Legal in most states (check your state and local laws..I have no idea) if purchased by a non-felon or a bad guy in general. I researched the hell out of Thompsons for a year before purchasing this. IMO the WW2 Thompsons are the best value if you want something you can actually shoot without feeling guilty; Rare, idiotproof, a real piece of history and relatively cheap and easy to maintain and repair if ever need be. This one is an M1A1 Bridgeport manufacture with "US Property" stamped behind the rear sight. They don't all have that. Previously owned by the Philadelphia Police Department after the war. $25,000 Sorry I don't know how to download files (Doh !) but can email pics to those seriously interested. (The gun is very nice with no pitting like most I have seen)
All Class 3 transfers must be done through a FFL. One personal cannot simply sell another person a machine gun.
Inter state transfers require no FFL just BATFE (ATF) approved paperwork and a $200 tax / transfer fee so my being in Texas I can transfer to an approved individual here in TX. Tax still required. Out of state transfers normally require than I ship it to a Class 3 dealer (not normal FFL) then you pick it from them. I have a special license, named Curio and Relics, that allow less comotion on my end for weapons like this, even machine guns, over 50 years old. Curio and Relics licenses are fairly easy and quick to obtain so anyone that collects older weapons like this one should consider that as well.
Interesting, did not know that. Was just speaking to someone yesterday that bought one of these and said he had to have it modified to semi-auto.
He was probably pulling your chain. You cannot convert a machine gun to semi-auto legally AFAIK. Crazy as that sounds. You must DESTROY the receiver thus the registered part; essentially "the gun". There are lots of dealer sample (only legal to own by class 3 dealers and SOTs) that would be worth lots of money as semiautomatics if one could convert them. As dealer samples they are not transferable to individuals, like this one is, hence a lower demand and price. Substantially lower.
Very cool to see one for sale. Way out of my gun budget range, but still cool. Best luck, hope it finds a happy new home!!
I SO wanted a pair of Thompsons another police department was selling off many years ago. Back then, they were quite a bit less $$, but still pricey (seem to remember in the $8k range). More recently, St Louis sold off a bunch. They were priced right in the range the OP is asking, and they likely weren't as nice as the one he describes. http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2017/06/06/st-louis-thompson-sub-machine-guns/
Its a class 3 item. However you don't need to be a class 3 dealer. Just a normal human being with 25 grand and some patience. Sorry. Haven't shot this one. Even if I did dont know how to upload a vid. Yes form 4. Arlington. I assume you are in Fort Worth ?
22 grand each. Those look like Colt Thompsons. Probably worth close to 40 grand each. I would have paid 25k all day every day. Where to get the money ? I'd figure out someplace
The St. Louis guns are 1920s colts, except one 1942 gun. You are exactly right on the price, the broker bought them for $22K and will be selling them for around $40K each. Good luck on your sale! I've always wanted one but I won't bother trying while living in NJ. Regards, Art S.
Bump. This gun is as near mint as one can expect in a 40's military gun. No pitting. Which is VERY common in most WW2 Thompsons. I have only seen a very few with none... like this one. Near mint. Just received a dozen brand spankin new 30 round WW2 Seymore magazines in original wrapper today. Half to go with this gun. Half I keep for the other one. Ever want a machine gun ? Bunky this is IT. Plus never lose a dime. MG's appreciate.
Bump. I typically conservatively value my stuff. I listed a Demro machine gun here a year or two ago for $4500. No response so I put it on Gunbroker. PS thanks for the camera work and ad William Huber. It sold for $7500. If you ever wanted something special in a military firearm this is about as special as it gets. These only go up. Don't be afraid to step up to the plate. The first time I ever did anything was the first time I had ever done it This one is minty. I'm going to an all Thompson show in August. It will definitely sell there for this price or more.
I live in Maryland. One of the most gun unfriendly states in the union. I owned 2 Full auto weapons. My wife had our children faster than I got approval to own. 200 dollar stamp, fingerprints register with state police. Quite the pain. Then along came the bumpstock. What a hoot! One gun was 2300 dollars. got a couple extras for it. sold for 5600 dollars. second was 2700 but only got 4200. Still not bad. So what does Maryland do? Outlaw bump stocks. I can still own a machine gun but not a piece of plastic!
When selling my Demro I had a question come from somewhere up in the north east if the gun was full auto only. IE safe and full auto only. Not safe, semi, and full auto as 99% of all machine guns. Apparently their legislature in their infinite wisdom decided that the semi auto function was unconstitutional. I am not making this up. Welcome to politics. Those that don't think that local political decisions don't matter on Federal inalienable constitutional rights; WAKE UP !