13 replies to this topic

[WWIIBuff]

Hello Gentlemen,

 

I recently added this DEACTIVATED M2 Browning .50 Caliber Machine Gun (BMG) to my collection.  Eventually I will display in on my late war M63 mount, but I have some work to do to it first.  It's an original gun with thick reproduction side plates and can never be made into a functioning weapon. It is a WWII gun that was probably turned over to the Israeli's and had a round explode inside it at some point. Today a friend was able to pull one exploded casing out of the barrel, and is still working on the remains of a second casing.

Visually it looks nice, but it came to me with the "guts" stripped out of it and many small parts missing. so I am thinking about trying to replace several of the missing or damaged parts so that it displays as complete as possible. Some of the larger parts like the rear slide assembly and the rear sight assembly are present, but I am thinking of upgrading them to nicer examples.

I've already found several of the parts I need on specialized dealer sites and GunBroker, but many are priced too high or just not available, so if any of you have spare parts laying around for this weapon that you don't know what to do with, please let me know what you have and maybe it is something I need.

 

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[WWIIBuff]

This is the M63 mount I recently acquired as well. It came with the "Frankenstein" display gun that was made by some company out of Boca Raton Florida many years ago, but since it is not an original example, I've already sold that to a friend and bought the M2 above.

 

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[WWIIBuff1945]

Nice pick up congrats! I'd love to find one too. Do you mind revealing what you had to pay for it?

[WWIIBuff]

I guess I put this thread in the wrong location somehow, I did not mean for it to be in the reference section, but rather in the Firearms & Ordnance forum.  If a moderator can move this, it would be appreciated.

 

WWIIBuff1945, let's just say that I paid well above $2,000, but I did get the seller to come down several hundred dollars from where he started.  Since parts sets for these are starting around $6,000, I think I did OK, even though it is a bit of a skeleton and has some damage.

 

I'll post better pictures in a week or two when I get the barrel back from my friend.

[WWIIBuff1945]

Sounds like you got a pretty good deal John. Its only money you can't take it with you!

[Bob Hudson]

I guess I put this thread in the wrong location somehow, I did not mean for it to be in the reference section, but rather in the Firearms & Ordnance forum.  If a moderator can move this, it would be appreciated.

 

WWIIBuff1945, let's just say that I paid well above $2,000, but I did get the seller to come down several hundred dollars from where he started.  Since parts sets for these are starting around $6,000, I think I did OK, even though it is a bit of a skeleton and has some damage.

 

I'll post better pictures in a week or two when I get the barrel back from my friend.

 

It has been moved

[US Victory Museum]

Dear fellow USMF member "WWIIBuff":

 

Laws have changed over the last 20+ years since I was regularly buying spare parts

for my M2HB machine gun. (Title II Registered). 

 

http://www.usmilitar...u-want-to-know/

http://www.usmilitar...2-m63-aa-mount/

 

 

You may have additional problems due to your being located in the People's

Socialist Republic of Kalifornia (SSR), so take what I say with a grain of salt.

 

This info may be dated due to changing laws over the years.

 

First, you can import weapon components for your own personal use; however,

this will involve additional paperwork (and time!).  Certain weapons manufactured

by prohibited countries, or countries against whom we have weapons trade

embargoes will be denied.    (No Chicom - NORINCo, Polyteck - No CIS/USSR)

 

Barrels for military weapons are now prohibited from import regardless of country

or origin.   You may be able to buy a parts kit from Marstar (Canada), but it won't

be coming with a barrel. 

 

Be aware that some FN Herstal (Fabrique Nationale) .50BMG parts will interchange

with Ma Deuce, but not all.  These parts pop up from time-to-time, so be sure to

inquire whether the parts you are buying come from surplus/scrapped US made

BMGs, or FN guns.

 

 

Option No. 1

==========

https://www.northridgeinc.com/

1-661-269-2269

 

They're located in Kalifornia (SSR).  I used to regularly deal with they Indian guy

(dot, not feather), whose name I can't remember, who either owned or managed

the company (until he got his arse tossed into the pokey for ...

 

cue Judas Priest BREAKING THE LAW!  BREAKING THE LAW!

 

 

Option No. 2

==========

 

https://marstar.ca/

https://marstar.ca/p.../fa-parts/m2hb/

toll free: +1 888-744-0066

 

When you call them, tell them first that you are calling from the US, and that you

are trying to import items for your personal use.   They will be familiar with what

they will need from you, and can talk you through the process.  Be aware, this

process will be frustratingly slow, but it will be LEGAL.    They won't deal with you

otherwise.

 

I imported my M63 AA Mount from Marstar, as well as other parts,

but that was a long time ago.  Laws change.

 

 

Option No. 3

==========

 

https://www.sarcoinc...ts-accessories/

610-250-3960  Ask for Cholly Steen

 

Dealing with SARCO has always been hit-or-miss.  They've never managed to get

a reliable  inventory system up and running, and their quality control runs from very

decent to beat to crap and tossed into the ocean for a century. Dealing with SARCO

is always an exercise in frustration.  Their back orders can run into months or years.  

(Try to deal with Marstar first!)

 

 

 

WHAT NOT TO DO!

 

Re: Asking a friendly forum member located overseas to buy something for you

and mail it. 

 

We've all heard stories of people who threw some item in a box and mailed it to

another country to help an overseas collector, but be aware, if you roll the dice

and customs inspectors catch you, you'll be charged under Federal statutes for

violating ITAR restrictions.   You will discover that the cost of what you paid for

your gun will be about the same as what you'll pay to an attorney for for about

one hour of his time to represent you.  DON'T DO IT!  

 

P.S.

Re: Spare parts.  Yes, I have them; No I won't part with them.

 

Best o' luck!

Msn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[WWIIBuff]

Thank for moving it Bob.

 

I appreciate all the information Msn, and yes, because of where I live, I have a lot of restrictions.  I did place an order with Sarco last night for about 25 parts, plus bought another 2 on GunBroker, and have about 5 more to buy elsewhere.  I am not trying to make the gun operational, or anything like that, but I want it to display as complete as possible, and would like the charging handle to function as realistically as possible.

 

I appreciate the referral to Marstar as well.  I will reach out to them for some of the missing parts.  I also need to two pins to attach the M2 to the M63 mount.

[AZPhil]

Now that is cool. Deact or not. It's an awesome display piece.

 Congrats on adding that one!!

 

Semper Fi

Phil 

[WWIIBuff]

My friend and I spent some time working on my M2 today.  As you can see in the picture, my deactivated display gun (closest to camera) is pretty stripped down compared to my friends complete deactivated display gun (mine has no "guts" in it).  I have a lot of parts on order, plus there will be a little bit of repairs and modifications that need to be done to make it look nice, and allow for the blank rounds to sit nicely.

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Edited by WWIIBuff, 20 October 2019 - 12:19 AM.

[WWIIBuff]

My rear slide assembly (on the right) definitely needs some work to make it look as nice as the one from my friends deactivated display gun on the left.

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[huey]

Looks great,   You sure got a great deal.  I hope to find another m2  for my m4 high speed tractor.   I let my nephew have my m2 for his m3A1 halftrack.  I got most of my parts from sarco years ago.   If ok post more pictures, when you got it completed.  I am also a ww2 buff. 

[Okie96]

Looks great,   You sure got a great deal.  I hope to find another m2  for my m4 high speed tractor.   I let my nephew have my m2 for his m3A1 halftrack.  I got most of my parts from sarco years ago.   If ok post more pictures, when you got it completed.  I am also a ww2 buff. 

What? Yall's family Christmas get together must be pretty interesting! Wish I had toys like that to get accessories for. 

Oh, trying to get your tractor going at home?

Yeah, it's giving me a hard time though.

What's wrong, spark plugs or something?

No, can't find another machine gun for it.

Alright, so just something minor.

 

Nice looking project though. Definitely an awesome piece to have in the collection.

[WWIIBuff]

I will definitely post pictures as I make progress on the restoration.  This is a WWII gun that was evidently given/sold to Israel.  The sight on it has Hebrew markings.  Evidently at some point a round got jammed into the barrel and the next round fired into the rear of the first one.  This caused an internal explosion.  Damage from that explosion is evident on the gun in a few places, but nothing too bad. 

 

Here is one of the rounds that my friend removed from the barrel after a lot of lubricating and tapping into the rear of the cartridge.  Another piece from the initial jammed round came out later after soaking in oil for a week. 

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