Information about weapon provenance

[me6_130]

Gentlemen,

I have a little problem:

I have a Weapon Collector's License with which I am supposed to be able to buy and posses "antique and historical weapons" in working order...but due to the restrictive interpretation of the "weapon control" officers of the new regulations, I should provide a certificate of the provenance of the weapon. Does anyone know if the German Army had any kind of weapon list or registration in WWII, or if the Walther house might have it?

thanks in advance,

Carles

[JoeW]

Would the compliance officer accept the listing of the weapon as a Curio & Relic by the authorities of the US Bureau of A T F? Failing that, there were manuals listing weapons for the Wehrmacht as well as the Ordnungspolizei.

[me6_130]

Would the compliance officer accept the listing of the weapon as a Curio & Relic by the authorities of the US Bureau of A T F? Failing that, there were manuals listing weapons for the Wehrmacht as well as the Ordnungspolizei.

hello Joe,

If it were in the USA perhaps but it is in Europe and buying it from one country to another, so the only hope is that this precise pistol has it's serial number registered somewhere. I know serial numbers of weapons each soldier got were written in the Soldbuchs. Weren't these numbers copied in any Wehrmacht register or something like that? I imagine not because, if they did, every collector would know the exact soldier or unit that had their weapons during the war....

Carles

[JoeW]

hello Joe,

If it were in the USA perhaps but it is in Europe and buying it from one country to another, so the only hope is that this precise pistol has it's serial number registered somewhere. I know serial numbers of weapons each soldier got were written in the Soldbuchs. Weren't these numbers copied in any Wehrmacht register or something like that? I imagine not because, if they did, every collector would know the exact soldier or unit that had their weapons during the war....
Carles

Carles, just what is this compliance officer demanding of you? That you provide provenance back to the manufacturer? I know of no miracles that would enable you to identify any specific weapon as to the owner in that pre-1945 period. I thought you had to demonstrate that the particular type of weapon was of a certain historical period, at least pre-1945 or so. That is why I suggested the list from the US ATF that has approved each type of weapon as to its historical basis as a curio and relic.

[me6_130]

They want me to prove that that precise weapon took part in a historical event (not a war in general) or was used by a historical personality, what is almost impossible to do!!!! It is just a trick of the authorities to stop weapon collectors buying weapons!!! So I want to try to relate it to a unit or some battle or war action.

Carles

[JoeW]

They want me to prove that that precise weapon took part in a historical event (not a war in general) or was used by a historical personality, what is almost impossible to do!!!! It is just a trick of the authorities to stop weapon collectors buying weapons!!! So I want to try to relate it to a unit or some battle or war action.
Carles

What a prick! Seems like you are SOL. If being used by the Wehrmacht or Italy armed forces, or the Fascist party or NSDAP before 1945 was not an historical event, then we need to redo the history books. Only way for you to comply is to acquire presentation weapons.

[me6_130]

The other option is going to a judge and start a trial for the "weapon control authorities" to admit that WWII is a historical event important enough for me to include the weapon in my book....but that would cost me too much money

I asked them: - if i bring the pistol that Hitler used to commit suicide...would that do?

Answer- If you bring the certificate, yes....

Carles