[Ron Smith]

This is the response I received from a BATF agent this morning. RE: 1906 Luger Frame Altered Ser#.

"I have forwarded the info to Honolulu ATF regulatory. I think the best thing is
to send back the frame and get your money back. As far as a criminal case
dealing with violations of the federal firearms laws it would be a hard case to
make. The law deals with altered or obliterated serial numbers and he could
always claim that the re-stamped was done back in WW II. It is definetly a fraud
since you expected a correctly serialized Luger. My advice would be to get your
money back . We will do an inspection of his books and check what he put in his
A&D book for your Luger frame. We will handle this through our regulatory branch
and of course if anything turns up criminal we will investigate."

My response to him:


"I e-mailed him ,telling him 2 weeks ago that I decided to keep it,
because I assumed that BATF would want it as possible evidence. Now I think I'm
stuck with it. If there is no case. And I am safe from any repercussions. I
would just as soon keep it. I purchased it with the intent of using it to
complete a 1906 Luger.
I did not alert him to the fact that BATF had been notified. So that he
would not adjust his records. If I would have gotten a response sooner, I would
have returned it. Now I'm in the position of becoming the victim in this matter.
I tried to do what I thought was right. Not only to protect myself, but because
I wanted to abide by the law.
If it is determined that there is or is not a definite violation. Please
have your agent let me know, and I will , if required by law, surrender the
frame to BATF. If not, I would like to keep it. I am a Federal Employee,close to
retirement. And do not want to jepardize my job, nor my right to retain my
C&R.Thanks for the response and advice".

Looks Like I'm between a rock and a hard place!

Ron