Mateba legality

[tmuller]

Can you bring one into CA?

http://www.awaguns.com/PDFs/Cat24MatebaAutoRevolver%20copy.pdf

Interchangeable barrel??? I know it's not on the DOJ list but is it banned for any other reason? Thanks for the help!!

[Quiet]

As far as I know, it's not available because it's not on the list.

Someone moving to CA could bring one in or a LEO could buy one, not like it and then sell it.




Always, wanted to play with one after seeing it in "Ghost in the Shell".

[CALI-gula]

Not on the DOJ list. Total bummer. Wish I had one. Or several!

Oh... wait a minute....

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[pnkssbtz]

Not on the DOJ list. Total bummer. Wish I had one. Or several!

Oh... wait a minute....

.

I h8 j000!!!!!!




(J/K! Sell me one please!)

[tmuller]

So no problem if the Mrs. buys one before she moves to CA then does a FTF PPT after she registers it within 60 days of taking employment or residence, right? A little concerned about the interchangeable/threaded barrel...a little more assurance on this might convince the Mrs. to buy a couple.

[MrTuffPaws]

Sorry, you're out of luck on that one. If they were legal, I would own one in every caliber.

[BrianD]

Does it have a double action trigger? If it could be converted to single action before importation it would be exempt, right?

[Josh]

So no problem if the Mrs. buys one before she moves to CA then does a FTF PPT after she registers it within 60 days of taking employment or residence, right? A little concerned about the interchangeable/threaded barrel...a little more assurance on this might convince the Mrs. to buy a couple.

she dosent even need to register it first, the law states that when moving into CA you need to either register it OR sell it to someone.

[bwiese]

she dosent even need to register it first, the law states that when moving into CA you need to either register it OR sell it to someone.

Please show me anywhere where it says you have to sell it to someone, I'd love to see that.

In fact, that would be particularly difficult to do for a new entrant to CA that does not have D/L or residency and has a handgun not on the Roster of approved not-unsafe handguns. An FFL dealer in CA most likely would not buy it as the market is very limited (LEO only).

[shin_en]

i thought it was this:

PC 12072 (f):
Quote:
(2) (A) On or after January 1, 1998, within 60 days of bringing a pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person into this state, a personal handgun importer shall do one of the following:
(i) Forward by prepaid mail or deliver in person to the Department of Justice, a report prescribed by the department including information concerning that individual and a description of the firearm in question.
(ii) Sell or transfer the firearm in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (d) or in accordance with the provisions of an exemption from subdivision (d).
(iii) Sell or transfer the firearm to a dealer licensed pursuant to Section 12071.
(iv) Sell or transfer the firearm to a sheriff or police department.
(B) If the personal handgun importer sells or transfers the pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 12072 and the sale or transfer cannot be completed by the dealer to the purchaser or transferee, and the firearm can be returned to the personal handgun importer, the personal handgun importer shall have complied with the provisions of this paragraph.
(C) The provisions of this paragraph are cumulative and shall not be construed as restricting the application of any other law. However, an act or omission punishable in different ways by this section and different provisions of the Penal Code shall not be punished under more than one provision.

[socalguns]

its legal, its just not on the approved list

oooops, sorry, forgot about atfs reversal, its illegal

[Fjold]

My only question is why does anyone want one?

What advantage does it have over a good revolver or a good semi-automatic pistol?

[CALI-gula]

My only question is why does anyone want one?

What advantage does it have over a good revolver or a good semi-automatic pistol?

Well, they are very accurate. They function really well and the action works to minimize recoil on magnum calibers. For whatever the compensator does not reduce, the action helps. Tolerances, fit, and ergonomics are extremely well thought and applied. As far as hold goes, it is one of the nicest point of aim revolvers I've ever put in my hands, with much consideration going into the grip. The design and angle of the grip is very similar to a Colt Single Action Army but with a fatter grip and one that gives a good support in the web of your hand.

In comparison to semi-autos, they chamber magnum calibers, but are much lighter and a better natural feel than most all of the .357/.44 magnum semi-autos, definitely much lighter and more agile than a Desert Eagle, LAR Grizzly, or Coonan, yet it holds nearly as many rounds. Most semi-autos in magnum calibers tend to feel like holding a brick and the grips at awkward angles when compared to the Mateba. Oh, and there is one in .454 Casull as well. I know of no regular production semi-autos made in .454 Cassull .

In comparison to other revolvers, they are indeed semi-auto, and the action works to reduce recoil. Obviously they lend themselves to a faster recovery - but most importantly, the gun completely activates itself for the next round just like on most popular Single Action semis. The hammer re-sets itself for the next shot, and unlike other revolvers, the trigger no longer is in a Double Action mode, and it takes on the light-touch sensitivity of a match semi-auto, simulating the follow up pull of a 1911 with a good trigger. And they are still beefy, so they will hold up under repeated magnum abuse, less likely to loosen up like the Pythons and model 29s and 629s, even with all its additional moving parts. It shares much in the way of heft and robust build with a Ruger Super Redhawk, yet has the aesthetics and refinement of a Performance Center, Korth, or Manurhin gun.

Don't let the novelty and niftiness of the fact that it is a semi-auto revolver get in the way, discounting it as a gimmick. The function and accuracy attributes aside, these guns have bluing and nickel equivalent to the early Colt Pythons and older Smith and Wessons; rich, deep, and thick with a high polish appearing as if it was painted with several layers of blue-black lacquer and multiple clear coats - something like what you would put on a Chip Foose or Boyd Coddington hot rod. If you told me these guns were hand-crafted by the S&W Performance Center, I would believe you, but go further to say it must have been made on an exceptionally good day at the PC, and got extra attention.

Oh, and by concession, yes, they are a gimmicky nifty novelty, on top of everything else that's good, which greatly adds to the "fun factor" as well as make a great subject for "show-and-tell." -

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[tmuller]

I'm still confused

oooops, sorry, forgot about atfs reversal, its illegal

Sorry, you're out of luck on that one. If they were legal, I would own one in every caliber.

I know this is not on the approved DOJ list but is it illegal to possess in CA? If I bring this into CA and register it will I have the DOJ at my door taking it away and throwing me in jail? I want to have one in the collection but avoid doing Bubba'a laundry...or worse.

[CALI-gula]

I know this is not on the approved DOJ list but is it illegal to possess in CA? If I bring this into CA and register it will I have the DOJ at my door taking it away and throwing me in jail? I want to have one in the collection but avoid doing Bubba'a laundry...or worse.

You would never have DOJ at your door over it, because I don't know of a single FFL that would DROS a Mateba for you - as it is in it's form from the manufacturer, as far as I know, an FFL in CA has no ability to DROS it for you as it is not on the computer's drop-down list of approved guns.

If not on the approved list, you can not bring it into California and DROS it. At one time you could - before SB15 passed - but you no longer can. The only ways it could be brought legally into CA would be if you are newly moving to CA and are bringing it with you on your move here, so you file the new-resident CA handgun importer form with DOJ. (There are other ways you could legally bring it in but I doubt you have the requirements of status needed to bring it in to CA - it sound like you are just an average consumer - no offense).

HOWEVER.... another way that was generously discussed here on Calguns back in January/February, was that of getting someone outside of CA to turn it into a single-action only firearm by the removal of any double-action sears/pins/springs/bars/hooks (whatever applies) and find a willing FFL to receive it in and DORS it as a single-action revolver. Why? Single action revolvers are exempt from the DOJ safety list testing (of certain minimum barrel length). And if its single action, it's single action, no matter what model it may be.

While the context of that conversation at the time was mainly concentrating on Colt and Smith Double Actions, the topic of applying the theory to the Mateba came up - but not exactly sure how you would do it. I'm not interested in cracking open any of mine to figure it out, sorry. In any case, like any other handgun on the DOJ approval list, once you have DROSed it, you can modify it in any way you see fit so long as the configuration is legal.

If you are really, really set on getting a semi-auto revolver, and you can't get anyone to subscribe to the "single-action" Mateba concept, you could always bring in a C&R Webley-Fosberry! A little pricey, but they are indeed exempt from the DOJ approval list!

http://www.freewebtown.com/futru/downloads/Fosberry.htm

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