Question about pre-1986 dealer samples

[Theohazard]

I live in a state where full-auto is banned, so most of my knowlege of the national legalities of full-auto weapons was learned through the Internet. That said, I'm confused about the existence of pre-1986 dealer samples of full-auto firearms.

It is my understanding that the purpose of an SOT obtaining a full-auto "dealer sample" is to allow the dealer to get around the 1986 Hughes Amendment so he can demo (and then sell) full-auto weapons to law enforcement and military. But I've seen more than one mention online of pre-1986 dealer sample full autos, which makes me wonder: If that's accurate, what was the purpose of dealer samples prior to 1986? If new full-auto weapons were as available as any other NFA firearm prior to the cut-off date in May 1986, what would be the need for a dealer-only sample firearm back then? I've never heard of a dealer sample silencer or a dealer sample short barreled rifle, so why were there any dealer sample machine guns prior to the Hughes Amendment taking effect in May 1986?

 

[pjeski]

Google gun control act of 1968.

Import restrictions. Your pre samples are going to be real hk's, factory UZIs, etc.

 

[the Real Alpo]

A dealer sample could not be transferred to Joe Public.

It was, therefore, cheaper for the dealer to buy.

Pre-86, a West Hurley Thompson would go for, maybe, 500. I was looking at one in 1980, it was 450. So West Hurley would wholesale it to the dealer for, maybe three. But the dealer could get "samples", for maybe two, maybe even one. Since everything was registered, and there was no way it could be sold to the public for a profit, the manufacturer could afford to sell it cheaply to the dealer. And the dealer could afford to have samples of all sorts of different fun guns in his store. And if some customer says, "Ooooooh, I LIKE that American 180", the dealer would say, "Okay, I'll order you one". And everyone makes money.

 

[CapnMac]

I guess I'm more used to seeing the "post 96" constuction--to refer to those things which dealers could only have as sample after '86, and then only with paperwork from an agencywanting to see those samples.

 

[pjeski]

http://rkmerting.com/pre-and-post-dealer-samples/