So what burden do buyers hold in this instance? IE their obligation to ensure they’re not receiving stolen prop?
Or is it all on the seller of said property?
Numerous surplus outlets and even a few individuals have in fact been prosecuted for receiving stolen government property. The key to this is in the term “knowingly”. Most commonly, it is the seller that is prosecuted as in most cases the evidence lies in the possession and access to the source. When stolen property is recovered, the buyer is not reimbursed or compensated. Most good deals just aren’t. If the price is too good to be true, avoid it.
A few years ago, I had a CompM4 that I bought from LaRue that said, “Made in Sweden” on it. I don’t believe that LaRue stole it from the government or bought it from someone who did.
Any Army logistician worth a damn can find out. The problem isn’t if it was ever owned by the .gov, it’s whether or not it is STILL owned by the .gov.
I can look up serial numbers and tell you whether or not it’s owned by Uncle Sam.
Don’t the Military auction off old Aimpoints as surplus? I thought that the Military would action off big crates of stuff but the pound including optics, brass etc.
No shit like that most likely has to be demiled. I have never seen optics at DRMO, but they would require a destruction certificate if they did.
I have actually seen Aimpoints at DRMO with damaged knobs, etc… they were sold as is. They were also selling IR lasers after the smashed the IR part.
That’s why I said not guaranteed.
Has anybody seen the dude on the EE who has a bunch of Aimpoints and a shit ton of Matech rear buis? He said he traded a weapon for a pile of the irons. Seems like complete bullshit to me.
That’s crazy. ITAR controlled items. Hell they put destruction requirements on some silly shit. Sounds like some slipped through the cracks.
I looked at his history too, just about everything he’s listed since 2010 is the kind of stuff that doesn’t usually go on property books, with the exception of the optics. Really shady, here in LA I have personally witnessed CID & MPI cracking down.
Nope. Don’t believe the rumor that they are all stolen. Take advantage of the deal. Verify with the seller.
I spent 2-3 days along with a friend, contacting sellers directly and ebay. I went as far as discussing the KAC sights with ebay because I was going to just report them as stolen property and have the auctions pulled.
According to multiple sellers the sights are coming from GOVERNMENT SURPLUS AUCTIONS. I don’t recall the website, however one seller emailed me a link to a large US Gov site where you have to log in, and it is where surplus or whatever is auctioned to vendors in large amounts. Several vendors stated that the ridiculous rumor of these sights being stolen is old news.
I think the people spreading the “stolen sights” rumor just want to be able to sell theirs for $150, rather than compete with ebay guys selling mass quantities they got at auctions for $40.
Safe to say that the only way to know for sure is to call Aimpoint Sweden? /end topic.
Same with Trijicon. You call with the serial number, they tell you whether or not it was at one point government property.
Don’t see why the government doesn’t request laser engraved markings on Aimpoints like the Norwegians with their crests. It would save everyone’s time and money.
Both civilian and military CompM4s are marked “Made in Sweden”. Previous models only the military ones were marked.
Trijicon can tell you over the phone just based on the serial number, wish Aimpoint would do the same.
There are ways to tell whether or not it is STILL part of the .mil’s inventory.
Calling trijicon, will only tell you whether or not it originated as a government purchase.
One of the nightmares I had after leaving the Army dealt with government property in my care. In my dreams, I had left without clearing my hand receipts. I knew they were going to come for me. In my dreams, I had weapons and all sorts of sensitive items. I would wake up in a panic.
In reality, I was very tight with property in my control and had no open items, despite many deployments and property in a few countries.
Anyway, there are those who steal and sell things online. I am not sure if the government looks for individual items, but that is not my fear. I do not steal and I do not accept stolen property. My personal sense of integrity is worth much more to me.
Property clearence memo brah…
That is true, but there is some debate whether there has been a legitimate means for the military optics to reach the civilian market.
Send an optic to Trijicon for warranty work that they have listed as military owned and I don’t believe you would ever get it back.