Collecting Dewats?

Point taken. Ideally the most function/break down possible legally would be great though. I'd rather have one that was nicely done however.

There was a ZB-30 on the EE a while ago with a ton of accessories that was a very nice example. I almost dropped the hammer on that one even though it wasn't quite a Bren. I would imagine after a Bren the ZB-26 or 30 will be next. Unless I decide I want a Vickers or Lewis!
 
The law is succeeding in removing functional historical artifacts from society.
One thing that bothers me are the absolutely horrible jobs done on some. There is no reason for an unsightly mess.
Another thing that bothers me are firearms being deactivated when there is no legal requirement to do so.
 
I guess if one cannot have a working gun a dewat is the next best thing. Mine work, Vickers, Bren, Lewis, Sten. Don't have any live rounds for the PIAT or the 2 inch mortar, and my rifle grenades are de-acts or inert
 
Recce21 said:
Your name made me think you are an old boy
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nope young(I feel 80's some days) but I like antique firearms

John Sukey said:
I guess if one cannot have a working gun a dewat is the next best thing. Mine work, Vickers, Bren, Lewis, Sten. Don't have any live rounds for the PIAT or the 2 inch mortar, and my rifle grenades are de-acts or inert
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you want to get rid of that 2" mortar :p
 
XRCD011 said:
Glad to see younger generation showing an interest in firearms AND milsurps especially, well done antiqueguy.
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I have been shooting since I was 3 or so my first milsurp was a no4 mk1 that was handed down from my great grandfather I was "given"(someone else in the family had to take position of it till I was legal) when I was about 13 it had been sitting in his house since he died back in 01 long forgotten. I have always been interested in history and come from a military family
 
Well, keep in mind something.

A good day, all prihibited guns will be destroyed or neutralised.

So, if you want to save them, the best way is to neutralised them.
 
If owning a gun that you can shoot---- then dewats are obviously not for you.

If you are a collector of WWI or WWII weapons in Canada then LMGs and sub-guns are part of that history.

As we all know the owners of CA/FA pieces in Canada cannot get permits to transport and shoot them.

So it depends how important it might be to own a display piece that does not have to be locked away in a safe that you can enjoy looking at that may complement other pieces in your collection.

(Shooting a FA can be an expensive proposition in any event.)

Interesting to see the values of deactivated guns in the U.K.

Dewats in Canada are not inexpensive----check Collectors Source.

In the long run the investment might make good sense if you get the right piece?

I went through this decision process back in 2005----the result ----I still have a deactivated MP44 and MG42 both with moving actions---and an MG34 that is welded shut.

I have four CAs –an MP40 ---MP44---PPSh 41 and a Lanchester that are locked away in the safe that I rarely look at.

The comments about these guns as being 'useless paper weights' usually come from Americans whose laws are different than ours.

Our Canadian laws are our REALITY......like them or not!

David

Both the MG42 and MG34 have been deactivated ---the MG42 with a moving action.



An MP44 deactivated with a moving action.



A lanchester CA.



PPSh41 CA.



MP40 CA.



MP44 CA.



A complement to a WWII German Collection---a live ac42 P.38 with a deactivated MG42 manufactured in 1943.
This is one of the reasons that I decided to go the dewat route with certain guns.



The Walther ac42 P.38.

 
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Hi Drm3n,

You're arguement I think is perfect in this case. How else would such displays be possible in Canada?

I think Dewats are not so popular in the United States because they often require either an ugly torch cut receiver or a dummy receiver completed with a parts kit.

Canadian style dewats might be popular with American collectors if they were allowed because the price of full auto guns has skyrocketed to the point of no longer being affordable to the average income collector. For example, a nice original Canadian style DEWAT Thompson for $2000 might be a better affordable option than live full auto for $10,000+. In this way, we're lucky to have some nice clean original looking DEWATs up here for fair prices -- the American collectors don't have this option.

-Steve
 
Steve1987 said:
Hi Drm3n,

You're arguement I think is perfect in this case. How else would such displays be possible in Canada?

I think Dewats are not so popular in the United States because they often require either an ugly torch cut receiver or a dummy receiver completed with a parts kit.

Canadian style dewats might be popular with American collectors if they were allowed because the price of full auto guns has skyrocketed to the point of no longer being affordable to the average income collector. For example, a nice original Canadian style DEWAT Thompson for $2000 might be a better affordable option than live full auto for $10,000+. In this way, we're lucky to have some nice clean original looking DEWATs up here for fair prices -- the American collectors don't have this option.

-Steve
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most of the guns you talked about can be had in a semi auto down south and most can be made from parts kits into semi auto rifles a god example guys down there take a bren gun parts kit do some modification to where the bolt rides so it can no long accept a full auto bolt and then weld the pieces back together this would never fly here even though if you are good at what you are doing the difference would never be spotted from a reweld to a new made receiver
 
Steve1987 said:
Hi Drm3n,

You're arguement I think is perfect in this case. How else would such displays be possible in Canada?

I think Dewats are not so popular in the United States because they often require either an ugly torch cut receiver or a dummy receiver completed with a parts kit.

Canadian style dewats might be popular with American collectors if they were allowed because the price of full auto guns has skyrocketed to the point of no longer being affordable to the average income collector. For example, a nice original Canadian style DEWAT Thompson for $2000 might be a better affordable option than live full auto for $10,000+. In this way, we're lucky to have some nice clean original looking DEWATs up here for fair prices -- the American collectors don't have this option.

-Steve
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In the US deactivated machineguns which existed prior to the '86 cutoff date are federally registered. No new dewats can be added to the registry. When registered dewats change hands, the registration is changed.
This is why dummy guns are being advertised. Some original parts may be used, but the resulting piece uses either a new dummy receiver, or bits of an original welded into a lump.

The semi auto guns being built using some original parts, assembled on a new (or what qualifies as a new) receiver are built to US BATFE guidelines.
 
the only dewat I have is a STEN, I bought it way back when it was still possible to build your own semi auto STEN, and I wanted it for measurements.

Well thanks to that unnamed #### that screwed everyone in order to make a buck (well thousands really) hawking his questionable products…… making your own has become imposable as the firearms lab will find a way to prohibit it and send your hard work to the smelter.

So my STEN hangs on the wall in my gun room as a reminder, at least it’s an early LongBranch #### and click.


on and I have 2 spare springs :)
 
Dewatts make me angry, and then sad. As I like to be happy, I don't own any. Truth be known, there are a few that I would love to hold, but as soon as I do, the whole angry/sad thing starts again, and I don't like the roller coaster. Historically significant firearms should be under a general amnesty, and registered as working relics. Here comes the angry/sad thing again.
 
I have a dewat Bren on the way. I have a huge dewat collection and love each and every piece. Simply put, if I could buy one live, I would. But you can't get a prohibited status in Canada and I particularly love LMGs like the bren and mg42. So yes, I would rather have them deactivated than not at all.
 
daviddillion said:
I have a dewat Bren on the way. I have a huge dewat collection and love each and every piece. Simply put, if I could buy one live, I would. But you can't get a prohibited status in Canada and I particularly love LMGs like the bren and mg42. So yes, I would rather have them deactivated than not at all.
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Totally true. But sad. Like someone is going to rob a 7-11 with a Bren.
 
Another thought on dewats.
There are many WWII pistols that fit in the 12(6) category that have interesting history.
Many younger collectors are not able to purchase these pistols because of the 12(6) requirement.

The quality of the deactivation is important.

In 2008 I bought a Kreigsmarine marked Mauser Model 1934 pistol manufactured in 1940 in order to get the KM marked holster that came with it.

It is 7.65 mm/ .32 cal----with the short prohib length barrel---not really a pistol that I would have wanted to shoot anyway.

I don’t have to lock it away in the safe and I enjoy looking at it.

David



A small weld.



Nordsee property markings on the grip strap and magazine.



This little deactivated pistol on its display stand.



The reason that I bought the KM marked dewat Mauser Model 1934 pistol was because of the KM marked holster which I needed for another KM marked (live) pistol manufactured in 1938.

Matching Navy Property markings on front grip strap and magazine floor plate O.2325
“O” for Marine Station der Ostee (Baltic Fleet)







The difference is that one lives in the safe---the other one does not.

These KM marked holsters are very hard to find and expensive when found.
This is not the best example that I would have hoped for---but it is the one that I found.





This holster is not mine but it shows a very good example of a KM (Kreigsmarine) holster marking.

 
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