The wife gave me the green light to purchase a Thompson sub machine gun. How do I actually do this? Do I need to hre someone to find one for me? Do I buy it under my family trust? I need almost a step by step instruction in this process.
Thank you.
Two ways:
Find one that is not an sbr and fill out all NFA form 1 paperwork yourself, wait and then convert once you have an approved form 1.
If you’re buying one already converted to an SBR, that would be a form 4. Obviously, any full auto trigger pack would require an additional form, money and wait time.
My recommendation is to do some research on the NFA regs and speak with an NFA attorney on what is the best route for you relative to which way to file.
Maybe you want to do some research on the NFA regs and realize you can’t file a Form 1 to make a machinegun? :nono:
And the fact you don’t need an SBR stamp for a MG.
http://www.nfasales.com/nfawp/
https://dealernfa.com
Thompson-specific page : https://dealernfa.com/product-category/machine-guns/thompson/
https://www.davidspiwak.com
https://otbfirearms.com/nfa/transferable-machine-guns/
Find one you like from the above websites.
Buy it- money order, check, wire transfer, etc
Have your SOT send the dealer from above his info.
The form 3 will be for the transfer between the above and your dealer.
Then fill out form 4 (determine if i dividual or trust at this point) and submit (your dealer can help you).
Wait a year for the approval and tax stamp to come back.
Go pick up your machinegun.
There is no legal way to build a machine gun on a form 1, period.
The only way for a private individual to legally acquire a machine gun is to locate a transferable machine gun for sale, and go through the necessary steps to purchase it.
Or, find someone to bequeath it to you, and wait, and then go through the necessary steps.
If, in your search of one to buy, you see “post sample”, move on. It is not transferable, and cannot be purchased by private individuals.
Yes, it sucks, since they will be so much cheaper.
A search will find sites where they are bought/sold. A search will find the process you will need to follow, both in state, and from another state.
How much does the tax stamp cost these days? When I toyed with the idea of getting into a sub gun back in the 1990’s I recall $300 for the feds. Is the current back ground check and paperwork approval a year long wait?
I stated “an additional form” and my original statement was made relative to an SBR, but I can see the confusion the statement created.
I stated “an additional form” and my original statement was made relative to an SBR, but I can see the confusion the statement created.
$200. Same as it was in ‘34.
Considering the great expense with any machine gun, is it better to go through a reputable dealer like those attached to this thread or peruse GunBroker? I can’t imagine the great difficulty and frustration with spending $20k on something that does not run as it should…
Newb here:
I think starting off, stick with the big names- like getting into guns… you buy one or two from known legit sources, then learn the ropes and venture into the abyss.
I just bought my first, and honestly, avoiding bids and crap was worth the “extra cost”. Its like 7% tops.
Relative to an sbr? They are not related, at all. Machine guns do not have any defining factors on barrel length or overall length.
An additional form? Such as what, exactly? There is no additional form. A private individual cannot legally make a machine gun, period. There are no forms that will change that. It has been this way since may of 1986.
Only an 07 with an sot can make a machine gun, and any they make are not transferable, which means they cannot be sold to a private individual.
No. You do need to educate yourself about Thompson sub machineguns. Take a look at these:
https://dealernfa.com/product-category/machine-guns/thompson/
As you can see, the prices range from $20k to $38.5k. There is a reason for the massive difference in prices. Some are original full autos and (I’m guessing here) some were converted from semiautos. Some are better quality than others. Some are rarer than others. Some take drums and others will only take sticks. You need to know the reasons for all of the differences so that you don’t simply buy what’s least expensive and end up regretting that you didn’t pay a little more. Once you know for sure what you want, buy from a reputable dealer.
Do I buy it under my family trust? I need almost a step by step instruction in this process.
You only need to put it in your family trust if you have a compelling reason. Up until a couple of years ago, people were able to use trusts to get around chief law enforcement officers that wouldn’t sign off on their Forms. Now CLEO’s don’t have the authority to sign off on forms. However, everyone in the trust now has to go through a background check. Therefore, there’s no compelling reason to use a trust simply because it’s a NFA item. You may have other reasons though. BTW, NFA items transfer to immediate family free, a tax free transfer is not a reason for having one either. If you want others (in the trust) to be able to use your Thompson when you’re not around, then that is a reason to use a trust.
You need to find a local NFA dealer that will receive the Thompson for you. If he has a range that allows full autos, that’s all the better as you’ll be waiting a while. This dealer can help you through the paperwork as they’re responsible.
BTW, have you shot a full auto Thompson? They’re fun, but they are heavy. I think that a M16 or Mak 11/9 with a Lage upper would offer more full auto fun over the long run. The think that I love about my M16 is that I’m able to change the configuration easily. I shoot 5.56x45, 7.62x39 and 6.5Grendel through it. I could shoot 9mm too if I wanted to do so. Thompsons are iconic, but they are classics that are not really configurable.
Please ask more questions.
Interesting thread as I always wanted a FA Thompson but gave up due to the $$$$ aspect…was very fortunate to find an M16A1 & agree with Bret the added coin wouldn’t be worth it unless I was swimming in dollars. Was surprised to find a couple on gunbroker.
I have been doing a crash course in things Thompson related. I see that there is indeed a large price spread between a Colt 1928 and a West Hurley. At this time, I am looking for a early WW2 vintage weapon that can accept drum and stick magazines. Savage 1928 for example?? I rented a Thompson m1 many years ago and it was a thrill to shoot. I understand that the ergonomics are not great, it is heavy for what it does, and it is completely as is with no modifications. But hey! You only live once!
We can thank Ronnie Reagan for the high prices.
Awesome! Get what you want and don’t look back.
Don’t forget about congress. The ‘86 Firearm Owners’ Protection Act was overall a win for gun owners. Unfortunately, antigunners took advantage of the opportunity and got the machinegun ban through. We wouldn’t have guns shows without it having passed. Here are a list of the details. Most are good for us:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/99th-congress/senate-bill/49
Local gunshop has a nib west Hurley 1928 for $25k. Can any one here comment on what to look for on a West Hurley? Or are they simply better to avoid?
Step one: Have deep pockets.
Turns out the Thompson is an auto ordnance, West Hurley, definitely used not nib, condition is still excellent, 1928 configuration, comes with one stick magazine, unable to test fire, $24k. I will probably pass.