Becoming a sales rep.

Back in the early 90's I worked with a Vet that was a dealer in new full auto guns. He had salesmans samples of several modern weapons that he sold to Illinois police depts. Illinois does not allow civilians to own NFA weapons but he was selling/transporting modern guns and was totally matter of fact about it.
How would he have been licensed?

Most likely he was a Class 1 (or 9) FFL and SOT Class 3 dealer, or he was a Class 7 (or 10) FFL and SOT 2 manufacturer.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=507319

01 FFL with a class 3 special occupational tax (SOT). Basically he's your run of the mill dealer in machine guns.

In order for you to do that yourself, you would have to have a legit business in selling guns as those type of FFLs (well, every FFL except a 03 FFL/C&R) is for business, not advancing your personal collection. On top of that, to be able to get the newer automatics, you must have a LEO request a demonstration of that gun on department letterhead. (I'm not sure if that applies only to the initial importation of the weapon or each transfer among dealers.)

Thanks. He was a Marine vet/full time Cadillac Technician who also was a machine gun sales rep. Have never run into the likes since.

So would one apply for the lic and tax status and then solicit departments and then get a sample gun once you get a legit request?

He could also have been an employee of a corporation that had the required FFL and SOT, and he was authorized by the corporation to possess the guns within the scope of his employment.