I like to peruse back issues of the old Machine Gun News and Small Arms Review magazines. In a 1992 issue of MGN, a question appeared in one of Dan Shea’s monthly columns; a reader wrote to Dan, “When are machine gun prices coming down?” I thought to myself, I wonder if that person was aware of machine gun prices today?

I looked through the dealer advertisements in the same 1992 MGN issue to see what prices were back then. Well, they were more than before the pre-May 19, 1986, ban on transferable machine guns, but still far, far less than today’s prices. I noted that the average price of a new Colt M16A1 was $2100. I decided to look at prices from the 1970s to the present to see how they have increased over the years, keep in mind inflation over the last 37 years would have some effect on prices.

During 1965, Jesse Curtis Earl was one of only three Class III dealers doing business in the United States. Mr. Earl became known (during the pre-internet days) through his magazine advertisements and catalogs. The catalogs were a great source of information on machine gun ownership, a subject of which in those days was pretty much unknown. Photos were available for any gun or item listed at $2.00 for a submachine gun and $5.00 for a belt fed weapon. One recurring statement in his catalogs was the caveat “all sales are final”.

Interestingly, the back page of later catalogs was dedicated to MACHINEGUNS…YOUR BEST INVESTMENT. On the page was a bar graph illustrating the increase in value from 1965 to 1979. According to Mr. Earl, the average increased value per year was 149 percent. He predicted that machine gun prices would continue to increase, stating “Buying machine guns could be the best investment you ever made”. He had no idea how accurate his prediction would prove to be. In his 1986 catalog he listed the price of Colt Model 1921 Thompsons “starting at $3500.00”. Keeping in mind Mr. Earl’s prices could only be described as “astronomical” the average five to six figure selling price of a Colt Thompson today certainly proves his prediction to be accurate. The catalogs were periodically updated and sold until the 1990s. Reportedly, his catalog sales alone provided a good source of income for Mr. Earl.

Note that his investment chart was dated seven years before the May 19, 1986, ban on registering transferable machine guns. After the ban, prices doubled overnight. After the initial increase during 1986, machine guns saw modest price increases during the ensuing years. Earl liquidated his machine gun holdings in 1992. Jesse Curtis Earl passed away on 19 July 2000.

The $200 NFA Transfer Tax

One of the reasons machine gun prices increased over the years, prior to the internet, was the required $200 transfer tax. Owners of machine guns interested in selling them wanted to recoup the $200 transfer tax they paid and added it to the price they were asking. For example, Joe paid $500 for his Thompson submachine gun. He got married and decided to sell the gun; Joe is asking $700.00, he sells the Thompson to a dealer. When an individual sells a Form 4 machine gun to a dealer, a $200 tax is still due, so the dealer now has $900.00 invested and to make a profit increases the price to $1100.

One obstacle to the purchase of a machine gun was the $200 federal transfer tax. Few individuals had sufficient disposable income during the economic recessions of the 1970s and 1980s to pay $500 for an M16A1 rifle and an additional $200 for the transfer tax. Of course, there were many cheaper full-autos available; Sten submachine guns with new manufacture receiver tubes could be had for under $200 retail, and MAC-10s and Smith & Wesson Model 76 submachine guns were available for even less. However, the mindset of many at the time was “I’m not paying a $200 tax on a $100 gun.” Although many, justifiably, complain about the astronomical machine gun prices today, the price is often what motivates the owner to part with a coveted machine gun. When their Colt M16A1 was worth $500 there was no viable reason to sell it. But today, with prices hovering in the range of an average house in 1980, many owners are motivated to sell. According to the Dollar Times, $500 in 1984 had the same buying power as $1,376 in 2022, with annual inflation over this period being 2.70%.

The Internet

The primary reason for astronomical increases in Class III machine gun prices is widespread exposure on the internet. In the “old days” most machine guns being offered for sale were found in the (printed pages) classified ads of the Shotgun News (now known as the Firearm News). There were three issues of SGN a month. Upon arriving in the mail, one usually would turn to the “machine guns for sale” section. When a suitable gun was found, the potential buyer had to CALL the person who placed the ad on a land-line telephone to discuss the deal—email and texting did not yet exist. A plus side to this seemingly (to some) archaic method of communication was that there were far fewer scammers and there was more human contact. Fifty-fifty payment plans were common; 50 percent down started the paperwork; the remaining 50 percent was due when the transfer was approved by ATF, usually within 90 days. Prior to the internet, many in the U.S. believed civilian possession of machine guns was illegal. Others thought that you had to be a Class III dealer. The Class III community was quite small, and many wanted to keep it that way.

Although all registered machine guns have substantially increased in value over the years, some have increased more than others. Exposure in Hollywood films or TV programs often will have an effect on weapon popularity, and price. World War I era machine guns have not gone up in value as much as more modern guns. Exceptions include the classics, like the Thompson submachine guns manufactured by Colt in 1921. World War II era U.S. issue machine guns like the Grease Guns and WWII era Thompsons remain popular.

Often, guns like the UZI submachine guns, most all converted from semi-automatic versions, have recently had a significant increase in price overnight for no particular reason. Colt M16 rifles and clones remain quite popular.

One AR rifle related item that no one could have predicted to have a great increase in value is the drop in autosear (DIAS). The increase is the price of a DIAS has matched, and often increased, in value more than a Colt factory M16A1! Why? Versatility. During the 1980s AR-15 auto sears could be found in the pages of the Shot Gun News for $29. But few people thought to register them, instead most registered their host’s receiver. The value of a registered DIAS is it can be used in any number of AR-type rifles. Years ago, AR-type rifles all looked the same, and few people owned more than one, that has changed. Since the rights to the AR-15 expired, the market has been flooded with AR and M16 clones, most in updated modern configurations. HK registered sears and sear packs have had a similar price increase. The value of a HK sear versus a registered receiver is, again, versatility. A registered HK sear can be used in different HK and clone models and calibers.

Another 1970s era subgun that few would ever consider as nothing more than a bullet hose, are the MAC 10, MAC 11, and SWD’s M11/Nine submachine guns. Most of these guns could be bought new in the 1980s for less than $200. Today, they can demand a price in the low five-figure range. Why? Primarily by the efforts of one company, Lage Manufacturing LLC. Lage sells upper receiver conversions that slow down the rate of fire and make the guns more ergonomic. A more recent development by Lage is an upper receiver that converts the little submachine guns to fire .223/5.56 ammunition.

Where will the machine gun price increases end? We all ask, “how much higher could they possibly go?” Think back when M16 rifles were less than $500, did anyone back then could ever imagine that prices would be where they are today? History has proven that the prices you balk at today, you will be happy to pay next year!

Developments in the firearms industry, movies, the internet, auctions, along with an increasing demand with a finite supply, have all contributed to the prices of machine guns today, in a way no one could have ever predicted, not even Curtis Earl. 

In an effort to correct this gross injustice, The 1934 Group filed a lawsuit last year. Attorneys James H. Jeffries and Stephen P. Halbrook filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia on behalf of two law enforcement officers and seven private individuals. The complaint essentially states that the CLEO certification requirement is unlawful because: 1) ATF Forms 1, 4 & 5, are in fact Federal tax documents and CLEO certification violates taxpayer privacy protection; 2) the states are compelled to administer a Federal regulatory program, without funding and contrary to law (this is similar to the Tenth Amendment issue in Brady which was struck down by Printz vs. United States in 1997); 3) it interferes with the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury to collect Federal taxes; and 4) delegation of Federal authority to local CLEOs is arbitrary, capricious and an abuse of discretion which is contrary to law.

Attorneys for the Department of Justice filed a motion to dismiss our case on the grounds that we the plaintiffs have no standing (legitimate injury). In December, oral arguments were heard in the District of Columbia with Judge James Robertson presiding. Judge Robertson appeared to be genuinely interested in understanding the merits of our complaint and gave considerable time to Mr. Halbrook who related clear examples of the unfair and abusive nature of this requirement. In particular, Mr. Halbrook emphasized the political quandary where CLEOs and alternate CLEOs including sheriffs, commonwealth attorneys, prosecutors, state police chiefs, judges, etc., all refuse to sign when any one of them within the state refuses to sign.

In spite of the facts, but as expected, on February 5, 2001 Judge Robertson ruled in favor of the Treasury Department, and dismissed our case. (See our case as filed and the motion as granted at: www.1934.org

However, this is not the end of the story. While in his written opinion, Judge Robertson alleges that the allegations do not entitle us to relief, he does in fact state that our allegations “are taken as true”, and further, that “plaintiffs do have standing to challenge the regulations”, specifically in regard to the Tenth Amendment issue in count 2, (compelling of states to administer a Federal regulatory program).

On April 3, 2001 the 1934 Group filed an appeal to present our case before a three judge panel. We are fortunate in that we have a very strong case and two of the brightest and most successful firearms rights attorneys available. We are even more fortunate, in that our attorneys are patriotic and principled enough to have agreed to fight on behalf of our entire class III community, for only a fraction of what trial attorneys normally cost.

The 1934 Group is in this fight to win. Our future efforts to correct this abuse of power will ultimately succeed or fail, not by lack of enthusiasm from the plaintiffs or the attorneys, but solely from the support of our class III community itself. To put it simply, it’s up to all of us.

We must pursue and win this case because it is the only right thing to do. We absolutely can win this case if we get the support. Please spread the word.

Donations are needed and can be made to:

Note new address!

1934 Group
7341 North Parkcrest Ave.
Boise, ID, 83703
www.1934.org

By Vince Oliva

The American Class 3 Association sponsored and put together a Belt Fed Match. Tony Gooch, President and Chairman of the American Class 3 Association molded and put forth a new event that will be a regular feature at KCR.

The rules of engagement were that any belt fed machine gun of less than .50 caliber may be used and fired only from a mount. The mount for the gun may be a tripod, quad leg mount, sled or wheeled mount.

The gun shall not be mounted to the mount until the crew has entered the “bunker”. The bunker in this scenario was square bales of hay stacked to create a wall with a port hole.

No tracer or incendiary ammo was allowed. Belt length restrictions were that the first belt must contain no more that 50 rounds and no less than 25 rounds and there shall be one mandatory belt change. There were no belt length restrictions after the first change.

Two separate classes of entries were set up for this match, Tripod and Bipod. Bipod had the same rules except for the mounting portion.

The scenario for this event was to have a crew (3-person max limit) from the starting line (about 20 feet from the bunker) have their ammo, gun and mount separated. At the signal from the range officer the crew would enter the “bunker” area, set up the mount, gun, load the ammo and begin firing. A 10 minute time limit was imposed.

The targets were of 18 different colored helium filled balloons set up in 3 separate sections of 6 balloons per section with 2-3 feet of sting tied to a base. If a shooter cut the balloon string it was a “lost” target. The amazing part was that most competitors completed the course. Have any of you ever tried to hit a balloon at 100 yards especially when the balloon is bobbing up and down and waving side to side due to the wind. Let me tell you that it was a very breezy day and the competitors had to really work. I especially commend the tripod shooters. The gunner had to work the T&E constantly. One amazing thing that was observed by this writer and other spectators, during an engagement of fire a balloon would jump to the side caused by a near miss or shock wave of the bullet. Thus making the target even more difficult to hit.

Tony set up a separate class for the bipods. The bipods had a very big advantage due to the maneuverability of the weapons. The resulting scores display the big difference in set up time as well.

A separate and special plaque award also went to the most authentic appearing gun crew of the competition. With only one entry, the most authentic appearing crew, the Russian Red Army, went to Bob Raymond (Gunner), Randall Raymond and Sue Bennett. This crew did it right. With an M1910 Russian Maxim and a shouldered PPS41, dressed in the proper period of military garb it set the stage for a very colorful event.

This writer believes this new belt fed competition will be an ongoing event and as the word gets out more entries for the most authentic appearing crew will materialize. With the 1919MG one could be wearing WWII, Korean or Vietnam period uniforms.

All in all the competition was a great success and fun was had by all. Looking forward to attending the next belt fed competition this fall shoot. Any one who would like to attend this event can contact Tony Gooch AKA mguntony@yahoo.com

TRIPOD CLASS RESULTS:

83.1 Seconds, Gun – 1919A4
Team: 2 man crew
Keith New – Missouri
Steve Reece – Missouri

193.4 Seconds, Gun – 1919A4
Team: 3 man crew
Joe Carrere – Tenn.
Bill Ownbey – Tenn.
Paul Winters – Ky.

194.5 Seconds, Gun – 1919A4
Team: 3 man crew
Bill Ownbey – Tenn.
Malcome Davis – Alabama
Matt (Mongo) Bright – N.C.

233.1 Seconds, Gun – 1910 Russian Maxim
Team: 3 man crew
Bob Raymond – Tenn.
Randell Raymond – Tenn.
Sue Bennett – Louisiana

666.4 Seconds, Gun – 1919A4
Team: 3 man crew
Mike Bergmann – Ohio
Drew Kretzschmar – Ohio
Ed Beyer – Ohio

No score, Gun Malfunction, 1919A4
Team: 2 man crew
Tim Hakenwrth – Missouri
Mike Klos – Missouri

BIPOD CLASS RESULTS

58.82 Seconds, Gun – Stoner (.223)
Team: Single man team
Mike Homberger – Illinois

117.9 Seconds, Gun – MG42
Team: Single man team
Dave Wright – Illinois

165.2 Seconds, Gun – 1919A6
Team: Two man crew
Joe Carrere – Tenn
Paul Winters – Ky.

This series by Harold Lewis is designed to assist newer Class 3 dealers in their attempts to make law enforcement sales.

In our last segment we discussed how to get and set up your appointments with law enforcement agencies. We will now discuss the equipment and what information you will need to know to get through your first demonstration. We will begin with firearms. It would certainly be fun to bring an M60 or a Barrett 50 to your demonstration. Unfortunately, you probably won’t be able to sell any of these weapons, unless the Department has “special needs”.

Your inventory will be limited by the types of guns that your local Law Enforcement (LE) needs and the current political climate in your area. The guns that LEs seem to want are shotguns, sniper rifles, full auto sub guns, and semi and full auto rifles. Belt fed machine guns and light artillery do not usually show up on an LE purchase order. That’s good, as it would be a real drag to carry them around anyway. However, many departments do want training with belt fed and antique machine guns for forensic and farmilarization. Many municipalities will not permit full- auto weapons to be used by their police agencies, but they will permit the acquisition of new shotguns or a good sniper rifle. You certainly shouldn’t object if they trade in all their old rusty Thompson and Colt machine guns for new sniper rifles, sub guns and shotguns.

Over the past fifteen years many police agencies have established units trained in military assault tactics. SWAT, TAC teams and numerous other LE groups were formed to, “stop terrorism and fight the drug wars.” Ever since Waco and Ruby Ridge, however, many departments have changed to a more controlled approach to law enforcement. We now have emergency service units instead of assault teams. Whatever they call themselves, they are the only people who are trained to use the weapons that you sell. They will also be the only people you will deal with in the department for your demonstration. Very few LE personnel are trained to use exotic weapons. Most police and sheriffs go through their entire career without ever firing a shot from an automatic weapon. Only a few are chosen for these special units. They are well trained and most of them are very knowledgeable about the firearms they use.

What about handgun sales? Should you get involved in bidding wars on department purchases?

That is a personal choice. If you have had experience in this type of sale you may want to continue. Personally, I would much rather concentrate on selling National Firearms Act Branch (NFA) weapons. I would not mix this with peripheral sales. The sale of hand guns to LE departments is difficult, time consuming and very unprofitable. In most cases you will find that you are in direct competition with the gun manufacturers. Often the other bidders are the wholesalers that you buy your guns from. In either case you will not be able to out bid them. That’s O.K. That’s not what you’re there for. You are there to show and sell them guns that NO ONE else sells and to get the department to give you all their NFA Title II weapons in exchange.

The firearms you select for your demo can come out of your new inventory stock, or you can demonstrate used guns in good condition. In either case the guns should be kept very clean and dry. Make sure they are spotless. Even if the guns have never been fired, clean them before you go out for your demo. Wipe off all excess oil from the inside and the outside of the weapon. The guns will be handled by the LE personnel, and you don’t want anyone getting their hands or uniforms oily, dirty or greasy.

Remember, never carry the guns loaded with live ammo. This is very unprofessional and very dangerous. You are giving a demonstration of new firearms. You are not there to have a shoot out. Do not bring any ammo. You will not need it. The only exception would be if the department wants a live fire demo. In the last eight years I have never had a department ask me for one.

If you do provide a live fire demo, you will have to supply the ammo, and the guns will have to be cleaned. The wear and tear on your firearms may not be worth the time or effort. Other considerations are liability problems, should the department decide to use the reloads that they found in someone’s basement. Do not suggest a live fire demo. If asked, reply, that you are there to show them new weapons. The guns must be kept new and cannot be fired. Most of the personnel you will be dealing with have worked with automatic weapons, and shooting to them is no big deal. They may wish for a quick test fire to see if the firearms reliably cycle department ammunition.

Whichever guns you choose, be sure that you have complete knowledge and full confidence in your ability to handle the firearms you are showing. Never point a weapon at any human being or in an unsafe direction. (as always) Keep your finger off the trigger. Handle all of the weapons as if they were loaded. Read and learn everything you can about the guns you pick. Study the technical manuals and practice the assembly and disassembly of every part. You must know the names of all the parts, and learn all the technical information, weight, length, trigger pull, caliber variations, as well as all the different models available. You must become an expert with the guns that you carry with you to your demo. You should know everything there is to know about them. You should be able to field strip and reassemble every gun blindfolded. If you do not feel that confident in your familiarity with a particular weapon, don’t take it with you. Your lack of confidence, poor handling ability and inability to communicate important information about a particular weapon will give you away as an amateur and someone that the department will not deal with.

The shotgun will probably be your biggest seller. Every department has them and wants new ones all the time.

For your basic inventory, you will need at least two shotguns, one pump and one semi auto. It is interesting to note that the largest police agency in the country only uses double barrel shotguns. They are the exception. Most other departments will only consider pump or semi-auto shotguns.

The Remington 870 with a folding police or full factory stock and eighteen or twenty inch barrels should be your first choice. For your semi-auto I would suggest the Benelli super 90, with pistol grip, ghost ring sights, and a twenty inch barrel. Both of these guns would be a fine addition to your inventory. You may want to have one or both of the guns in a shorter, entry gun configuration. Any shotgun with a barrel under eighteen inches long must be registered with the National Firearms Act branch (NFA) of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF). These short barrel shotguns are certainly usable for your demo, but standard title I firearms are a lot easier to get and deal with. If they don’t sell, you can just return them to inventory. There are many other quality shotguns you could choose from for your demonstration. Whichever you choose be sure you know how to handle them.

Today’s modern sniper rifles offer you a very wide variety and selection to choose from. You can spend anywhere from $350 to $10,000 or more for a good sniper demo gun. These prices do not include optics! Most departments have one form of sniper rifle or another. Many small departments still use old, or confiscated hunting rifles that have been dedicated as the sniper rifle. In other departments I have seen old army match M14/ M1A rifles used as sniper rifles. All of these old guns will be a welcome addition to any trade or sale you make. Other departments may have the most up to date and sophisticated guns available. They would welcome some additional new guns into their inventory, hopefully in trade for their old unused Class III weapons.

Sniper rifles can be broken down to three basic groups. 1. Low cost mass-produced entry level guns up to about $900 without optics. 2. Factory mass-produced custom guns from $1,200 to $6,000. 3. Custom guns from $4,000 to $10,000 and up. Many of these firearms are reputed to be the ultimate in surgical instruments. Your choices here should be based on the realistic needs of the local LE departments you visit and the depth of your pockets. Remember your object is to get the departments to trade their old NFA guns for the guns you have to offer. You have to get them excited enough to be willing to give you anything you ask for. Having good quality firearms for your demo will certainly help.

Basic entry level guns

The Savage 110 FP comes in 5.56, 7.62x51mm NATO (.308 Winchester) and 300 Win Mag as well as several other calibers. It comes with a 24 inch long heavy barrel. The gun is 45 inches in overall length and has a black matte finish.

The Savage only comes with a long action bolt and new guns are all pillar bedded. That’s quite a lot of gun for under $400.00. Don’t let the low price fool you. While equipped with a poor trigger and a marginal stock, the Savage 110 FP shoots more accurately than rifles costing up to 10 times the price! Right out of the box this fine gun is capable of shooting 1/2 MOA or less with good ammo. Many departments on a tight budget will do very well with the Savage 110.

The Remington 700 action has become the industry standard for building custom sniper rifles and target guns. The 700 PSS from Remington comes with a McMillan style heavy composite kevlar stock. It has an aircraft grade aluminum bedding block and a free floating 26 inch heavy contour barrel. Out of the box this gun is capable of 1 MOA or less with good ammo. It comes with a 4 round, magazine. It is available in .223, 7.62×51 NATO, and other calibers. This gun is often sold as a package with a Harris bi-pod, Leupold Vari-X III, 3.5-10X scope, Pelican case and sling swivels. All for less than $1,400 to LE.

Group II

The low end of this group would include the Winchester M70 Classic Custom Sharpshooter. It comes with a 24 inch heavy stainless barrel, a glass bedded McMillan composite stock and a 5 round magazine. Winchester Guarantees 1/2 inch MOA with good ammo. This rifle sells for $2,500, without optics.

The Robar Company of Phoenix makes several grades of fine rifles, from the basic no frills SR50 with a 1 MOA pillar bedded rifle, to the ultimate SR90 – a Remington 700 action, with a match grade, fluted Schneider barrel and guaranteed 1/2 MOA. Prices are from $2,000 up. This group would also include the fine guns made by McMillan Gunworks Inc. of Phoenix Arizona.. McMillan is the oldest custom sniper rifle manufacturer in the United States. The M86SR with a 24 inch barrel is one of the finest firearms available.

Group III

Heckler and Koch makes several guns that can be used effectively as sniper rifles. From the $7,500 PSG1, to the very reasonable G3SG1 \ MSG90, for about $4,000. Other firearm manufacturers in this group would include Parker Hale, Mauser, Accuracy International, H-S Precision and Saco. These are typically in the $5,000 to $10,000 range. Whether you are willing to spend that much money on a demo gun is totally up to you. Several other companies are now making dedicated LE firearms at reasonable prices, such as Steyr and Ruger.

You will need at least two different weapons for your demo. I usually carry the Remington 700, a Savage 110 and a HK 91 dressed up like a PSG1. I also have a Ruger .308 as a backup. I have found that the majority of sniper rifles sold are the guns made by Remington and Savage. Whichever gun you choose, learn everything you can about it.

The weapon of choice for submachine guns is the Heckler and Koch MP5 and its many variants.

The MP5 is on every LE request and wish list. It is just about the only gun that will make departments eager to part with their old firearms. The MP5’s reputation may be overrated but every LE department wants one, two or more. I have found that it is just as easy to carry an H&K SP89 semi auto pistol for my demos.

There is no paperwork to worry about and there are no legal hassles when traveling from state to state. If you have a clean MP5, use it for your demo gun. If your MP5 is a bit ratty, as many dealer sample guns are today consider having it refinished. F.J. Vollmer and Co. does a very nice job for a reasonable price. In addition, Walter Birdsong has a black-T finish that the FBI uses. It is considered the standard finish of the industry. H&K MP5s come in many different variations starting with the MP5A2 fixed stock, MP5A3 with retractable stock. MP5SD2 fixed stock with integral aluminum sound suppresser and the MP5SD3 with retractable stock and sound suppresser. In addition there are several short versions of the same guns, designated by H&K as the MP5K, with no stock. It looks just like the SP89 semi auto. The MP5K-PDW (personal defense weapon) comes with a side folding stock . There are also 7 different trigger groups available for the gun. They are single fire, 2 shot, 3 shot, full auto, Navy full auto with ambidextrous safety and two shot and three shot burst groups. It makes very little difference which variant of the MP5 you have. You will only need one gun for your basic demo.

This is the firearm that you absolutely have to be able to assemble and disassemble with your eyes closed. You must be very confident in the way you handle the MP5. Most of the people you are dealing with have used the H&K extensively. You do not want to be fumbling for the magazine release or the cocking handle when you show the gun. Bring one magazine for the MP5, but do not have it installed in the gun. Install the magazine during your demonstration. Remember NO ammo!

Some of the other submachine guns that are selling today in the LE trade are the new Ruger MP9 designed by Bill Ruger and Uziel Gal and the original Uzi, which is now being distributed by Mossberg. Since Ruger does not permit the sale of Class III to dealers it is difficult to get the MP9 for a demo. Neither the Ruger MP9 nor the Uzi have the versatility and flexibility of the MP5.

In my opinion, the MP5 is definitely the gun to have if you have any intention of doing business with law enforcement.

The final two groups of guns that LE departments are looking for are full auto carbines and semi and full auto rifles. The Colt M16 and all of its different models hold center court. The Colt comes in several different calibers including a short stocked 9mm carbine designed to compete with the H&K MP5. A clean used Colt AR 15 in semi auto is a good, inexpensive way to demo the entire Colt line of firearms. The only difference between the guns is the overall length, firing mode and caliber. The cost of a transferable Colt M16 is over $2,500, while a used AR sells for less than $700. The Ruger Mini 14 and its full auto companion, the AC 556 select fire rifle are also good sellers. You may want to get both the Colt and Ruger. Consider the semi auto versions of both. The Mini 14 costs about $350. A transferable Ruger 556 sells for about $1,700. It may not make a difference to the people you are dealing with as to whether the gun is full-auto or semi-auto. If you go with semi-auto you will not have to be concerned about the legal hassles associated with carrying live machine guns.

For storage and travel I use the large double rifle cases made by Doskocil. They will hold at least three guns if you leave off the optics . You can use any case you like, but I have found that it’s easier to carry one or two large cases with 4 or five guns, than carrying 5 individual gun bags or cases.

Last, but certainly not least, is how you dress and look for the demo. Do not wear any camo, OD green, or black and gray assault outfits. You are not going to a machine gun shoot at Knob Creek. You are not supposed to look like a charter member of the local “militia” swat team. The people you are dealing with are professionals. They may resent it and it will kill any chance you have of making a sale.

You are supposed to be a professional gun manufacturer’s representative. Look the part.

A sports jacket, collared shirt and slacks or clean jeans are acceptable. I wear an H&K staff field jacket. Any manufacturer’s jacket with logo would be O.K.. Do not look like a gun slob. Long hair, pony tails, and an unshaven, unkempt look are out. Do not wear combat boots, army hats, or military field jackets.

In our next installment we will discuss making your presentation. We will also explain how to get the departments to show you all of the guns they have in storage.

While the price of Class III N.F.A. weapons continues to rise dramatically each year, the supply of Transferable Title II Firearms is shrinking, as demand keeps growing ever larger. Many dealers have told me that they are having a difficult time replenishing their stock at reasonable prices, while others have told me they are unable to get good guns at any price. This is due in part to many new class III enthusiasts, discovering the enjoyment and financial rewards of NFA weapons. The increases are primarily the result of the limiting restrictions imposed by the Gun control act of 1968 (26 USC sec. 5844). This law prohibited the possession and importation of any foreign made machine gun after that date for civilian use. On May 9, 1986, our government implemented 18 USC sec. 922.o This prohibited the further manufacture and possession of any new domestically made machine-guns for civilian use. It is interesting to note that The Supreme Court ruled in 1939, in United States V. Miller. 307 U.S. 174, that only weapons shown to be “ordinary military equipment” that could “contribute to the common defense” are protected by the Second Amendment. While 18 USC sec. 922.0 seems to be in direct conflict with this ruling, no one has successfully challenged it in Court.

This created four distinct classes of machine guns: 1. transferable imported guns brought in before 1968 and domestic guns manufactured before 1986. 2. Pre 1986 dealer sample guns only available to law enforcement (LE) and occupational taxpayers. 3. Post 1986 Dealer sample guns, requiring a LE department letter for possession and transfer. 4. Non transferable Law enforcement guns that are registered on a Form 10. These weapons are only transferable to law enforcement and museums, though they can be broken down for parts.

It seems that many Class III dealers are unaware that thousands of registered, transferable, functioning title II weapons are standing idle in old lockers and closets in the basements of countless local police stations and sheriffs’ departments.

After 1995 The Government disposed of all it’s declared obsolete stock piles of weapons. Thousands of Thompson 45s, Reisings, M2 Carbines, and other classic firearms were given away free to any police agency that wanted them. Fortunately, many of these weapons were registered with the National Firearms Act branch (NFA) of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (BATF).

Most law enforcement agencies have not used these historic weapons for years, for fear of liability. These classic relics are now well over 50 years old, and were retired from active service long ago. In addition Colt M16s, Ruger 556, Heckler and Koch MP 5s, Uzis, S&W 760s, and dozens of other brands of guns ended up in the hands of local law enforcement agencies.

In the last eight years as an NFA dealer I have had the opportunity to visit countless department armories and meet many fine dedicated people. Best of all, I was able to buy hundreds of firearms and dozens of machine guns from law enforcement agencies. At the same time, I was able to sell them dozens of new Colt M16s, H&K MP5s, Benelli and Remington shotguns and sniper rifles. I have found that dealing with the law is both very profitable and much fun.

The question is: How do you get the local police chiefs and sheriffs to willingly give you their guns? I hope to teach you some of the techniques I have used successfully for selling to and dealing with law enforcement.

How do you get started? Who do you contact? What do you say? Even more important, what don’t you say? All of these questions will be answered in due time.

To begin, it depends upon where you live. You may have dozens of local law enforcement agencies available to you in your proximity. Start by making a list of all the local PDs in your area or in an area that you would be willing to travel to. This should include the street address, the non-emergency phone number of the department, and the name of whoever is in charge. You may find phone listings in the white pages of your local directory, or you can call your local information operator. When you speak to the information operators tell them you would like the non-emergency phone number of the department and ask for the mailing address. Don’t go overboard here. Ten to fifteen departments is a good place to start.

Depending on the size of the agency, the head of the department may be a chief of police or sheriff, or a commissioner of police in larger urban areas and small cities. In any case, getting the individuals name is very easy. Just ask. When calling any department or business, the first thing to remember is never, ever call 911. This will usually guarantee that you have lost the sale before you even get stated. It is also irresponsible to tie up emergency phone lines with non-essential business.

Calls to a department are usually answered by a civilian employee, a patrol officer, a deputy sheriff or a desk sergeant. When you have them on the phone, take a deep breath and SMILE. Yes smile. Even though you can not be seen, the inflections of your voice are controlled by your facial muscles. This is very important. You have to win these people over in less than 15 seconds! That’s how long it takes for someone to lose interest or rouse interest in a sales call. A smile on your face when you talk on the phone will help greatly in getting your point across in a pleasant manner. The police are very busy people and have no time for sales pitches or small talk. Be polite and explain that the call is not an emergency and you would like to know the name of the chief of police or sheriff or commissioner. Ask when would be the best time to call to speak to them. At this point you may be questioned as to the nature of your business and why you are calling. Your answer here is critically important. Explain that you are a “ law enforcement firearms dealer”, you are calling the department concerning firearms, and would like to arrange to speak with the chief.”

Remember, do not mention anything about machine guns or Class III weapons. Don’t start explaining the differences between an MP5 and an MP5 PDW. Don’t tell them that you can supply them with a 1919 Browning or Bazookas and Rocket launchers. You are wasting your breath and their time. The person you are speaking to cannot help you. You will only confuse the issue and you may cause problems for yourself. You have to sound like a professional sales person, and not some yahoo gun nut who would like to sell the department hand grenades and a .50 caliber belt fed machine gun. The old sales adages of KISS (Keep it simple stupid) is of utmost importance here.

By being polite and direct and to the point, you will have no problem getting the name of the chief or sheriff. If you are lucky you may also be given the name of the person in charge of “the guns.” Write down any name you are given and their extension numbers. Thank the person you are speaking to, hang up and call the next department. Continue calling until you have all your department information complete. This will also give you time to practice and help you develop your phone skills.

As Class III dealers, many of you may already know the names of the department heads and the chiefs or sheriffs personally. This is an advantage. These personal contacts are often the best place to start.

The best time to call may vary from department. Try late morning first, and then early afternoon. I have found that early morning calls are not welcome. Most chiefs, commissioners and sheriffs are usually gone by 3 or 4 in the afternoon.

When you call ask for the chief or sheriff by name. You may be transferred to a secretary, but you will probably get the chief directly in smaller departments. If you get the secretary, simply ask to speak to the chief. If she questions you as to the nature of your call, tell her it is concerning firearms for the department. Do not mention machine guns. Remember KISS, and remember to smile.

You should have no problem being put through. If he is not in, ask when would be the best time to call and call back the next day. If he gets on the phone, say as follows. “ Sir my mane is———and my company is——. We are law enforcement firearms dealers and we would like to offer your department a free demonstration of the newest weapons and equipment. Could you give me the name of whoever is in charge of the Firearms in your department so I can make arrangements with him.”

Most chiefs of police know little about firearms. It is not their prime concern, nor in most cases, their field of expertise. That job is always left to subordinates. You may find an occasional chief who moved up through the ranks and may once have had extensive firearm training and knowledge. Whatever you do, do not mention machine guns to him. With the Political pressures put on department heads today, you don’t want to kill your sale before you start it. Don’t try to impress him with what you know about firearms. He does not care. He is a very busy man, and going into depth about guns will be just wasting his time. It may just piss him off, and that is something you really don’t want to do!

In most cases, depending on the size of the department, you may be given the name of someone from a patrolman up to a sergeant, a lieutenant, or even a captain. He or she may be in charge of the shooting range, the SWAT or TAC team, or the head training officer, or in some cases the department armorer. This will be the person you will do most of your dealings with. Remember that in all cases you will still need the final approval of the chief or sheriff.

Be polite at all times. Thank the person for his time and tell him that you will mail him your business card. Politely ask if you can be transferred to the individual whose name he has just given you. At this point you should have no further dealings with the head agency. All future transactions will take place at the lower levels of police bureaucracy.

Most departments have someone who has been appointed to or has worked their way up to be in charge of firearms. These people are true professionals. They deal on a daily basis with the use and training of the department’s weapons. Many of them are true gun enthusiasts. Some of them may have their FFLs. Most have taken numerous training courses on advanced gun techniques given by the FBI, the military and state police. They are often graduates of armorers’ schools and courses given by many of the gun manufacturers. Many are expert qualified gunsmiths. Most of the people I have met in this capacity truly love what they are doing. You should respect and honor them. These people will become your best friends. Remember when you speak to them for the first time, never try to show off what you know or what you think you know about guns. Most of them will know far more than you, and they will not be impressed.

You do have the ace of spades up your sleeve, though. You are a Class III NFA Firearms Dealer, and that does impress them!

When you do get them on the phone, explain that you are a Class III NFA firearms’ dealer and that you are authorized by the Federal Government and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms to sell, trade and own machine guns. Explain that you would like to arrange to show them some new weapons. Ask when would be the best time for such a demonstration. I have never had a free demonstration refused by one of these people. They love guns and are always eager to learn and see new weapons.

Again, depending on the size to the department, you may end up showing the guns to one man, or an entire swat team. In one case I showed sniper rifles and machine guns to the 15 man, head instructional staff on the largest police department in the country. I have been an FFL holder and gunsmith for over twenty years, and have been involved in firearms shooting and competition for over 30 years. Suffice it to say I was very, very impressed with this group of professionals. They really knew their guns. They were teachers of the two hundred plus man training staff for a department with over 30,000 officers.

In another case, the county sheriff personally handled the entire sale from my first call to the transfer of all his old M16’s and department handguns. You have to be prepared to deal and speak with anyone, from a patrol officer to the commissioner of police, or in some cases the district attorney or mayor of a small town. We will cover what you need to know for your first demonstration, equipment and presentation in the next installment.