Posted: 1/17/2011 8:21:04 PM EDT
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All,
I hate to ask this as I'm pretty sure its been answered before. Have the opportunity to get an M1A. Serial number below 3000 which puts it around 1959-60. From what I understand, the M1A is not specifically banned by name, but is banned because its "substantially identical" to a named firearm. Can someone explain what this really means? The Attorney Generals letter: http://www.state.nj.us/njsp/about/fire_ag1.html states, However, earlier versions of the M1A which contains at least two of the criteria identified in Paragraph B of the Attorney General’s Guidelines, supra, would still be considered to be substantially identical to a prohibited firearm and continue to be banned under our State law. As a result, it will be necessary to clearly distinguish the physical characteristics or lack of physical characteristics when making a determination regarding the M1A rifle. What are these characteristics? Is it possible to have an early M1A modified in the same way that post 1994 M1A was modified? Any help would be appreciated. |
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Quoted:
All, I hate to ask this as I'm pretty sure its been answered before. Have the opportunity to get an M1A. Serial number below 3000 which puts it around 1959-60. From what I understand, the M1A is not specifically banned by name, but is banned because its "substantially identical" to a named firearm. Can someone explain what this really means? The Attorney Generals letter: http://www.state.nj.us/njsp/about/fire_ag1.html states, However, earlier versions of the M1A which contains at least two of the criteria identified in Paragraph B of the Attorney General’s Guidelines, supra, would still be considered to be substantially identical to a prohibited firearm and continue to be banned under our State law. As a result, it will be necessary to clearly distinguish the physical characteristics or lack of physical characteristics when making a determination regarding the M1A rifle. What are these characteristics? Is it possible to have an early M1A modified in the same way that post 1994 M1A was modified? Any help would be appreciated. I don't think M1A's were being made at that point and time.  There are USGI reweld guns floating around but, tread carefully, USGI receivers that got cut in half way back when were re-welded and built back into functional rifles again are illegal. Per the ATF, "Once a machinegun, always a machinegun".
And thats not even getting into the safety issue of rewelding a receiver into a functional firearm. I highly suggest you re-check that serial number and start looking for USGI parts. The receiver on a commercial SA gun will be trademarked right at the end of it, the Real Deal Springfield Armory M14 had no such nonsense. Things like the barrel, stock, and trigger group are the easiest to check, and often came on the commercial versions of the rifle. M14 TFL has some great info. Or, go to the "Armory" on this site, than M1/M1A, and start reading. Posters "Different" and H2OMAN are M1A/M14 fanatics, and Different has written a book on them. He can tell you just about.... Everything. As an afterthought, if that receiver is stamped anything but Springfield Armory w/o a trademark, I'd steer clear. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
All, I hate to ask this as I'm pretty sure its been answered before. Have the opportunity to get an M1A. Serial number below 3000 which puts it around 1959-60. From what I understand, the M1A is not specifically banned by name, but is banned because its "substantially identical" to a named firearm. Can someone explain what this really means? The Attorney Generals letter: http://www.state.nj.us/njsp/about/fire_ag1.html states, However, earlier versions of the M1A which contains at least two of the criteria identified in Paragraph B of the Attorney General’s Guidelines, supra, would still be considered to be substantially identical to a prohibited firearm and continue to be banned under our State law. As a result, it will be necessary to clearly distinguish the physical characteristics or lack of physical characteristics when making a determination regarding the M1A rifle. What are these characteristics? Is it possible to have an early M1A modified in the same way that post 1994 M1A was modified? Any help would be appreciated. I don't think M1A's were being made at that point and time. There are USGI reweld guns floating around but, tread carefully, USGI receivers that got cut in half way back when were re-welded and built back into functional rifles again are illegal. Per the ATF, "Once a machinegun, always a machinegun".
And thats not even getting into the safety issue of rewelding a receiver into a functional firearm. I highly suggest you re-check that serial number and start looking for USGI parts. The receiver on a commercial SA gun will be trademarked right at the end of it, the Real Deal Springfield Armory M14 had no such nonsense. Things like the barrel, stock, and trigger group are the easiest to check, and often came on the commercial versions of the rifle. M14 TFL has some great info. Or, go to the "Armory" on this site, than M1/M1A, and start reading. Posters "Different" and H2OMAN are M1A/M14 fanatics, and Different has written a book on them. He can tell you just about.... Everything. As an afterthought, if that receiver is stamped anything but Springfield Armory w/o a trademark, I'd steer clear. This was part of my questions as well which is why I've asked for pictures of any and all markings. I'll head to the Armory. |
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So I have a pic of the receiver. Its marked
U. S. RIFLE 7.62 - mm M1A SPRINGFIELD ARMORY (T) 00XXXX SecurityForcesMember, thanks for the clarification on the date. I used the wrong lookup for the serial number. I have a call into SA to get a date. Opinions on the legality of this rifle in NJ? |
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I had one marked the same way.
ser # 003XXX It's an early Springfield armory (the company, not the govt arsenal) made in about 1974 IIRC. Shortly after Elmer Ballance sold it. I'd guess yours would be about the same build date. It was all GI parts unlike the S A today. And a superb shooter. My brother and I used to bust clay birds @ 300 yds with iron sights with that gun. 
Like said, if it dont have the evil bayo lug it's fine. If it does, diegrind/dremel it before bringing it to NJ. |
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FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DO NOT GRIND THAT LUG OFF!!!!
If its as early a production rifle as I think, its a USGI part. Buy a castle nut wrench, and a neutered flash suppresor and fix the gun yourself once it gets to the FFL. Wrecking GI parts? Tsk. Tsk. USGI parts are getting VERY HARD to come by, and being able to keep that rifle as original as possible will ensure it holds value, or appreciates. |
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Quoted:
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DO NOT GRIND THAT LUG OFF!!!! If its as early a production rifle as I think, its a USGI part. Buy a castle nut wrench, and a neutered flash suppresor and fix the gun yourself once it gets to the FFL. Wrecking GI parts? Tsk. Tsk. USGI parts are getting VERY HARD to come by, and being able to keep that rifle as original as possible will ensure it holds value, or appreciates. That's what I was thinking. If you can find a replacement instead, do that. |
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Quoted:
So I have a pic of the receiver. Its marked U. S. RIFLE 7.62 - mm M1A SPRINGFIELD ARMORY (T) 00XXXX SecurityForcesMember, thanks for the clarification on the date. I used the wrong lookup for the serial number. I have a call into SA to get a date. Opinions on the legality of this rifle in NJ? Like I already said. Legal without the bayonet lug or a pistol grip stock. |
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Quoted:
.......There are USGI reweld guns floating around but, tread carefully, USGI receivers that got cut in half way back when were re-welded and built back into functional rifles again are illegal. Per the ATF, "Once a machinegun, always a machinegun". .....And thats not even getting into the safety issue of rewelding a receiver into a functional firearm. ...... Once a receiver has been demilled to ATF standards, it is no longer a firearm or machine gun...it is now scrap. It can be bought or sold or given to anyone without any restrictions. Now if someone with a manufacturing license or a home builder in a state other than NJ welds it back together in a semi auto configuration (or full auto if they have that license), it is now considered a new receiver and is 100% legal. Unless some special ruling was made with the M1a, it too should be completely legal. Also, if the demilled receiver was originally foreign made, but welded back here, it is now a US made part. To turn a FA receiver into a semi, there are modifications that must be made to prevent the FA internals from fitting in. This work must be performed before the receiver is back together of course. There are tons of rewelded guns out there that are totally safe and legal. Check out this guy. He has rewelded a lot of AKs back to semi config, using a replacement plate. So far, he has had no failures of his rewelds. They are considered totally safe http://www.mygunsnorthwest.com |