Parker Brothers Damascus Sawed off?

[gallerygun4u]

I apologize if this is the wrong place to post this but i couldn't find anything on the subject. I'm in the middle of helping a friend clean out his recently deceased grandfathers house. While going through his gun cabinet, stuffed towards the back we found a Parkers Brothers Damascus shotgun, the barrels have been cut to around 10", and the stock cut back to the forearm. Judging by the fatigue it was done a very long time ago, my question is, since the gun dated pre 1898, is this legal to own? Or should i be making a call to the ATF?

[mmi]

with those kind of barrels you can't fire it and with out paper work . i would
find a deep lake . calling the atfe is not a good idea . maybe call a lawyer to find out if it was registered .

[Azzy]

I thought that before 1898 it was not a firearm, and not their business / interest. At least per the 68 GCA.

Check this site to help date it: http://parkerguns.org/

[gallerygun4u]

I thought that before 1898 it was not a firearm, and not their business / interest. At least per the 68 GCA.

Check this site to help date it: http://parkerguns.org/

I ran the numbers and it comes up 1897, i'm really confused becouse i thought since it was pre 1898 it was no longer considered a firearm and wouldn't follow any of the standard guidelines.

[Hawk]

Is it a muzzle loader or does it take a cartridge?

I'm no expert, but IMHO (based on the above) it's either an Antique Firearm (18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(16)) or a AOW (26 U.S.C. § 5845(e))

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/guides/i...rification.pdf

[mmi]

with a Damascus barrel you can't use with regular ammo
maybe if you could prove it came that way factory
i still don't think it is worth 20 years or lawyer fees

[knight0334]

This is one of those phucked up situations. Pre-1898 guns can still be categorized as NFA devices.

Blackpowder shotgun shells are available on the market. (so are specialty smokeless shells designed for damascus twist barrels) But this really isn't a factor here.

Since there isn't an exemption for a factory made Parker Brothers SBS or AOW that I can find, this is certainly an altered gun - thus an NFA device. And I'd bet a box of ammo that the ATF will concur.

If this gun was not registered prior to making it into a SBS if made after 1934, or if it was made prior to 1934 the person had until 1968 to register it, it would be contraband. My spidey senses are telling me it wasn't registered. But you all should ransack your grandfathers house for paperwork on it.

Now, on the bright side of things.. ...sometimes the ATF aren't assholes about these type of situations and will allow an heir to register an NFA device that a deceased person had possessed/made improperly. But that is at the judgment of the ATF. There is the risk that the gun will be seized for destruction or given to a museum. And the possible risk of being arrested for possession of an illegal NFA device.

In this situation I recommend contacting a lawyer to have him contact the ATF on how to proceed if you want to have any possible prospect on keeping it legally.

[Hawk]

Thanks Knight! Need to spread the love or I'd hit you up with some.

[mmi]

a gun lawyer like Joshua prince (610)845-3803

[mmi]

if it was done at the factory you could prove when i was sawed off. i am not sure there's an exemption or not . I was saying that since it didn't use regular ammo it was not worth the expense and aggravation to get it legal. not when you can pay 200 plus engraving cost and can saw off your 870 .