Sailor serving 20-years in prison for legal semi-auto collectibles

By Lee Williams

(Photo from licensed Shutterstock account).by Lee WilliamsIn the early 1980s, in order to meet a growing customer demand, several firearm firms released semi-automatic firearms that fired from an open bolt, which were never subject to the National Firearm Act, or NFA. Fully automatic versions of these guns were flooding the movies and popular culture, but the semi-autos were easier to own. Over the years, these guns became highly sought after and were known as “pre-ban” open-bolt semi-auto pistols and carbines.Today, these open-bolt semi-autos can fetch from $3,000 to $5,000, and they can still be purchased just like any other firearm, with only an ATF Form 4473 and background check. To be clear, they are legal to own semi-autos that are not capable of fully automatic fire, so they are not subject to the 1986 machinegun ban. As a result, they do not require a $200 NFA tax stamp or an invasive background investigation by the ATF. Legally, these rare and expensive guns require only the same amount of paperwork as any other firearm purchase.Two firearm firms produced thousands of these guns. RBP made semi-auto MAC-10-style semi-autos and Interdynamic made the Tec-9. Both were based on better-known fully automatic guns, but

Source: The Gun Writer