Eagle Cal. .45 Open bolt semi auto carbine, Coming soon!

[AJAX22]

I still can't believe that I found it, these were made in very low numbers and are so unbelievably freaking cool.

I've been researching these for some time now... anyone want to guess why they are so rare/sought after/collectible? (Yes it DOES take surplus M3 grease gun mags)

I'll give you a hint: They don't make em like they used to



(photos show the carbine assembled out of state, it will be disassembled before coming into CA where it will get a fixed 10 round mag..)

[sloguy]

so what was the final price on it?

[AJAX22]

775 shipped (OUCH!)

I'm officially broke, but I had to do it... gonna live off rammen noodles for a while.

Still its about 1/3 of what it would have gone for if it had been properly listed so it was still a good deal.

you know these things sold for like $119-169 bucks back in the early sixties?

[onikuma]

oooh nice.. i want one congratulations!

[rg_1111@yahoo.com]

Very nice type writer.

[AJAX22]

It does use a real surplus 1928 Thompson stock

although the fore grip and fins are aluminum as is the lower receiver.

It is actually much more closely related to the M3 mechanically.

[redcliff]

I'm sad to say I remember seeing ads for those back in the late 60's. Sucks being old, other than the cool old toys we have that the new kids can't get.

How do you get around the determination by the batf that the open-bolt Spitfire's are NFA weapons? In reading the ruling I didn't see an exemption for "made prior to x date"?

Is this a variation that isn't "named" in the Spitfire ruling?

[smle-man]

I still can't believe that I found it, these were made in very low numbers and are so unbelievably freaking cool.

I've been researching these for some time now... anyone want to guess why they are so rare/sought after/collectible? (Yes it DOES take surplus M3 grease gun mags)

I'll give you a hint: They don't make em like they used to



(photos show the carbine assembled out of state, it will be disassembled before coming into CA where it will get a fixed 10 round mag..)

Looks like the Spitfire carbine that fires from an open bolt. The ATF looked askance on them because of that feature and the perceived ease in conversion to FA. Tread very carefully on this one.

[AJAX22]

Heh....

Well you guys are close (redcliff actually nailed it) It is the predecessor to the Spitfire called the Eagle, made by a different company but also an open bolt design. The only difference between the Eagle and the spitfire (aside from the name and manufacturer) is that the eagle has a machined front sight whereas the spitfire has a cast front site assembly. Because it was pre 68, and the company who manufactured it was out of business it was completely overlooked. And since there were only a few produced it wasn't worth the time or hassle for them.

Y'all are correct that the the Spitfire WAS determined to be a machine gun, all of them were declared machine guns and registered or surrendered. This however is NOT a Spitfire and has never been named by any ATF ruling. They could in theory issue a ruling now, but they would have to allow for registration as a machine gun and for $200 I'd get to own a 5-10K NFA registered MG.


And while these are exceedingly easy to convert to FA, (all open bolt guns really are) this one was one of the few which wasn't. (most were turned into MG's prior to the 86 ban)

Not a banned by name assault weapon, not a machine gun since it was made before 82... Just a badass semi auto open bolt .45 acp carbine.

[redcliff]

Heh....

Well you guys are close (redcliff actually nailed it) It is the predecessor to the Spitfire called the Eagle, made by a different company but also an open bolt design. The only difference between the Eagle and the spitfire (aside from the name and manufacturer) is that the eagle has a machined front sight whereas the spitfire has a cast front site assembly. Because it was pre 68, and the company who manufactured it was out of business it was completely overlooked. And since there were only a few produced it wasn't worth the time or hassle for them.

Y'all are correct that the the Spitfire WAS determined to be a machine gun, all of them were declared machine guns and registered or surrendered. This however is NOT a Spitfire and has never been named by any ATF ruling. They could in theory issue a ruling now, but they would have to allow for registration as a machine gun and for $200 I'd get to own a 5-10K NFA registered MG.


And while these are exceedingly easy to convert to FA, (all open bolt guns really are) this one was one of the few which wasn't. (most were turned into MG's prior to the 86 ban)

Not a banned by name assault weapon, not a machine gun since it was made before 82... Just a badass semi auto open bolt .45 acp carbine.

Awesome acquisition Ajax22, and thanks for the info. Will you have to fix the stock so it's not quick detachable? I remember reading that the AO Thompsons have to require a tool to remove to prevent classification as a sbr, and so do the fixed stocks on Uzi's.

[69Mach1]

Well, you do have the most unique collection of firearms AJAX22. Nice find.

[AJAX22]

Nope redcliff, it just needs the mag pinned for CA aw regs.

The Eagle had a 16.5 inch barrel and a nice long receiver so it meets the 26inch minimum even with the stock removed.

Remember its not a thompson its a totally different animal.

[AJAX22]

Well, you do have the most unique collection of firearms AJAX22. Nice find.

Thanks 69Mach1, I try

I'm really happy about this one. I've always liked old subguns, and I've wanted to get a semi auto copy for a long time. but I dislike the modern semi auto replicas because of the needlessly complicated closed bolt varieties are all we can get anymore.

[DedEye]

Sweet.

I really need to see your full collection next time you're back in the state.

[69Mach1]

I'm just curious. How did you get this while in another State. Buying them with your new ID's?