[TIMC]

Heard some interesting news from Century intl. the other day. I was told The Cetme and G3 parts guns will soon no longer have muzzle breaks along with no longer importing SAR1 AK's. I've also noticed L1A's are starting to become a litle harder to find. and prices are starting to creep up.

[Marko Kloos]

If the AWB expires next year (big "if"), then there'll be nothing preventing anyone from threading the muzzle of a CETME and attaching a NATO STANAG flash hider.

[Snowdog]

Until respectable firearm companies can find laborers in the US willing to work for $2 an hour without benefits, most affordable semi-autos will continue to be imports. :(

[DMK]

If the AWB expires next year (big "if"), then there'll be nothing preventing anyone from threading the muzzle of a CETME and attaching a NATO STANAG flash hider. This is very commonly believed and is untrue. Courtesy of George Bush senior, rifles imported since '91 are subject to much stricter legal limitations than Bubba Clinton's '94 AWB. This is why manufacturers such as Arsenal make AKs here and why Century Arms adds a number of U.S. made parts to CETMEs, FALs and SARs. Only U.S. manufactured weapons will benefit from the AWB sunsetting.

[TIMC]

I was told Century not importing any more SAR1's is a cost issue. Possibly they are cutting back on negotiating new contracts for these imports waiting to see what happens with the possibility of the AWB expiring. We can ony hope.

[Rocko]

The ATF apparently recently decided that the Century MB used on their G3 and CETME clones was a flash hider. This is why they are going to bare muzzles. I also question the cost issue they gave regarding the SAR series. According to current ATF policy, they never should have been approved for import. Importers can't even get bare receivers and barrels of EBR type rifles into the country without agreeing to sell them for "repair or replacement only". Yet Century has apparently continued to import the SAR's, which at a minimum come in as barreled receivers. They can continue to import the WASR's, since the receiver only accepts the single-stack mags when imported, and is later converted. I'm guessing the ATF recently discovered this "oversight" and put an end to the importation.

Edit: I've heard reports from elsewhere that the ATF has been spending lots of time at Century's warehouses recently. The muzzle device is obviously a product of this. I don't think the timing of the recent SAR announcement is a coincidence either. As to why Century isn't screaming "ban!" to trump up sales of existing stock - well, if they weren't supposed to be importing them all this time, then they obviously wouldn't want to call attention.

Rocko

[SelfProclaimedExpert]

DMK,

Marko's right, you're wrong. The current batch of Cetmes and Fals are covered under two laws, but the one that prevents flashhiders is about to expire. While you still won't be able to get a "foreign" assault weapon, one with the requisite number of US parts would be acceptable.

[DMK]

SelfProclaimedExpert, Marko, you guys are right. I stand corrected.

By keeping your imported parts count under 10, you would effectively have a U.S. made weapon, get around the 9.22r limitations and only fall under 9.22v, AKA the '94 AWB, shall it sunset in peace.

You'd still have to be careful with certain guns like the SKS though, since there aren't presently enough U.S. made parts available to get around 9.22r and even if there are, you still need to be able to prove that they are indeed installed in the gun.