Legalities of building a semi auto 1919 ?

[pahrumpcaveman]

What are the legalities of building such a weapon ? I see you can get the side plates in various stages of completion such as 80% and 100% . If you buy an 80% side plate and complete it to 100% would you not have a gun with no ser# ? I thought that was illegal ?? The thing is I am considering buying a parts kit and attempting to build one of these things and just want to be SURE it is legal to do so and what are the particulars of completing one in semi auto that is LEGAL to own . Any help from you lawmen out there would be great . Thanks

 

[Kharn]

www.1919A4.com is the place to go for info.

Basically, an 80% 1919 reciever is a flat piece of 1/4 (or is it 1/8"?) thick steel, you have to mill and drill the features onto it. Then you've got to do an extensive conversion onto the internals, and finally weld the sideplate onto the gun. Once the sideplate has all the features, you dont have to make it identifiable, but the ATF "strongly suggests" that you make it so that the gun could be returned to you should it be stolen (ie: by stamping your name or other identifying information onto the gun). Do you have a fully-outfitted machine shop available? (a welding setup and a good milling machine at the least)

Kharn

 

[Slimjim]

It would be better to buy a semi auto 1919 already built. www.valkyriearms.com

 

[Strings]

funny you should ask about this...

... since a friend asked a similr question about a Bren gun, sparking a call to the Milwaukee BATFE office. What *I* was told by the BATF (and they were VERY polite and helpful) was that, so long as you're not a)making it full-auto or b)drastically altering the make-up (ie:adding an "evil assualt weapon modification"), you are completely legal in taking a parts kit for one of the old machine guns and assembling it with a semi-auto only reciever...

Hope that helps!