WTK: Value of this cutaway - Page 1

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - WTK: Value of this cutaway

Posted: 12/2/2018 9:01:09 PM EDT

I have a chance to buy this cutway and wondered the value. The receiver has been cut in half some time ago, and is the way it's pictured.
pics of cutaway

Posted: 12/2/2018 9:12:46 PM EDT

[#1]

Parts price only I would think.

Posted: 12/2/2018 9:32:50 PM EDT

[#2]

Doesn't look like it ever had a s/n from what I saw when I looked at it.

Posted: 12/2/2018 10:12:03 PM EDT

[#3]

Quote History

Quoted:
Doesn't look like it ever had a s/n from what I saw when I looked at it.

View Quote

If it’s a factory cutaway then a lot. Maybe $4000 range plus with the lower. I would be interested in it. I have a 727 factory one currently

Posted: 12/2/2018 10:15:07 PM EDT

[#4]

Need to figure out if it is a factory cutaway, that will make a world of difference in price.

I just watched one in a local auction here go for about $4500

Posted: 12/2/2018 10:26:25 PM EDT

[#5]

So how can I tell if I go back over to look at it?

Posted: 12/2/2018 10:42:37 PM EDT

[#6]

I would check with Tonyk in the M16 section. I think that would be an unregistered machinegun. Even though it's a cutaway. Proceed with caution.

Posted: 12/2/2018 10:57:36 PM EDT

[#7]

I don’t see how but I wouldn’t put anything past the ATF.

It looks de-mil to the old standards prior to the “crush everything” one.

Posted: 12/2/2018 11:13:52 PM EDT

[#8]

A functional upper, and a KNS anti rotation pin set.

Posted: 12/2/2018 11:16:58 PM EDT

[#9]

Cut-a-ways like that have been ruled machineguns in the past, as I recall.

Just realized lower is in 2 pieces but ATF may say retally repairable.

Posted: 12/3/2018 4:34:14 AM EDT

[#10]

I think one needs to look into the term "once a machinegun, always a machinegun". If this is a factory produced cutaway from Colt, it would have been originally produced as a cutaway training piece and NOT as a functional machinegun. Therefore, it would have never have been a machinegun and can't be one now. Makes sense to me, but if the BATFE says a shoestring is a machinegun all bets are off.

Posted: 12/3/2018 5:15:07 AM EDT

[#11]

I think one needs to look into the term "once a machinegun, always a machinegun". If this is a factory produced cutaway from Colt, it would have been originally produced as a cutaway training piece and NOT as a functional machinegun. Therefore, it would have never have been a machinegun and can't be one now. Makes sense to me, but if the BATFE says a shoestring is a machinegun all bets are off.

Posted: 12/3/2018 7:09:43 AM EDT

[#12]

Factory cutaways requires registration to be legal and are considered by ATF to be a "live" MG. There are quite a few registered cutaway MGs in the registry. They will transfer on form 5s as "inoperable" MGs. FWIW

Posted: 12/3/2018 12:22:32 PM EDT

[#13]

The reciever looked ok to me since it was in 2 pieces, but not sure how to tell if it was a real cutaway and worth?

Posted: 12/3/2018 3:21:56 PM EDT

[#14]

Cutaways are still legally machineguns, that's why they are almost all semi autos, not worth the paperwork headache.

I would think this one is old enough to have been properly destroyed per the old receiver cutting requirements, but I'm no lawyer.

Posted: 12/3/2018 7:44:50 PM EDT

[#15]

A friend of mine who worked at Colt during the 1980's and 90's and went to another M16 manufacturer told me that that the cut a way in the pics is a legit Colt Instructional Cut Away made by Colt.

He advised that it was probably made for presentation to a US Military VIP.

He said they made several of them in the M16 and M16A2 rifle series and had them mounted to Walnut plaques.

He has one on his wall with a serial number that was awarded to him when he did a sales demonstration for Kuwait that ended up in a multimillion dollar order before Desert Storm. His is on a Form 5 in Georgia.

I was tempted to have him fire it, since it is still able to chamber a round if you put a complete upper on it......

Posted: 12/4/2018 1:45:03 AM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:
I would check with Tonyk in the M16 section. I think that would be an unregistered machinegun. Even though it's a cutaway. Proceed with caution.

View Quote

Saw third hole and thought the same.

Regardless, it's cool AF!

Posted: 12/6/2018 5:38:07 PM EDT

[#17]

added a few more pics showing lower demil.

Posted: 12/6/2018 7:39:01 PM EDT

[#18]

That one would probably have to be registered if it is not already, the right guy can make that lower usable again.

Have you been able to gain any information on the history of it?

You can call Colt and gather some information if you so desire, they may have the history on that particular rifle.

Posted: 12/6/2018 8:03:30 PM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:

You can call Colt and gather some information if you so desire, they may have the history on that particular rifle.

View Quote

I doubt it as far as that particular cut away. There's no serial number.

They may know when thy made a run of cut aways though. Presumably at around the time of the introduction of the A2?

Posted: 12/6/2018 8:21:18 PM EDT

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:
added a few more pics showing lower demil.

View Quote

I just looked at the recently added pics and it looks like there is at least 1/2 inch missing from the middle of the lower receiver, looks properly demilled in my opinion. I've seen older single saw cut demils on gunbroker like this one:

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/792573365

Posted: 12/6/2018 8:37:59 PM EDT

[#21]

Quote History

Quoted:

I just looked at the recently added pics and it looks like there is at least 1/2 inch missing from the middle of the lower receiver, looks properly demilled in my opinion. I've seen older single saw cut demils on gunbroker like this one:

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/792573365

View Quote

I have seen them in much worse shape than this one, have new front ends welded on and make functional.

Posted: 12/6/2018 9:28:18 PM EDT

[#22]

My guess is the right guy can make any demill into a machine gun if he has enough know how and tools.

Posted: 12/6/2018 11:02:42 PM EDT

[#23]

A friend of mine sent the ATF a block if aluminum and asked for a letter saying that it was not a firearm. They said "no" to the letter, because it "could be machined into a firearm".

Posted: 12/6/2018 11:26:04 PM EDT

[#24]

Once a machine gun always a machine gun has already been lost by the ATFE in court. Remember the M14s in the 90's. Torch cut an sold as scrap then welded an rebuilt into semis. Still wish I bought every remade manufacture.

As for rewelding it. Anybody could just machine a 0% with the right tools.

Posted: 12/6/2018 11:56:07 PM EDT

[#25]

Quote History

Quoted:
My guess is the right guy can make any demill into a machine gun if he has enough know how and tools.

View Quote

Stupid laws. The same guy can make one from a block of aluminum if he has enough know how and tools

Posted: 12/7/2018 1:29:37 AM EDT

[#26]

Quote History

Quoted:
Once a machine gun always a machine gun has already been lost by the ATFE in court. Remember the M14s in the 90's. Torch cut an sold as scrap then welded an rebuilt into semis. Still wish I bought every remade manufacture.

As for rewelding it. Anybody could just machine a 0% with the right tools.

View Quote

A lot of people actually want the rewelds because they are after the roll marks, the wear, certain profiles, there is any number of reasons that there is a good market out their for demilled lowers.

Posted: 12/10/2018 7:29:29 PM EDT

[#27]

If I decide to sell it, which EE exchange to list it under? None of them really apply.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - WTK: Value of this cutaway

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