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Looking to get a transferable 30 carbine M2. Factory set up.
I am not sure if this is the best forum for this.
January 7, 2014
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Finding the 30 carbine M2 will be a task. If you do you will need to go through ATF to transfer.
While in the AF (1954-1958) I was assigned a 30 carbine M2. Sweet little carbine and NO the Government would not let me keep.
RR
November 7, 2015
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I knew a deputy sheriff who kept one in his patrol car back in the 1980’s. No idea where it is now, was not County issue. I suspect there are very few in civilian hands.
Mike
May 15, 2025
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I’m a new (15 May 2025) member of the WACA after seeing and meeting other members at the Atlanta NRA convention. My interest is in WWII M–! and M-2 carbines. I’m looking to add a fully transferable Winchester M-2 to my collection. It can be either an original stamped M-2 or a later M-1 over-stamped M-2 as long as the receiver is a Winchester receiver. Any assistance on my quest to locate such a “unicorn” will be greatly appreciated. Respectfully, W.S
November 7, 2015
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Welcome, foxpapa! Unicorn quest, indeed! About forty years ago I knew a sheriff’s deputy who kept one in the trunk of his patrol car. His nickname was “Shakey” and I’ll say no more on the subject. I think there was at least one in a RIA Premiere auction awhile back. Can’t recall any details but it seems they are up to speed on transfers.
Mike
December 31, 2012
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I know for a fact, that a few M2’s slipped by when the Govt. was selling them thru the DCM for $20 back in the 60’s. One was found in a gun store. Fully papered as a DCM M1. It was turned over to the ATF. I think a transferable M2 right now would cost as much as a Thompson. Maybe over $20,000, and they are one of the hardest Class 3 weapons to find. Right up there with the full auto M14’s. My Dad, a Marine Master Sgt., had guard duty at Camp Pendleton in the early 50’s and he brought one home. We lived aboard Pendleton. I remember him telling me it was a machine gun. Very impressive to a 12 year old. Big Larry
November 9, 2008
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I seen two M2s at a show last weekend in PA, I don’t recall the manufacturer, they were in 30k range
December 31, 2012
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Unless you bought a Class 3 years ago, you need to be rich to buy one now. In 2000, I bought a minty WW2 M1 Thompson for $4000. The guy I bought it from bought it in the 60’s for less than $100. He was a police officer and didn’t have to buy the $200 tax stamp. I still have it and have turned down big bucks for it. It’s going to my Grandson. Big Larry
April 29, 2025
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Big Larry said
Unless you bought a Class 3 years ago, you need to be rich to buy one now. In 2000, I bought a minty WW2 M1 Thompson for $4000. The guy I bought it from bought it in the 60’s for less than $100. He was a police officer and didn’t have to buy the $200 tax stamp. I still have it and have turned down big bucks for it. It’s going to my Grandson. Big Larry
Hmmm… not familiar with a tax exemption for individual LE officers. He may have misremembered that.
December 31, 2012
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UpInTheBigTrees said
Big Larry said
Unless you bought a Class 3 years ago, you need to be rich to buy one now. In 2000, I bought a minty WW2 M1 Thompson for $4000. The guy I bought it from bought it in the 60’s for less than $100. He was a police officer and didn’t have to buy the $200 tax stamp. I still have it and have turned down big bucks for it. It’s going to my Grandson. Big Larry
Hmmm… not familiar with a tax exemption for individual LE officers. He may have misremembered that.
This was in the 60’s and I think it was a Form 4. He was a Captain on the Birmingham PD. He also had a M3 Grease Gun. He passed away last year. Whereabouts of the M3 is unknown.
April 30, 2023
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UpInTheBigTrees said
Big Larry said
Unless you bought a Class 3 years ago, you need to be rich to buy one now. In 2000, I bought a minty WW2 M1 Thompson for $4000. The guy I bought it from bought it in the 60’s for less than $100. He was a police officer and didn’t have to buy the $200 tax stamp. I still have it and have turned down big bucks for it. It’s going to my Grandson. Big Larry
Hmmm… not familiar with a tax exemption for individual LE officers. He may have misremembered that.
The tax stamp is not needed if it’s a department purchase, not a personal purchase. Requires a little ppw, that’s all.
April 29, 2025
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Jeremy P said
UpInTheBigTrees said
Big Larry said
Unless you bought a Class 3 years ago, you need to be rich to buy one now. In 2000, I bought a minty WW2 M1 Thompson for $4000. The guy I bought it from bought it in the 60’s for less than $100. He was a police officer and didn’t have to buy the $200 tax stamp. I still have it and have turned down big bucks for it. It’s going to my Grandson. Big Larry
Hmmm… not familiar with a tax exemption for individual LE officers. He may have misremembered that.
The tax stamp is not needed if it’s a department purchase, not a personal purchase. Requires a little ppw, that’s all.
Yes, I’m quite familiar, that was my point. The individual officer would not have been exempt.
April 30, 2023
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UpInTheBigTrees said
Yes, I’m quite familiar, that was my point. The individual officer would not have been exempt.
I thought there might’ve been some sarcasm in there but wasn’t sure. 😂
April 29, 2025
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Jeremy P said
UpInTheBigTrees said
Yes, I’m quite familiar, that was my point. The individual officer would not have been exempt.
I thought there might’ve been some sarcasm in there but wasn’t sure. 😂
Well maybe…..
November 9, 2008
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I think if you owned it before the GCA act of 68 there was an amnesty period where you could reg. them without the tax, but if you didn’t, it would now be an unregisterable gun and not legal to own. I knew a guy who had a MP40 that he got in the early 60s from a WW2 vet and that is how he reg. it.
December 31, 2012
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Don”t know about that, but my Thompson is legally registered and I did pay the $200.The process was helped along by a Birmingham Police LT. who had a friend at the ATF. I have owned my Thompson for close to 25 years. Runs great. Never had a jam. Big Larry
April 3, 2018
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There is a well written article in this recent Summer Collector on the history of the 30 M1 carbine.As a 5th SFG (ABN) Vietnam combat veteran, we did use them very early in that conflict. They were designed as a stop gap substitute for either the 45 Govt Model pistol, or a handy light weight infantry rifle.
However, as a winter warfare rifle, the M1 carbine was less than effective. The Marines were the first to really find this out during Korea, particularly during the Chosin Reservoir campaign. The recoil springs became sluggish and failed to function properly. Then, the 30 caliber carbine ammunition lost much of its punch during zero degree weather. The ammunition failed to penetrate Chinese Communist padded winter uniforms. Not good.
The temperature near Chosin and Yudam-ni fell to 20 below in November of 1950. Marines quickly traded their carbines for M1 Garands in 30-06 caliber. It would have helped if Govt testing had developed a winter-use recoil spring and added another winter-use only 30 carbine ammunition, loaded to produce another 100 fps velocity for sub-zero temperatures.
December 31, 2012
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My Dad, a US Marine, made the landing on Okinawa April 1st 1945. He had been a training Sgt. back in the states. I have pics of him holding a Carbine while giving classes. On the way over to Okinawa he heard many stories about the Carbines being ineffective in making quick kills on the Japanese. So, when he got to Okinawa, he promptly changed the Carbine for a M1 Garand. As an NCO he could carry anything he wanted. My Dad never talked about the war, so I never knew what all he did. He never talked about Korea either. Big Larry
April 3, 2018
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About 10 years ago near Centerville, AL. in the Cahaba river area, a Browning MG 30, and a WW II Thompson were found in
shallow water by rock hounds. Either they were stolen or unregistered and someone got very nervous-or all of the above. BATF got them.
December 31, 2012
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Here in Utah, a couple kids found the wreckage of a WW2 Bomber deep in the woods. In the wreckage was a 50 Cal. machine gun. They brought the gun back to town and were promptly relieved of it by local authorities. I don’t know the whole story, but it actually happened. Big Larry
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