gr8smiles

OK...this could be long. I started this journey about two years ago myself. Someone here recommended Mike Montgomery with Class III firearms. Mike is a one-man operation in Cool Springs. His primary business is selling to law enforcement throughout the Southeast. He has a few in stock, but he will order and find whatever you want. His prices are fair. As you stated, the price game is not the factor in the NFA world. I gave Mike a copy of my trust, told him what I wanted and he found it. He will do the transfer in to him and then file all the paperwork, etc. for the NFA. The best part is that he gives really good service and is very easy to get a hold of. When I want a new can, I email him what I want. He sends me back a quote. He then usually comes by my office, gets a check and starts the paperwork. A few months later, he calls/emails that the stamp is in and I make a BEELINE down to his office and pick up my can. I have found it very advantageous to work with him since he is the only one I deal with. Less mistakes that way. His contact info is: http://fflgundealers...nterprises.html As you also stated, you will find what you want by spending time on Silencertalk. I make that place a regular part of most days:) There are some very knowledgable and helpful people there. I have the SS Sparrow and it is fabulous. I also have the AAC Element, YHM Mite, and Liberty Essence in .22 cans. I have a SWC Spectre II that went pending in August and have ordered a Element 2 as of yesterday. Having a 'user-servicable' .22 can is a must. You will shoot tons of .22 suppressed. It's cheap, fun, very quite, and always a 'crowd-pleaser.' It is also very dirty. The AAC cans, sparrow, and the essence are all stainless baffles and can be 'dipped'. They will clean up like new. You can shoot .22 through the rifle cans, but they are not user-servicable and are very heavy. I have the Osprey and Tirant45 in .45. They are both equally good. The Tirant can be broken down, the Ospery cannot. In 9mm, the AAC Evo9 and the Liberty Infiniti. Both are good, but the new TiRant9mm is probably better than the older Evo9. The Infiniti is new to me so I am still 'testing' it out. I have the YHM Cobra in .223. It makes a .223 much more tolerable, but you still need hearing protection. I also have an older model AAC Dragonfly. It is an integral can on a buckmark. That one I bought from Bullseye near Atlanta. It was a demo they had. Mike did the transfer for me as well on that one. Most shops that have class III items will sell near retail. They will also tend to sell you what is in stock. The NFA world is different in that most purchases are 'for life.' It is not like you can run down to the local gunshow and 'flip' a can that you don't like. Finding the new and improved items is worth the trouble. I have had good luck reading the posts on SilencerTalk and doing my due diligence. I'll be happy to answer any more questions, but this is my 2$ worth:)

Kimber Custom Classic Stainless Target was my first 1911 in the mid 90s and is still a favorite gun. I have several Kimbers in all sizes and have made the jump to Nighthawks as of the last year. Save your money and buy a Nighthawk. They can be had in the mid 2k range. Lots of money, but probably the best made guns I have ever had.

I always make sure that the shipper sends C&R items 'signature required'. I also use my office as the 'mailing address' on the C&R form. That is different from the 'premises address', which is my home. Since the mailing address is on the C&R, I have had most shippers send shipments to my office, where I will be to sign for it. I have only had one dealer that would not do that.

Most companies will only sell threaded barrels for the 5" 1911s. The 4 and 3" guns do not perform well with suppressors. I have the storm lake barrel on my Kimber Custom and it runs flawlessly. Barrel cost between 2-300, but it dropped in.

I did.

Phone numbers sent to you via pm.

I have bought 2 safes from Mark. One back in 1997 and another last year. He and his company have treated me well and I would/will buy from them again. Obviously, you realize that buying from a box store is not really the best option. I am sure Daryl has some nice safes as well, but you can't go wrong with Mark.

My kids are 23 and 20. They both still love Christmas and all that it embodies. I agree that the commercialization has gone 'over the top.' Yesterday, I witnessed what Christmas represents. While checking out at a local Wal-mart, I saw two ladies pull 4 carts of toys to the register and handed the clerk what looked to be a 'sales tax exemption' card. A gentleman asked the ladies if they were buying for a charity. The ladies told him that all the toys were going to Ft Campbell for the 'Wounded Warriors' program. The man thanked them for their generosity, opened his wallet and gave them a 50.00 dollar bill and walked off. Just a random act of kindness that is far too lacking in this world. Santa might be a mythical fantasy, but the spirit of giving and generosity that he represents is needed in this world now more than ever. How you present him and how you ultimately reveal him will determine how your kids react. My mom told me that Santa was 'the spirit of love' back in the 70s when I was much younger. At 49, the magic of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day never goes away.

Chip Cain did mine. He is in Franklin and can do it over the phone. He is/was a sponsor on here.

Since these purchases are both expensive and 'lifetime', you are much better off doing it right the 1st time. I used Chip Cain last year for mine and have no zero problems with the ATF getting approval in 90-120 days for my items. I also know that when I am gone that the items will be properly and legally dealt with. My kids are on the trust as well. The expense was not too great and most everything was done over the phone. I would highly recommend using one of the attorneys that support this forum. My 2 cents:)

Gear whores...please don't tell my wife I am a whore:)

You will love it. I keep a copy with me in the car and in my briefcase. You never know what you will find. Anything over 50 years old and many limited edition guns are on the list. Some really nice Smiths, Colts, Brownings, etc were made in the early 60s and 50s.

+1 as well for Mr Chip Cain. He set up my trust last summer. I have lost count on the number of NFA items I have in the works. The trust is well worth it.

It is probably better that they are not open late. I would probably lose my house, my car, etc. A man can get a little crazy in there:)

I bought a Colt Woodsman few weeks ago. It was my 1st and only purchase. I sent a signed copy with my check and the dealer sent it to me. Another auction that I bid on, I had emailed this question and had to send them a link to the ATF site showing that Woodsmen were C&R. They thanked me for the info.

Got my Phantom last week...been shooting it all week. I bought several of the mounts so I have treid it on several .22 rifles and .22 pistols. Did not bring my 556 this weekend, so I have not tried it on the .223, but it is 'click, click, click' on the buckmark and smith 622.

Check out the folks over at the SmithWesson Forum. That is a collector-driven forum and those guys are pretty chock-full of info. If you look at Gunbroker, be sure to look at the 'closed auctions' and then look at what has sold....which is not much....I just looked and it is the same few guns that keep rolling over without hitting the reserve. I would guess that Greg is pretty close to correct unless the condition is better than you state....again, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. That gun is not 'pinned and recessed' and the barrel length is not ideal for concealed carry. Those things make it less valuable to a collector. The condition favors a 'shooter', so make an offer and see where you can go. Good luck....vintage Smiths are the bomb...

Purchased from Mike Montgomery at Class III Firearms in Brentwood on 10/13/10. Used a trust prepared by Chip Cain. Form 4 came back today 1/11/11. Picked up suppressor this afternoon and made some tracks in the snow tonight. Awesome. 90 days, including holidays.

Bought way too much from them. Never had any problems and have actually gotten some great deals on some great pieces. I have also formed good relationships with dealers and shops that I never would have known about. Fees are part of business. Consider that you won't pay sales tax, unless you buy from some Tn dealers, and that alone saves a good percentage. Biggest problem I have with GB is that it is worse than 'crack'....very addicting:)

Traded a SW Mountain Gun 25-13 for a SW Nickel 25-5. Cost a little boot, but I gave up a recent SW gun with a 'lock' for a real nice collectors piece. While waiting for TICS and paperwork, I saw that the same dealer had a 63-3 SW in a 2" snubbie....that came home too. The 63 in the 2" are very rare and command a premium. I have 2 of the 651 .22 magnum in the 2", now I have a set:) Also, I found a mint Colt Mustang. I have a stainless one and now have the mate in blue. I call that a good day.

You might want to consider your own driveway since it will be in the teens

I have the sas with the melted slide in 9mm and it is one of my daily carries. Easy gun to shoot well.

Thanks...I will take my C&R in case I find some good Woodsmen or the like. I have been to hero gear...have not gotten to Outpost yet...guess that will be my 1st stop. I will try and check out the others...might not make it to Ohio:)

Heading Georgia this week. Tn has reciprocity. Anything I needful know otherwise? Thanks

Have to be in Buckhead Thursday for a CE class. I will be driving from Nashille and thought that I would take the opportunity to stop by any shops that are recommended here. I will be in the Atlanta area through Saturday. There is a gun show in Marietta Saturday. I just though that it would be fun to poke around some. Obviously, those in Tn are preferrable since I could bring any goodies home and save transfers and shipping. Feel free to pm me any suggestions or just jump in here. thanks Rick