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Thompson M1A SBR
sdferguson
Member Posts: 3 ✭✭
I had a gunsmith change the barrel on my Thompson M1A to make it a SBR and they damaged the rifle, resulting is the receiver needing to be re-blued and the gripmount replaced. Can you tell me roughly what this has done to reduce the value of the rifle? Thanks for the help
Comments
My WAG is if the gunsmith messed it up so bad? Your probably looking at a $500 hit in value. It would depend a lot on the quality of the work, done to repair the damage? If it's done well enough that the rebluing and repairs aren't apparent? It's resale value would be in line with the SBR's that Kahr sells.
The original rifle is what's pictured. I had the 10.5" barrel added and legally registered it as a SBR.. They did a decent job repairing it, but the original grip mount had to be replaced. It functions fine as far as I can tell. As was replied, I believe changing it to a legal SBR should increase its value despite the original barrel being changed. My concern is the receiver will fade differently since a portion of it has been re-blued, as well as the loss of value. The weapon was New In Box when I had the work done. Safe to say the value of the gun lost around $500 with such damage?
I'm not that familiar with the value's of SBR's? As their is licensing required from the feds. They are not easily sold, as a conventional rifle or shotgun.
I would check the Kahr's Arms web site, to see what the new ones are selling for? If the one you have. Shows deficiencies in finish, or has obviously been repaired? It would negatively affect the value. How much I couldn't say. I know that when I'm looking at military rifle or shotgun. If it isn't factory original, or has been bubbaed. I won't buy it.
The original rifle is what's pictured. I had the 10.5" barrel added and legally registered it as a SBR.. They did a decent job repairing it, but the original grip mount had to be replaced. It functions fine as far as I can tell. As was replied, I believe changing it to a legal SBR should increase its value despite the original barrel being changed. My concern is the receiver will fade differently since a portion of it has been re-blued, as well as the loss of value. The weapon was New In Box when I had the work done. Safe to say the value of the gun lost around $500 with such damage?
It seems to me you won't know your "damages" unless or until it is sold and depending upon how you sell it. Further, if you agreed to have part of the receiver reblued rather than the whole receiver it seems difficult to hold them accountable if the receiver ages differently. At this point you don't know if that will happen.
Regarding "how you sell it" - if you sell it directly to another person you'd get more than if you sell it to a gun store. Should the guys who worked on the gun pony out more $$$ if you choose to sell to a dealer rather than a retail buyer?
Until you sell it and compare that price to the price of others I don't think you can know what hit, if any, you take. And again, how you sell it would have an impact too.
On the other hand .....
If you can establish that a properly done Thompson SBR would be worth $2,000.00 and that your improperly done version is worth $1,500.00 - maybe that's something to go on. In similar fashion as a reblued, drilled & tapped older gun would be worth less.
quote:Originally posted by sdferguson
The original rifle is what's pictured. I had the 10.5" barrel added and legally registered it as a SBR.. They did a decent job repairing it, but the original grip mount had to be replaced. It functions fine as far as I can tell. As was replied, I believe changing it to a legal SBR should increase its value despite the original barrel being changed. My concern is the receiver will fade differently since a portion of it has been re-blued, as well as the loss of value. The weapon was New In Box when I had the work done. Safe to say the value of the gun lost around $500 with such damage?
It seems to me you won't know your "damages" unless or until it is sold and depending upon how you sell it. Further, if you agreed to have part of the receiver reblued rather than the whole receiver it seems difficult to hold them accountable if the receiver ages differently. At this point you don't know if that will happen.
Regarding "how you sell it" - if you sell it directly to another person you'd get more than if you sell it to a gun store. Should the guys who worked on the gun pony out more $$$ if you choose to sell to a dealer rather than a retail buyer?
Until you sell it and compare that price to the price of others I don't think you can know what hit, if any, you take. And again, how you sell it would have an impact too.
I might be wrong on this. But I believe this is the problem. Once a rifle has had it barrel cut down, to less than 16". And has the SBR licensing from the feds. The only way it can be easily sold. Is to a Class 3 dealer. Any other privet party or FFL dealer. Has to acquire a new SBR license, from the feds before the rifle can change hands. Because of this hassle of actually applying and waiting to get the SBR license, before the rifle can be transferred. Not easy to sell, unless you are willing to get low balled by a Class 3 dealer.
sdferguson, you actually will take a double hit if & when you sell your Thompson. First, since Kahr actually sells an SBR Thompson, a standard length rifle that has an aftermarket alteration to SBR will always be worth less, regardless of the quality of the work. Second, the damage & repair done by your gunsmith further reduces the resale value of your rifle, unless it is undetectable.
dfletcher is right; how much the value of your rifle has been reduced will only be learned when you try to sell it.
Neal
EDIT: M1A762 is correct, I was reading from the wrong section. To transfer an SBR, you don't have to use an FFL, but the buyer has to go through the ATF Form 4 procedure ($200 tax, application, photos, prints, etc). See ATF 5300.4 Q&A M14.
An SBR is classified as an AOW (any other weapon). While an ATF approval & tax stamp are required for transfer, it is not difficult.
sdferguson, you actually will take a double hit if & when you sell your Thompson. First, since Kahr actually sells an SBR Thompson, a standard length rifle that has an aftermarket alteration to SBR will always be worth less, regardless of the quality of the work. Second, the damage & repair done by your gunsmith further reduces the resale value of your rifle, unless it is undetectable.
dfletcher is right; how much the value of your rifle has been reduced will only be learned when you try to sell it.
Neal
Neal you are wrong about an SBR being classified as an AOW. The tax for an SBR is $200.oo not the $5.00 tax of an AOW.