FBI agent arrested for Oil filter suppressor

Pretty soon they're going require an ID check to purchase oil filters for your car. When does the insanity end?

Why do I smell something wrong? It sounds like "we don't like him, let's get something on him". Political? Didn't sing the right tune? Was the suppressor in his home before BATFE showed up?

Jim

Pretty soon possessing a solvent trap is going to be constructive possession.

If you'd read the article in its entirety, you may have a different opinion.

Sounds like he was a bad agent, quit before he could be fired, was using credentials (that should have been turned in) for questionable purposes, etc.

If he was using invalid credentials, that is a felony; why was he not arrested for that? Why go to the trouble and expense of staging a massive raid and house search? More here than the press was told or that they told us.

Jim

This may be less about the man and more about a growing problem.

There are people on eBay selling adapters that allow you to screw an oil filter onto your 1/2"-28 threaded barrel.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251306302131

Notice that more than 220 of these have been sold. Another listing I saw on eBay had more than 700 sold.

Think about it. You just bought part of a suppressor. You own a compatible rifle. That's likely considered "constructive intent".

And as you bought this on eBay there is a record of your purchase.

Twmaster said:

This may be less about the man and more about a growing problem.

There are people on eBay selling adapters that allow you to screw an oil filter onto your 1/2"-28 threaded barrel.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251306302131

Notice that more than 220 of these have been sold. Another listing I saw on eBay had more than 700 sold.

Think about it. You just bought part of a suppressor. You own a compatible rifle. That's likely considered "constructive intent".

And as you bought this on eBay there is a record of your purchase.

Click to expand...

theres probably to fine of a line to risk it, I assume some people might just use it for a fake suppressor but even if your car used the same kind of oil filter you could still get slammed. to much of a gray area

This may be less about the man and more about a growing problem.

There are people on eBay selling adapters that allow you to screw an oil filter onto your 1/2"-28 threaded barrel.

Click to expand...

Hell, we've even got a guy selling them on this site!

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=669483

I've always questioned the legality of the "solvent traps", especially once I saw the Econo-can advertisements which are NFA registered suppressors that look quite similar to the "solvent traps" being sold without any paperwork.
http://www.americanspecialtyammo.com/Class_III.html (2nd from the bottom)

^^^ I think I might need to buy one of those

^^^ I think I might need to buy one of those

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Which one? The registered or unregistered silencer?

Remember, the wrong choice comes with a complimentary 10 year stay at club fed



All joking aside, I have heard that the oil filter suppressors aren't that practical, even compared to micro suppressors that also incorporate wipes. The only thing the oil filter adapter has going for it is initial purchase price. After that you're still stuck paying roughly $10 per "wipe", as opposed to cutting out little pieces of inexpensive rubber. (And last I heard, the ATF doesn't view metal as being wipe material)

from the original article:

Brody admitted he possessed a homemade microguard silencer, which was not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.

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I've never heard of "microguard". The "solvent traps" and "Econo-can" appear similar but claim a different purpose, what makes folks here think one of the oil-filter things was the problem? Econo-can says "patent-pending" so unless "microguard" is an infringer I suspect its something different.

In any case it seems something he made instead of purchased what got him in trouble, what got them the warrant? Seems he was sketchy, with the bits about "credentials" in the story.

just get the adapter registered

wally said:

from the original article:


I've never heard of "microguard". The "solvent traps" and "Econo-can" appear similar but claim a different purpose, what makes folks here think one of the oil-filter things was the problem? Econo-can says "patent-pending" so unless "microguard" is an infringer I suspect its something different.

In any case it seems something he made instead of purchased what got him in trouble, what got them the warrant? Seems he was sketchy, with the bits about "credentials" in the story.

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What's the difference whether he made the part or bought it??

He was caught in possession of an illegal can. I doubt the BATFE cares -how- it came into his possession.

In some chit-chat between my local FFL guy and a BATFE lady, her opinion was that these "solvent traps" can lead to a stay at Graybar Central.

A customer had brought one to the FFL's range to test it. Not very effective. My FFL guy says they're not worth the price, much less the legal risk.

So to do it legally you buy a filter, get it engraved then register it. Once that is approved you buy the solvent trap adapter? This avoids the constructive possession during wait time?

For ~$300 you end up with a light duty not extremely effective but better than nothing suppressor.

So to do it legally you buy a filter, get it engraved then register it. Once that is approved you buy the solvent trap adapter? This avoids the constructive possession during wait time?

For ~$300 you end up with a light duty not extremely effective but better than nothing suppressor.

Click to expand...

No, the adapter is legally the suppressor. The filter itself is just considered a wipe (and registering it would mean you just spent $200 on a one use wipe.) To legally have one, you need to buy an adapter that was manufactured by a SOT and registered on a form 2, that then transfers to you like a normal suppressor (form 3 to your dealer, form 4 to you).

Alternatively you can submit a form 1 to make the adapter, but you have to submit the form and blueprints of the proposed design, and then once you get it back YOU can manufacture the adapter (or have it manufactured in your presence). Short of an amnesty registration, there's no way a non licensee can legally register a NFA weapon that is already in existence.

And for just $100 more (including tax), you can buy a real suppressor. I bought both my Poseidon amd HTG Cycle 2 for $200 each before transfer.

Does BATFE consider replacing an entire oil filter the same as replacing a wipe? I seem to recall that one of the makers selling them as Form 4 silencers would replace your filter for you for a small fee once it wore out. They can do that because they are manufacturers (SOT) not makers like he home builder guy.

Still seems like an inefficient use of a $200 tax stamp to me.

Guys, constructive possession consists of having the parts in such close proximity so as to serve no other lawful purpose (this was a court ruling in the Thompson Contender case that the ATF resisted for several years but finally accepted and codified in the regulations). I suspect he had a filter with a hole in the end full of gunshot residue . . .

Mike

"The filter itself is just considered a wipe"


Not to pick nits, but... I see this misconception recited again and again and again...

You do realize that the filters best used in legally registered "oil can suppressors" are a filter version that has a threaded hole at BOTH ends, not just at one? :banghead:


You do not shoot thru sheet-metal.... and they are not wipes. They are a filter that screws to an adapter on the engine at one side and which have a removable housing that screws to the other side.


Back to our normally scheduled rant now...



Willie

.

You do realize that the filters best used in legally registered "oil can suppressors" are a filter version that has a threaded hole at BOTH ends, not just at one? :banghead:

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You do not shoot thru sheet-metal.... and they are not wipes

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Gee, maybe you should tell the guy who manufacturers these legally registered oil can suppressors? Watch the video on the manufacturer's website and see what kind of filter he is using. Looks a lot like it is sealed on one end. In fact, there's even the text "watch the first round punch the hole through the can" on the promotional video.

In fact, they MUST be considered wipes as that is the only part of a suppressor that the ATF considers consumable and replaceable by those without 07/02s.

wally said:

from the original article:


I've never heard of "microguard". The "solvent traps" and "Econo-can" appear similar but claim a different purpose, what makes folks here think one of the oil-filter things was the problem? Econo-can says "patent-pending" so unless "microguard" is an infringer I suspect its something different.

Click to expand...

I've heard of microguard

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/d...let&model=C1500&vi=1031331&pt=C0289&ppt=C0023
Kinda makes you wonder if the offending oil filter was just being used as an oil filter. More details are needed but right now it looks rather chilling