed to repatriate, but not the M1 carbines,something to do with it's mags? Most politicians do not know that machine guns are legal in most states. It may be best tolet sleeping dogs lie and not rock the boat. -Darryl Were that to happen, I would be doing so much "cost averaging"I would have to sell my boat to pay for the addition on the gun room. As far as that actually ever happening, I'm glad I live alongside the Mississippi. And: the form 4 wait would be about eleven years. Edited January 20, 2012 by mnshooter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goosehunter Posted January 21, 2012 Report Share Posted January 21, 2012 Can you imagine if gun laws were changed that allowed a glut of cheap WWII Thompsonsto make land fall here and be registered........The prices on our present guns would droplike a piano dropped from 20 stories. Not that it would happen anytime soon with machine guns I hope. I've heard that thelarge quantity of Korean Garands are being allowed to repatriate, but not the M1 carbines,something to do with it's mags? Most politicians do not know that machine guns are legal in most states. It may be best tolet sleeping dogs lie and not rock the boat. -DarrylAm I understanding this? You are for gun control to protect your investment? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timkel Posted January 21, 2012 Report Share Posted January 21, 2012 Imho- reopen the MG registry. Allow new builds. Allow importation. Let the prices fall. They were never an investment to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancer Posted January 21, 2012 Report Share Posted January 21, 2012 I don't think reopening the registry would affect Colt prices all that much. I think WW2 Thompsons would be more affected and WH's would plummet. Regardless of the impact, it would be a great thing to happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike in pa Posted January 21, 2012 Report Share Posted January 21, 2012 but not the M1 carbines,something to do with it's mags? -Darryl Yes, mags are a big issue. They use fifteen and thirty round mags which are prohibited in many states and locals, plus they can be converted to full auto with the addition of parts and no receiver mods. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piep Posted January 21, 2012 Report Share Posted January 21, 2012 By all means open the registry...Gunner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Lone Ranger Posted January 22, 2012 Report Share Posted January 22, 2012 (edited) re: the carbines - that was a scandal all its own. State issued a permit (required due to them being former US property) then later rescinded. When asked, State said they were crime guns and go talk to ATF for an explanation. ATF denied any knowledge of the withdrawn permit and a first class goatrope began: http://www.foxnews.c...tique-m-rifles/ re: parts - You can import gun parts for personal use and do not need to be a licensee. An approved F-6 is required which will cost you maybe 60 day +/- waiting. http://www.atf.gov/press/releases/2010/08/081110-atf-common-form-6-errors.html http://www.atf.gov/forms/download/atf-f-5330-3a.pdf Edited January 22, 2012 by The Lone Ranger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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