IMI SMG 9mm is calling my name

Cmartin

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Got the opertunity to pick up an IMI SMG. All orig. Look like barely played with.
What would be a fair price?
 

pmf

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Got the opertunity to pick up an IMI SMG. All orig. Look like barely played with.
What would be a fair price?

Every IMI uzi machine gun is a converted IMI uzi semi-auto. The gun started life as a semi auto, not a machine gun. There are a number of ways the conversion was accomplished. Make sure you understand how the gun you're looking at buying was converted.
 

Chef

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Every IMI uzi machine gun is a converted IMI uzi semi-auto. The gun started life as a semi auto, not a machine gun. There are a number of ways the conversion was accomplished. Make sure you understand how the gun you're looking at buying was converted.

Not every one. Just the transferable ones in the 12-13k range.
 

pmf

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Not every one. Just the transferable ones in the 12-13k range.

Every one that he'll be looking at. How many uzi machine guns were imported before the GCA of 1968? Maybe a few.
 

Chef

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Every one that he'll be looking at. How many uzi machine guns were imported before the GCA of 1968? Maybe a few.

There's a ton of pre-samples out there for sale every day. All it takes is a FFL and a SOT (which are easier to get than you might think). And they are around 2/3 the price of the transferable conversions and are all factory made as SMGs.
But yes, you're right. Excepting the handful of original pre-68 transferables (which are most likely in the hands of deep pocket collectors), all the average Joe is going to find as far as IMI guns are the conversions.
And as you previously mentioned, they vary as far as the completeness of the conversion, so if someone is considering buying one, it's best to get educated on what to look for before you buy it.
 

pmf

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There's a ton of pre-samples out there for sale every day. All it takes is a FFL and a SOT (which are easier to get than you might think). And they are around 2/3 the price of the transferable conversions and are all factory made as SMGs.
But yes, you're right. Excepting the handful of original pre-68 transferables (which are most likely in the hands of deep pocket collectors), all the average Joe is going to find as far as IMI guns are the conversions.
And as you previously mentioned, they vary as far as the completeness of the conversion, so if someone is considering buying one, it's best to get educated on what to look for before you buy it.

That was all I was trying to tell the OP.
 

Renegade

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Got the opertunity to pick up an IMI SMG. All orig. Look like barely played with.
What would be a fair price?

"IMI SMG" as in factory SMG, or "IMI SMG" as in imported as a Semi and converted by someone?
 

gorillastomp

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Pictures of the gun would be the most help on determining a price point. Pictures Inside and out.

Review the library familiarize your self with the types of conversion.
 

Cmartin

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Got a chance to look at it in person. 6 digit s/n starting with 0. IMI SMG on one side of rear sight, action arms on other. Makes it imported 1979 at the best. So looks like a post sample. Sales guy was taking my money but didn't know what paper work was needed. Had him get the owner and explained what I thought, and he confirmed it could not be transferred except to a sot. Asked him why they had it in the display case with only a price on it, all he had to say was he figured that didn't know what it was. Not sure what they were up to....
 

Cmartin

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By the way, it has a $6,900 price tag on it. A good looking original IMI. A little high for a sot gun...
 

Chef

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By the way, it has a $6,900 price tag on it. A good looking original IMI. A little high for a sot gun...

There are pre '86 and post '86 samples.
That one's SN falls within the pre '86 sample range and if the paperwork reflects that, the price is fair if it's in good shape. Post '86 samples run around $2k.
 

pmf

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By the way, it has a $6,900 price tag on it. A good looking original IMI. A little high for a sot gun...
If its a pre-86 dealer sample, that's not a bad price. They used to be a lot cheaper 20 years ago.

I paid $2750 for my transferable Vector 20 years ago.
 

pmf

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What is an SOT?

There are several different types of SOT, depending on what business they conduct. For example, manufacturing ammunition, or importing firearms.

Why does this matter wrt that machine gun? The Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986 (FOPA) banned the manufacture of machine guns that could be sold to the public (that are transferable). That's why machine guns are so expensive --- there hasn't been any new ones made in 35 years. Dealers who hold a FFL and pay a SOT are allowed to possess dealer samples (for example, if they sell guns to police departments who might want a demonstration). Dealer samples manufactured before FOPA 'pre-86 samples' can be possessed by a dealer after he gets out of the business (no longer has a FFL and pays a SOT). Dealer samples manufactured after FOPA 'post-86 samples' cannot be possessed by a dealer after he gets out of the business. So pre-86 samples command a higher price than post-86 samples. The highest priced machine gun is one that is transferable to anyone -- made 35+ years ago before FOPA.

Why is that uzi you're looking at a converted semi? The Gun Control Act (GCA) of 1968 banned the importation of transferable to anyone machine guns. Machine guns could still be made in the U.S. (until 1986). Very few full auto uzis were imported before GCA and they are quite rare and valuable. It was perfectly legal to import semi auto uzis into the U.S. and then convert them to full auto.
 
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