What is the method of conversion on this Mini "bolt" gun...?

[Jack007]

I'm pretty familiar with B&G registered bolts. I've had several and still own a couple in different guns.
As far as I can tell this started out as a Group Ind. Mini Open Bolt. What I don't get is how it still has full feet? You'd have to relieve the trunnion, and the only AA IMI Minis I've seen that had bored trunnions were sear guns (Fleming/Quality) where the receiver was married to the sear.
All the B&G Mini Bolts that I've seen were cut down from Full Size Uzi SMG bolts and were blocking bar slotted.
Also, I remember when Group started making the Mini bolts, and that was after May 19th. I thought of the possibility that it's a Micro, but the pics don't show any evidence of any prior top cover clearance.
I must be missing something? What say the experts?
Dave?

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1009225979

 

[mattnh]

Sometimes the feet are thinned on a registered mini open bolt are thinned to clear an unmodified
trunnion, but that does not seem to be the case here....

Your understanding is correct; I don't think you are missing anything...

Caveat Emptor

 

[Jack007]

I emailed the seller. He informs that the trunnion has been "very carefully trimmed to allow the bolt feet to pass".
Back in the day ATF approved a lot of things that didn't get eyeballed.
I'd be leery of spending that kind of coin on this piece.

 

[trilogymac]

Back in the early 90's I purchased a new transferrable group mini bolt with feet.
There are Fleming and SWD minis with trunnions cut for feet.
Rubin recently had a mini B-G open bolt gun with feet (no blocking bar slot) feet were thinned.
There are also Broadhead OB minis done with Group bolts.

The way I understand it, mini semi trunnions shouldn't be cut for feet now because the factory mini bolts would be drop in BUT its ok to cut a micro trunnion because micros were never made in open bolt configuration, so the mini bolts are not drop in.

If group didn't make mini bolts until after the cutoff, my guess is that SWD, Fleming and B-G had IMI imported bolts that they used and or registered.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Jack007]

If group didn't make mini bolts until after the cutoff, my guess is that SWD, Fleming and B-G had IMI imported bolts that they used and or registered.

I can't speak for SWD, but I know for a fact Bill Fleming (one of my closest personal friends) did NOT use IMI Mini Bolts. He purchased his Mini bolts from Group directly. I have seen quite a few registered BG Mini bolts and they have all (with this current example being the only exception) been cut down registered Full size bolts. There was a supply of IMI Micro open bolts that came in to the country around 1983-4. The first semi Mini Carbines did not arrive until well after May 19th.

 

[Jack007]

My apologies! I emailed the wrong seller.
The gun with the relieved trunnion I referenced is in fact a Fleming sear gun currently for sale. Bill modded the trunnions when he couldn't get away with shaving the feet to pass. About half had tolerances too tight to allow for anything but paper thin feet. Contrary to popular rumor, ATF didn't object to this as there were so few of them. They did object to his removing the blocking bar in the full size sear guns. Some time later, he got the cease and desist on all his sear conversions. Originally ATF commenced forfeiture proceedings on all the completed and sold guns, but backed off after his lawyer produced the famous approval letter. Whether their typical "grandfathering" would stand up in court today is for another discussion.
I'll advise if the seller replies on if/how this particular BG bolt conversion was effected internally.
Again, sorry for the mixup!

 

[trilogymac]

I remember, as many of you do, the frenzy to register anything you could get your hands on in 86.

 

[Jack007]

I heard from the seller. I've done biz with them before.
The trunnion has been relieved.
While the chances anything would ever happen are negligible, there's no way I'd risk that kind of coin on something that could be seized at any time.
Bottom line.... you can't modify a host gun like that.

 

[mike]

I also did business a few times with them they are great guys to deal with.

 

[trilogymac]

Bottom line.... you can't modify a host gun like that.

I would be a bit more specific "you can't modify a MINI uzi like that".