Restoring original German MP40
Tom
Hi, I have an *original* German MP40 from WWII. My dad found it under a
boulder as a kid in germany. It's rusty, but the barrel is straight
although I am sure inside it's destroyed from rust. The receiver is bent
(pushed in on the ejection port side) but it can probably be straightened.
The bolt handle is missing, and the grip frame and stock are missing as
well. Some of the original black plastic (it seems to be plastic anyway but
it's hard to tell) is still on the sides, but broken off where the frame
would be. The trigger is rusted in place and wont budge, but the bolt and
be pulled back with a screwdriver and will return to a closed position when
released.
Now, I'm not intending to make this gun fire. I would, however, like to
remove the rust, straighten the receiver, find a replacement grip frame and
stock, and make it appear to be a working weapon. I think if I soaked it in
solvent and then took a wire brush, sand paper, and polishing wheel to it, I
could make it look good and make the actions work correctly. I do not
intend to own a working full auto weapon for obvious reasons (mainly legal),
so I suppose I will need to fill the barrel with lead, or weld over the end
of it so that it's legal. Opinions on this?
What do you think? Sounds like a fun project. Does it sound worth the
effort? I think it would be a nice investment. How difficult will it be to
find parts?
-tom
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Greylock
long ago. Fun to do - yes, but I think you may have some legal "challenges".
The legalities could be a problem since it is technically a full auto weapon
and I gather it has not been declared as such.
I suggest you check with someone more informed than I am on the subject,
there are some newsgroups and websites devoted to full-auto afficionados.
Roger Hull
(in message <bauflr$1hi$1...@grapevine.wam.umd.edu>):
#
# Hi, I have an *original* German MP40 from WWII. My dad found it under a
# boulder as a kid in germany. It's rusty, but the barrel is straight
# although I am sure inside it's destroyed from rust. The receiver is bent
# (pushed in on the ejection port side) but it can probably be straightened.
# The bolt handle is missing, and the grip frame and stock are missing as
# well. Some of the original black plastic (it seems to be plastic anyway but
# it's hard to tell) is still on the sides, but broken off where the frame
# would be. The trigger is rusted in place and wont budge, but the bolt and
# be pulled back with a screwdriver and will return to a closed position when
# released.
#
# Now, I'm not intending to make this gun fire. I would, however, like to
# remove the rust, straighten the receiver, find a replacement grip frame and
# stock, and make it appear to be a working weapon. I think if I soaked it in
# solvent and then took a wire brush, sand paper, and polishing wheel to it, I
# could make it look good and make the actions work correctly. I do not
# intend to own a working full auto weapon for obvious reasons (mainly legal),
# so I suppose I will need to fill the barrel with lead, or weld over the end
# of it so that it's legal. Opinions on this?
#
# What do you think? Sounds like a fun project. Does it sound worth the
# effort? I think it would be a nice investment. How difficult will it be to
# find parts?
#
# -tom
Tom: You didn't say where you live, and what is legal and what is not legal
varies consideably from country to country. If you live in the USA you could
be in deep doo-doo. The ATF (Or Whatever they call themselves since the
Homeland Security shakeup of government agencies) says the receiver IS the
gun and the rest is just parts. Your receiver is contraband unless it found
it's way onto the National Firearms Registry sometime in the past (Such as
the Amnisty in the 1960s or was otherwise registered somehow in the past). If
in doubt, see a lawyer (I'm not a lawyer). The rest of what you have is just
parts and legal to own. Parts and parts kits are available from several
sources, SARCO and IMA to name two. Solid aluminum display receivers are also
available for making up dummy guns.
If you don't live in the USA then I don't have a clue. Again, see a
lawyer.
Good luck. I used to own a live MP-40 (Legal in Nevada) and enjoyed it
very much.
Roger in Vegas
Worlds Greatest Impulse Buyer
Hugh Calvin Long, III
amnesty or cut up the reciever and keep the parts.
Ben Magista
"Tom" <mykr...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:bauflr$1hi$1...@grapevine.wam.umd.edu...
#
# Hi, I have an *original* German MP40 from WWII. My dad found it under a
# boulder as a kid in germany. It's rusty, but the barrel is straight
# although I am sure inside it's destroyed from rust. The receiver is bent
# (pushed in on the ejection port side) but it can probably be straightened.
# The bolt handle is missing, and the grip frame and stock are missing as
# well. Some of the original black plastic (it seems to be plastic anyway
but
# it's hard to tell) is still on the sides, but broken off where the frame
# would be. The trigger is rusted in place and wont budge, but the bolt and
# be pulled back with a screwdriver and will return to a closed position
when
# released.
#
# Now, I'm not intending to make this gun fire. I would, however, like to
# remove the rust, straighten the receiver, find a replacement grip frame
and
# stock, and make it appear to be a working weapon. I think if I soaked it
in
# solvent and then took a wire brush, sand paper, and polishing wheel to it,
I
# could make it look good and make the actions work correctly. I do not
# intend to own a working full auto weapon for obvious reasons (mainly
legal),
# so I suppose I will need to fill the barrel with lead, or weld over the
end
# of it so that it's legal. Opinions on this?
#
# What do you think? Sounds like a fun project. Does it sound worth the
# effort? I think it would be a nice investment. How difficult will it be
to
# find parts?
#
# -tom
What do I think? I think you've already blown it on a public forum and I'd
be torch cutting the gun to hand over to the JBT's when the knock, if you're
lucky..........
Christopher Morton
wrote:
solvent and then took a wire brush, sand paper, and polishing wheel to
it, I
To the best of my knowledge, there's no legal way for you to own it.
--
More blood for oil... in my name!
Tod Glenn
# remove the rust, straighten the receiver, find a replacement grip frame and
# stock, and make it appear to be a working weapon. I think if I soaked it in
# solvent and then took a wire brush, sand paper, and polishing wheel to it, I
# could make it look good and make the actions work correctly. I do not
# intend to own a working full auto weapon for obvious reasons (mainly legal),
# so I suppose I will need to fill the barrel with lead, or weld over the end
# of it so that it's legal. Opinions on this?
#
Even if it doesn't work, it's still a machinegun. Unfortuately, ATF
doen't consider filling the barrel with lead or welding the chamber
adequate. Current reqyuirements (IIRC) involve cutting the receiver in
two places.
--
----
Tod Glenn
mailto:webm...@cordite.com
http://www.cordite.com
Tom
I'd
# be torch cutting the gun to hand over to the JBT's when the knock, if
you're
Well, in that case I'll destroy the original receiver (which is pretty much
destroyed already anyway since it's smashed and rusted solid) . Actually I
dont thing anything is really salvageable anyway except the barrel. Oh well.
On to better things.
-tom
Wilbur
it's a machine gun.
"Tom" <mykr...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
#
# Hi, I have an *original* German MP40 from WWII.
# <snip>
# The receiver is bent
# <snip>
Jim Gaynor
I believe the regulatory problem you are confrontyerd with is that even
DEWATS (Deactivated War Trophys) had to be registered in the 1968 amnesty.
After that the old DEWAT (welded up machine gun) program was over. Thats the
reason now you have parts kits with cut up receivers. As others have post im
afraid your rusted clunker is legally contraband.
On the other hand if its just the look and feel you are after there are some
authentic looking MP38/40 full size model guns.
James Pinkerton
news:bb0ftr$nh9$1...@grapevine.wam.umd.edu...
# # Now, I'm not intending to make this gun fire. I would, however, like to
# # remove the rust, straighten the receiver, find a replacement grip frame
and
# # stock, and make it appear to be a working weapon. I think if I soaked
it in
# # solvent and then took a wire brush, sand paper, and polishing wheel to
it, I
# # could make it look good and make the actions work correctly. I do not
# # intend to own a working full auto weapon for obvious reasons (mainly
legal),
# # so I suppose I will need to fill the barrel with lead, or weld over the
end
# # of it so that it's legal. Opinions on this?
# #
#
# Even if it doesn't work, it's still a machinegun. Unfortuately, ATF
# adequate. Current reqyuirements (IIRC) involve cutting the receiver in
# two places.
#
I believe you can still build a working MG for a police department official
use only. They would own it and have to keep it. Maybe also for a gift to
a military museum. You would have to get advanced permission from the ATF
people after getting the proper form and having the police fill out the form
and sign it. If you are on a friendly basis with the local CEO or Sheriff
this might be an option. I don't know if you could get a tax write off for
its restored value if you donated it to your local PD.
I have never attempted this. There may be a problem with the fact that the
rusted bent receiver is already a NFA gun. The idea I mentioned would apply
to say taking a M1 carbine (not a NFA weapon), buying the necessary
automatic parts (after obtaining ATF and police permission) and then
switching them out and presto a M2 carbine. Taking the M2 and signing it
over to the police department.
alex
it, just display it, and it ain't shootable
relax ATF
alex
hamrdog
machinegun, you must have your manufacturers license and pay the
Special Occupation Tax (SOT). a "normal" civilian can't just go
around building machineguns, no matter what LEO letterhead he has.
not that i agree with this (you don't have to be licensed to publish a
local newsletter do you), but that's what we're stuck with at present.
andy b,
On Thu, 29 May 2003 03:45:48 +0000 (UTC), "James Pinkerton"
<tom...@megagate.com> wrote:
> ...