www.MG42.us

May I ask you experts what actually is the clear rules on MGs in the USA? In UK our deactivated 'items' (legally not classed as weapons) are complete but deactivation mainly revoles around a blocked useless barrel that cannot be removed. Otherwise all is 100% but 'murdered' inside. I understand that in the USA you must have dummy sideplates.
My second question is then what can or cannot be sold between UK and USA. Can I buy a booster from the USA? Are mounts and tripods prohibited as they could be understood to 'assist' firing, or are there other 'normal' accessories classed as prohibited, like a feedblock? What is the rule - is it that any part directly linked with firing cannot be sent? Obviously a barrel is ilegal, but does that include an ammunition belt for example? Can you see my point pse? I am clear on UK law but I want to work with US owners and of course everybody wants to stay above the law.
Very confusing and I also believe your rules differ in different states? Plus Ebay seems to have a varying policy which only confuses me further!
Thank you
Mark

You will also find that even if an item is legal to sell to you,many times a company will not,just to avoid any problems.It is easier for them to say no than to research each item to each country.We have that here,sometimes a company will not ship to a state if it has restrictive gun laws,even if the item is legal. Confusing,wot? ---bil

Mark,

In the US its the receiver that is illegal. For the most part that is the piece with the serial number on it and usually has the markers info on it too. For Maxims its split. For German guns the illegal part is the left plate and for Russian guns it is the right side plate.

Yeah we can buy and sell but we must fill out paperwork for sending it in and out of the country. Thats why most companies will not ship over seas. Individuals often over look this... This goes for anything gun related "weapon of war".

For most off of it, so long as its legal where its shipped... its fine. I would not buy a receiver from you and you would not buy a barrel (maybe a bolt) from me. All the other parts are legal in both countries. Remember once its out of the USA... I don't have to worry about Brit police coming after me. They will just get you!

Bottom line... don't get anything shipped to you that is illegal in your home country. So long as we all follow this we should not run into much trouble!

Matt,
thanks. You are right of course about staying on the right side of the law. Just wanted to check.
Here in Belgium the laws are very very strange but as the Govt keeps changing, and the gun laws seem to alter at the whim of whoever is in power, then the serious collectors keep quiet and/or even 'stay' underground.
Mark

There are 1000s of illegal machine guns in the US not counting the "real criminals". Most are owned by old men who lived under a less threatening US Government and are now to old to care if they get caught. But for me 10 years in jail is just to much to risk. Plus we now have government that would be happy to let a multi-murderer back on the street but will send me to jail for 10 years. We were once the land of the free but in the end, like Khrushchev predicted: "We will bury you..." and so they have!

I realize this is an old thread but thought it appropriate to update the information. Below is a link to ATF's 2010 ruling on the side plate issue.

http://www.atf.gov/regulations-rulings/ ... 010-3.html

Roscoeturner wrote:I realize this is an old thread but thought it appropriate to update the information. Below is a link to ATF's 2010 ruling on the side plate issue.

http://www.atf.gov/regulations-rulings/ ... 010-3.html

Thanks for the valuable update!

Never hurts to print these rulings out and keep them on file. Goes a long way to solving any issues if the subject comes up during an inspection.

Correction: there is no differentiation between German Maxims and Russian Maxims in regard to which plate is controlled. The RIGHT sideplate is now the controlled part on all Maxims and Vickers.
Further, it is illegal to export ANY MG parts, which also include mounts, without state department approval of the export permits and whatevr are the import permits of the importing country. he export of MG parts is highly regulated by the State Department ITAR rules and no none is allowed to export without the proper authority. While it is,possible to ship small parts, etc out of the country and not get caught, it is not worth the risk as the willingness to prosecute civvies caughT doing this will vary over time.
The export process is extremely time consuming and aggravating. I exported some MG stuff through a licensed exportr and it took 9 months to get the final approval. Plus, shipping container materials must comply now with EPA regulations to prevent transport of an kinds of organic or inorganic materials that might contaminate the importing country.
Bob Naess

bmg17a1 wrote:Plus, shipping container materials must comply now with EPA regulations to prevent transport of an kinds of organic or inorganic materials that might contaminate the importing country.
Bob Naess

Bob,

I have not heard of that requirement, we ship multiple packages out of the country every week using USPS Flat Rate boxes marked for that purpose. They are not required to be sealed any differently than if used for domestic shipments.

There may be different requirements for the large steel container sized shipments if that is the type you were referring to.