Hello all, as you all can tell this is my first post on this forum. However, for a "friend", I did some googling (which produced no answer to my "friend's" situation), and did some reading of legalese style pdf's from atf.gov. And I am more confused than when I started.....
A bit about my "friend". He is a history buff, and fascinated by many things rare and unique. He is passionate about the preservation of history through knowledge, objects, writings, etc. He has no criminal back round, over 21 years of age, A libertarian by ideology and republican by practicality. He also is a collector of newer firearms for sporting use and self defense, and older firearms for their historical value. He is a supporter of the constitution, opposes any law that infringes on citizens rights, and supports the 2nd amendment to the letter. Overall, he's a typical, law abiding, American, and an alright guy .
He has never had any dealing with the ATF, as he owns NO NFA-style items.
One day this friend has an chance to buy a WW2 war trophy, A Original German MG-42 brought back by a US serviceman. The MG-42 has been cut up in several places, in accordance with US Army practices of the time, when dealing with a solider sending back a captured gun. The MG-42 was never assembled and ended up in the hands of a Korean WAR veteran who has the MG-42 still in pieces and completely disassembled to this day.
My friend has no idea of any paperwork (ATF, amnesty registration, etc.) that will come with the MG-42, but he is assuming that there is NONE.
Now that Korean War vet is rising in his years, and would like to see the MG-42 get in to good hands, of a person that would appreciate what it is, and what it represents. So he offered a price so good on the disassembled MG-42 that it cannot be past up (unless the purchase landed him in front of a judge).
After the thrill of the idea of owning a piece of history wore off, my friend started to worry. Can he own this MG-42 disassembled and in pieces (the receiver is still intact) with the intentions of restoration? Can he work with the ATF in restoring this historical piece to it's original specifications, in a totally legal fashion? Are there provisions in the Gun Control Act and other gun laws the ATF has in it's arsenal to aid in the restoration of historical and war trophy pieces that may not have paperwork? Is it even legal to own this MG-42 in its current, inoperable, state of cut pieces and disassembled parts?!?!?!?
I recommended that he find himself a good, gun friendly, ATF/NFA knowledgeable attorney. But for the time being I am posting this situation of forums on the web. He has spoken of the MG-42 as a eventual family heirloom, and would love to lend it to Museum's so others can enjoy this piece of history. It would not be a weekend range toy. And it would be a REAL crime for this MG-42 to be melted down for scrap.
I would like to say again, my "friend" is NOT in possession of the MG-42 in question, and is only weighing his options, looking for advice, and trying to digest the Mind-spinning Gun Control Act laws..
Please, even though I am looking to this forum for advice, please do not start the "DOING THIS WILL SEND YOU TO JAIL, THE ATF WILL SEND YOU THERE" posts, etc. If that is true, explain why. The ATF is a bureaucracy that has its own rules and regulations to follow, not a omnipresent super being. I'm looking for hardcore facts, legal precedent, etc. The type of information that will keep my "friend" from accidentally crossing onto the wrong side of the law.
Thank you in advance.
A bit about my "friend". He is a history buff, and fascinated by many things rare and unique. He is passionate about the preservation of history through knowledge, objects, writings, etc. He has no criminal back round, over 21 years of age, A libertarian by ideology and republican by practicality. He also is a collector of newer firearms for sporting use and self defense, and older firearms for their historical value. He is a supporter of the constitution, opposes any law that infringes on citizens rights, and supports the 2nd amendment to the letter. Overall, he's a typical, law abiding, American, and an alright guy .
He has never had any dealing with the ATF, as he owns NO NFA-style items.
One day this friend has an chance to buy a WW2 war trophy, A Original German MG-42 brought back by a US serviceman. The MG-42 has been cut up in several places, in accordance with US Army practices of the time, when dealing with a solider sending back a captured gun. The MG-42 was never assembled and ended up in the hands of a Korean WAR veteran who has the MG-42 still in pieces and completely disassembled to this day.
My friend has no idea of any paperwork (ATF, amnesty registration, etc.) that will come with the MG-42, but he is assuming that there is NONE.
Now that Korean War vet is rising in his years, and would like to see the MG-42 get in to good hands, of a person that would appreciate what it is, and what it represents. So he offered a price so good on the disassembled MG-42 that it cannot be past up (unless the purchase landed him in front of a judge).
After the thrill of the idea of owning a piece of history wore off, my friend started to worry. Can he own this MG-42 disassembled and in pieces (the receiver is still intact) with the intentions of restoration? Can he work with the ATF in restoring this historical piece to it's original specifications, in a totally legal fashion? Are there provisions in the Gun Control Act and other gun laws the ATF has in it's arsenal to aid in the restoration of historical and war trophy pieces that may not have paperwork? Is it even legal to own this MG-42 in its current, inoperable, state of cut pieces and disassembled parts?!?!?!?
I recommended that he find himself a good, gun friendly, ATF/NFA knowledgeable attorney. But for the time being I am posting this situation of forums on the web. He has spoken of the MG-42 as a eventual family heirloom, and would love to lend it to Museum's so others can enjoy this piece of history. It would not be a weekend range toy. And it would be a REAL crime for this MG-42 to be melted down for scrap.
I would like to say again, my "friend" is NOT in possession of the MG-42 in question, and is only weighing his options, looking for advice, and trying to digest the Mind-spinning Gun Control Act laws..
Please, even though I am looking to this forum for advice, please do not start the "DOING THIS WILL SEND YOU TO JAIL, THE ATF WILL SEND YOU THERE" posts, etc. If that is true, explain why. The ATF is a bureaucracy that has its own rules and regulations to follow, not a omnipresent super being. I'm looking for hardcore facts, legal precedent, etc. The type of information that will keep my "friend" from accidentally crossing onto the wrong side of the law.
Thank you in advance.