1919 / 1917 BHP bracket and cam rivets are now available...

 

 

And now FN30 Rivets.

 

 

 

 

MG-42 status:

 

Update as of June 1, 2009.

 

They said no, again. I'm still working on it, but the great stuff pictured here is more or less dead. I've now made two submissions to Tech Branch, and both were rejected. I can't make these without some foreign sourced materials, and BATFE won't let them in for commercial sale to the public.

I've designed an econo-housing which I can produce locally, and am in the process of building a prototype. From 20 feet it will look like an MG-42, and will function the same. It's not what I really wanted to do, but it will give all of us something to do with our parts kits. I hope to get it running by Summer 2012.

 

Update as of August 27,2008.

 

I have had further discussions with Tech. Branch personnel, and made another submission asking for classification of Housings in a different configuration. I am again waiting for a response.

 

Update as of July 15,2008.

I spoke with the responsible agent at Tech Branch Tuesday.
“Funny you should call,” He says, “I was just typing up the response to your submission.”
“Well is it a yes or a no?” I ask.
“Oh, it’s definitely a ‘no.’ If I remove the plate from the inside of the receiver, I can build a fully functional MG-3 machine gun.” He went on to marvel at the quality of the Housings. Apparently most of the staff there were very impressed also. They figured I paid big bucks for these things, and said they were every bit as good as the stuff coming off the line at HK. It’s going to be such a shame to cut these up.
AAAGGGHHHH!!!
Well, they’ll send me the pieces
My intention (for a variety of reasons) was to produce and market a partially completed (i.e. 80%) Housing/receiver. The Housings I submitted included a bolt-blocking device similar to those long used by the MG-42 crowd, and implied to be sufficient in earlier discussions with Tech Branch personnel. Things change. The agent said the letter would include a list of recommendations as to how to make the receiver legal. Once I have it in hand, I’ll look into a redesign, and see if it can be produced in a cost effective manner.

What’s another year or two? Sorry guys.

When I started this, I had no idea it would take so long. There are only a few companies that can do the complex forming these Housings require, and I'm not one of them. Moreover, they like to produce things by the thousand, not hundred.

 

I'll continue to post updates when there is something substantive to say. Thanks for bearing with me, at this point I've been throwing money at this for over two and a half years.

MSG