Reising and a little mystery

[MuzzleFlash]

Got my first Title 2 transfer approved using my C&R license recently. The following pics are of my new arrival: a commercial Reising Model 50. Notice I don't call them "baby pics" since this gun is almost old enough to be my father. ;)

The firearm itself is in very good shape with a few minor scratches. The bluing seems original or at least is several decades old. The stock appears to have been refinished, but otherwise looks to be original. It shows minor handling marks and dings. I've had no chance to shoot it yet.

Based on my reading Frank Iannamico's "The Reising Submachine Gun Story", my best guess is that this gun was built around 1941 (definitely between 1940 & 1942 given it's S/N and design features). So far so good.

Here's where it gets interesting. Tonight I get to Chapter 10 and start looking at the serial numbers for which he's been able to document original sales. On page 207, there's a commercial gun sold to the Dallas County Sheriff's Department, serial number 11515. This is very close to my S/N. I mean VERY close! Wow!

This got me to thinking. Could this gun have started out at the Dallas Sheriff's office? Did it ever see any action? Hell, could it have been there in November 63? Who knows?

When I start taking pictures for this post, I notice a small variation in the stock's finish - almost a light etching, like a DYMO tape sticker was there and later got removed. It's barely visible on the left side of the stock, midway between the trigger and the mag housing. It can be seen best at an acute angle. It appears to be an abbreviation. Could it be the last 5 letters are DALCO? Am I letting my imagination run wild? There's a close-up in the last picture. Perhaps you can make it out better than I.

http://www.uziworld.com/reising/IMG_0507a.jpg

http://www.uziworld.com/reising/IMG_0510a.jpg

http://www.uziworld.com/reising/IMG_0512a.jpg

[texengland]

How does the C&R Class 3 thing work?

[M60joe]

Did you know how to cock it the first time you got it? :)

The first time I heald one I didn't !

[RoverDave]

Congrats MuzzleFlash. Let us know how it shoots.

The last letters do look like "ALCO" but that first letter doesn't look like a "D". Looks more like "F" or "P". Maybe it says "PETCO".

[MuzzleFlash]

Originally posted by texengland
How does the C&R Class 3 thing work? A C&R FFL can Form 4 a C&R NFA weapon interstate without going through an in-state SOT. As a collector, you still have to do the prints and CLEO signoff. You simply eliminate the transfer dealer/SOT.

Since ATF has to approve NFA transfers anyway, I always thought it was a huge waste of time and money to require an in-state SOT for interstate transfers. A little known fact is that a non-SOT non-C&R FFL can do a F4 NFA transfer directly from an out-of-state party without going through an in-state SOT - for any NFA firearm other than DDs. In such a case, this saves only time and paperwork (and a SOT transfer fee), because the receiving non-SOT FFL still has to get a CLEO signoff and do the prints. Obviously, this only makes sense for guns bound for their personal collection.

[MuzzleFlash]

Originally posted by RoverDave
Congrats MuzzleFlash. Let us know how it shoots.

The last letters do look like "ALCO" but that first letter doesn't look like a "D". Looks more like "F" or "P". Maybe it says "PETCO". Someone has to guard the goldfish :D

Actually, there appears to be 6 characters, and I too, only can make out the last 4.

[MuzzleFlash]

Originally posted by joeblack
Did you know how to cock it the first time you got it? :)

The first time I heald one I didn't ! It is a very strange place for a cocking bar. Like the MAC, it reciprocates during fire. Damn good way to mangle an index finger.

This is an interesting gun historically, but most Marines who used them in battle thought them to be a POS. Personally I would have preferred a Thompson or M3 grease gun.

[carcass]

I think it says "REALCO"

[az paul]

Congrats, MuzzleFlash!!

I'm with Carcass in that it looks like "REALCO" to me.

Nice choice. It'll be neat if the mysterious Grease Gun Mag Mod ever becomes a reality.

az paul

[M60joe]

The "Four-Four" used to kill Dennis was such a gun. Law enforcement sources said it was bought legally in 1986 from a Forestville dealer, Realco Guns, which has been linked to more crime guns in the area than any other dealer--493 guns traced by ATF in crimes between 1996 and last year. The gun moved into the District not in a smuggled batch but as a single weapon. It passed from person to person before landing in the Benning Road community, where drugs and gang activity are rampant.



?

[tony k]

MuzzleFlash, this would be a perfect MG to do an FOI request. Ask for copies of both the original F2 and the complete Registry Weapons History, which is a printout of all transfers since it was manufactured, by type and date. This gives you a time frame for when it was in LE hands.

Just BTW, while I understand (and agree with) the reasons behind not wanting to make public a Title 1 firearm's serial number, it seems to me that this is pointless for an NFA-registered item -- and even counterproductive when you are trying to trace the history of a particular MG. It is almost impossible for anyone to use serial-number info to contest ownership of an item that has has all its owners registered and documented by the BATF.

[chrisp929]

looks like REALCO to me ... REALCO .. yeap ...

[MuzzleFlash]

Oh yeah! Shot very nicely, minimal muzzle climb.

Broke in a NIW 30 rd Kristie mag too.

Hard to pick out the brass in the air with the busy background, but she had a nice, rhythmic ROF. She's a keeper, yep.

http://www.uziworld.com/reising/IMG_0542a.jpg

http://www.uziworld.com/reising/IMG_0541a.jpg

[Brian Ski]

I think "Realco" has it. But then again "Petco" isn't far off either.

Another shooter on a great weekend. Makes me want to go out. Sure has been hot out here lately.