by Lee Williams
In the early 1980s, in order to meet a growing customer demand, several firearm firms released semi-automatic firearms that fired from an open bolt, which were never subject to the National Firearm Act, or NFA. Fully automatic versions of these guns were flooding the movies and popular culture, but the semi-autos were easier to own. Over the years, these guns became highly sought after and were known as “pre-ban” open-bolt semi-auto pistols and carbines.
Today, these open-bolt semi-autos can fetch from $3,000 to $5,000, and they can still be purchased just like any other firearm, with only an ATF Form 4473 and background check. To be clear, they are legal to own semi-autos that are not capable of fully automatic fire, so they are not subject to the 1986 machinegun ban. As a result, they do not require a $200 NFA tax stamp or an invasive background investigation by the ATF. Legally, these rare and expensive guns require only the same amount of paperwork as any other new firearm purchase.
Two firearm firms produced thousands of these guns. RBP made semi-auto MAC-10-style guns and Interdynamic made the Tec-9. Both were based on better-known fully automatic guns, but both were legal semi-autos that fired from an open bolt.
Former U.S. Navy sailor Patrick Tate Adamiak owned five of these legal firearms. Four were made by RPB and one was an Interdynamic KG-9. The purchases were a business decision by Adamiak.
“All were 100% legal. I purchased them through an FFL dealer, filled out the ATF Form 4473 and completed the background check,” Adamiak said Monday. “These are ultra-collectible, so I brought them home, put them in my safe – unmodified of course – and they sat there for years as centerpieces of my family’s collection. We never even shot them. They are rare and highly valuable, so they were more of an investment.”
Adamiak never even dreamed he would face criminal charges for the legal firearms.
“Despite being legally owned, all five of these were seized and were counted against me as ‘illegal machineguns,’ which added years to my sentence,” Adamiak said. “It took me 10 years to collect them, and not only was it a financial hit they each came with felonious consequences.”
This is the third story about the ludicrous criminal charges that Adamiak was convicted of and sentenced to two decades behind bars. Click to read Part One and Part Two.
Who is responsible? None other than ATF Firearms Enforcement Officer Jeffrey Bodell.
Bodell, you’ll recall from a previous story, got Adamiak’s toy STEN submachinegun to fire one live round. Of course, he needed to use a real STEN barrel and a real STEN action to make the toy fire off a single live round. Bodell’s incredibly biased reporting is one of the main reasons why Adamiak was sentenced to 20 years in prison, despite the fact all of the firearms and gun parts he owned were 100% legal.
In his report, Bodell listed each of the five open-bolt semi-autos as a “suspected machinegun.”
- 52. RPB Industries, model SM11-A1, firearm serial number SAP3806982 (suspected machinegun).
- 55. RPB Industries, model SM11-A1 carbine, serial number SAC380231 (suspected machinegun).
- 56. Interdynamic model KG-9, 9mm caliber firearm (suspected machinegun).
- 57. RPB Industries, model SM10, 9mm Luger firearm, s/n SEMI91211A (suspected machinegun).
- 58. RPB Industries, model SM10, 45 ACP firearm, s/n SAP451127 (suspected machinegun).
His testing of the five open-bolt firearms and the conclusions he made were extremely strange.
Testing
First up was Exhibit 52, a legal .380 ACP Model SM11-A1, MAC-10 style firearm, which fired semi-automatically from an open bolt.
“I loaded one cartridge into the firearm and pulled the trigger. Exhibit 52 successfully expelled a projectile by the action of an explosive. Next, I inserted a two cartridge load and pulled the trigger. Exhibit 52 fired each cartridge semiautomatically, by separate functions of the trigger. I repeated this method of testing with three- and five-cartridge loads. Each test resulted in semiautomatic fire,” Bodell wrote in his report. “With ATF Ruling 82-8, ATF identified the SM11A1 pistols are designed to shoot automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. Consequently, the SM11A1 pistols are machineguns as defined. Exhibit 52 is designed to shoot automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. Exhibit 52 is a “machinegun” as defined.”
Exhibits 55, 57 and 58 were also tested and only fired semi-automatically.
“With ATF Ruling 82-8, ATF identified the SM10 pistols are designed to shoot automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. Consequently, the SM10 pistols are machineguns as defined. Exhibit 58 is designed to shoot automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. Exhibit 58 is a “machinegun” as defined,” Bodell wrote.
Bodell made the same findings of Exhibit 56, the KG-9, which only fired semi-automatically, too.
“With ATF Ruling 82-2, ATF identified the simplicity in converting the semiautomatic open-bolt KG-9-type firearms into machineguns and determined that open-bolt KG-9-type firearms are designed to shoot automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. Therefore, semiautomatic open-bolt KG-9-type firearms are “machineguns” as defined,” Bodell wrote.
Bodell made the same findings of Exhibit 56, the KG-9, which only fired semi-automatically, too.
“With ATF Ruling 82-2, ATF identified the simplicity in converting the semiautomatic open-bolt KG-9-type firearms into machineguns and determined that open-bolt KG-9-type firearms are designed to shoot automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. Therefore, semiautomatic open-bolt KG-9-type firearms are “machineguns” as defined,” Bodell wrote.
In court
Bodell maintained his fiction even under oath in court. He repeatedly told the jury that he had classified the five exhibits as machineguns in his report. Bodell testified multiple times about how the five weapons would only fire semi-automatically, which caused Adamiak’s defense attorney to object.
Bodell maintained his fiction even under oath in court. He repeatedly told the jury that he had classified the five exhibits as machineguns in his report. Bodell testified multiple times about how the five weapons would only fire semi-automatically, which caused Adamiak’s defense attorney to object.
“The judge didn’t want to hear it as Bodell’s report was evidently enough for me to be penalized for the guns,” Adamiak explained. “My expert was standing by, but his testimony was blocked by ridiculous courthouse rules. This was just another example of the ATF’s and prosecutors over-reaching deception of the federal courts.”
Adamiak’s expert was a former ATF official who was baffled that the five firearms were even taken from his home. But his response to Bodell’s wild claims was unfortunately never heard by the jury.
“I flatly disagree. Although these models may be capable of modification to fire full-automatic, so is every multi-shot firearm ever made. Not to mention that every semi-automatic firearm is much easier to be modified as such. However, these models as manufactured, were NOT designed to fire full-auto, or they would do so when test fired. This is the same as the fact that every semi-auto AR-15 rifle can be modified to fire full-auto like an M16, but the difference is the way they left the factory is what determines their legal standing, not their capability to be made into something else. ATF’s Technology Division has adopted the absurd practice of opining things as what they are merely capable of upon modification, which is outside of the statutory definition,” the ATF expert wrote.
Takeaways
Adamiak is behind bars in a federal prison in New Jersey. He would likely be leading a special warfare platoon if the ATF hadn’t targeted him for no reason. Adamiak has around 18 years left of this 20-year sentence. He offered some advice for anyone who owns one of the rare, legal open-bolt semi-autos: Print out ATF Rule 82-8 and 82-2 and keep a copy with the guns.
Said Adamiak: “It is a sad day in America when a weaponized agency can come into your life and give you felonious penalties for legally owned items and conduct. I think all Americans that own items similar to these should be put on notice that the ATF is preying upon things that they just don’t like, looking for anyway to take your guns from you. I encourage anyone that owns open-bolt semi-autos to print out ATF’s rules and keep them with those guns at all times, so when the tyrants come, you can at least show them their own stance on your legal collectables before they steal them from you.”
To contribute to Adamiak’s legal fight go to Change.org.
The Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Journalism Project wouldn’t be possible without you. Click here to make a tax-deductible donation to support pro-gun stories like this.
The pink slips can’t be delivered quickly enough to many (if not most) federal workers. Reminds me need to finish up some training to have options for when NY figures out there isn’t money for a lot of the nonsense.
“employees” please. “workers” is statement of opinion from facts not able to be substantiated.
Lol ……I wish I could argue with you for my own sake but yeah there are a lot of jobs that have no real purpose. Eh worst case corrections again or ICE if I stay .gov
I strongly protest your assertion.
I spent years in the Department Of Redundancy Department. We all worked, everyday. Telenapping is no walk in the park.
He doesn’t need a pink slip. This agent should be serving the 20 years instead, plus the sentence of every other person he screwed over.
Terminate employment first, trust me on this one.
What an egregious case. I will pray for this man and his family.
“Bodell maintained his fiction even under oath in court. He repeatedly told the jury that he had classified the five exhibits as machineguns in his report. Bodell testified multiple times about how the five weapons would only fire semi-automatically, which caused Adamiak’s defense attorney to object.
Bodell maintained his fiction even under oath in court. He repeatedly told the jury that he had classified the five exhibits as machineguns in his report. Bodell testified multiple times about how the five weapons would only fire semi-automatically, which caused Adamiak’s defense attorney to object.
…
Bodell made the same findings of Exhibit 56, the KG-9, which only fired semi-automatically, too.
‘With ATF Ruling 82-2, ATF identified the simplicity in converting the semiautomatic open-bolt KG-9-type firearms into machineguns and determined that open-bolt KG-9-type firearms are designed to shoot automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. Therefore, semiautomatic open-bolt KG-9-type firearms are ‘machineguns’ as defined,’ Bodell wrote.
Bodell made the same findings of Exhibit 56, the KG-9, which only fired semi-automatically, too.
‘With ATF Ruling 82-2, ATF identified the simplicity in converting the semiautomatic open-bolt KG-9-type firearms into machineguns and determined that open-bolt KG-9-type firearms are designed to shoot automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. Therefore, semiautomatic open-bolt KG-9-type firearms are ‘machineguns’ as defined,’ Bodell wrote. ”
So you said these twice in the article, one right under the other, why? Is there a requirement on the space you have to fill in an article?
The part I don’t get is that if they fired semiautomatically but not fully automatically, how could they be classified as machine guns, which fire more than one round from a single action of the trigger? That makes no sense at all. If what he said was true, all semiauto firearms are machine guns. The other part I would like to know more about is why the judge barred his expert from testifying.
which part of open bolt…
“If what he said was true, all semiauto firearms are machine guns.”
There ya’ go; breaking the code.
here’s the condensed version: The ATF blatantly lied by using their self-granted ‘legislative authority’ to ‘contort interpret’ the law to suit their tyrannical desires.
open-bolt semi-autos are not illegal to own or posses.
Average sentence for murder: 12 years
Average sentence for rape: 6 years
Assault with intent to murder: 3 years
So clearly 20 years for possessing a shaped metal box and spring checks out.
Can fuck with everyone else but don’t you dare defy us.
Special peoples (BLM) burning and rioting in the streets: nothing
Well yes, those were government sanctioned.
Probably government SPONSORED, not just government sanctioned
No doubt. Zeldin reports that Biden’s EPA approved a $2B grant for a green energy slush fund that Stacey Abrams is associated with.
w ww.breitbart.com/politics/2025/02/20/extremely-concerning-epa-uncovers-2-billion-set-aside-for-climate-group-linked-to-stacey-abrams/
Anything goes.
Actually met Lee Zeldin at an event when he was running for governor here. May have preferred Guliani (son not Rudy) but he has a good head on his shoulders and far less RINO than the majority of NY Republicans. I forsee him doing a lot of harm to commies for years to come.
I don’t understand how this hasn’t already been thrown out on appeal, unless there is more to the story. But I can’t even imagine what that “more” might be.
It’s almost like the whole system is corrupt from the local level through the federal level.
Oh well, that doesn’t matter. What matters is that you support [law] enforcement to the hilt other wise [bad things] will happen and you’d be responsible, and therefore a bad person.
That is the longer term worry. I am hoping as things get cut down to more manageable and observable chunks that some of the resources freed up from obvious waste and corruption can then be used to ensure what is left is worth keeping and cut the parts that refuse to play nice.
Trump, apparently, wants to disband the IRS. I’m all for it. It’s a corrupt agency, a drag on productivity and, quite frankly, no one likes it anyway.
The income tax is stupid and should just go. Countries have had other, arguably far better, ways of obtaining necessary revenue for centuries and we should use those methods or develop some new ones. We should also avoid a VAT and, honestly, severely beat anyone who seriously suggests such a thing.
The biggest upshot of such a move is that it will force .gov to act in a way that, mostly, prevents inflation of the type we’ve seen for the past century. Gold bugs will be big mad, but… well if you didn’t realize you were hedging and though you were chasing returns… should have looked into what gold actually is before you bought a ton of it.
Come to think of it silver has been a good way of seeing how suppressed wages are. Especially when we still had it in play most low end jobs bottomed out around $1.25 (or troy ounces) an hour. But yes can do a lot more as a people when our means of making a living are not taxed to the point of discouragement right in the middle class.
Generally speaking, when taxes are not mostly a mechanism to try to control the inflation created by a fiat currency (something I’m not strictly against, just mostly against because of its history of abuse) you end up with a lot of wiggle room.
MMT in all its iterations is, well, insane. The end game is obvious before play even begins.
Regardless of that, the income tax also greatly discourages proper investment by taking a chunk of income that could be used for more targeted purposes that are more likely to succeed while also taking a chunk off the other end of any potential transactions before said transactions are even considered.
As Chris Rock noted; You don’t pay taxes, they take taxes. That’s not a payment, it’s a jack.
Paying taxes is completely voluntary. Just like paying protection money.
I’m pretty sure that’s called “extortion” if you or I do it.
After doing some brief research this appears to be ATF Agent Jeff Bodell. In the link provided below Jeff appears on a podcast to discuss a book he wrote called “The Warfighter’s Lounge: A Marine’s Experience of Combat in Marjah, Afghanistan He talks about his experience as a Marine and working as a Military Police Officer. Given his experience he may be the ATF agent is question.
https://youtu.be/lg10TT3F0WQ?si=Pe9UTiaZsGVMmw9w
Has anyone given this man’s name to Trump for a pardon?
That would require the guy to admit to being guilty of a not-crime.
Trump needs to instruct the DOJ to take actions to remedy this situation that do not involve such a thing.
“Trump needs to instruct the DOJ to take actions to remedy this situation…”
Unlikely Trump is even aware of this conbobulation. But, where are all the pro-gun organzations? Why are none sponsoring a funding drive to hire a criminal defense attorney to appeal the case? Why are none sponsoring a letter drive to Pam Bondi, demanding she step in, immediately. Looks to me to simply a case of, “Oh, well….”.
I’m sure he’s not aware of it. Making him aware of it is a great idea but we should ask for the correct remedy, not the buzzword remedy.
But, where are all the pro-gun organzations?
Good question. I often wonder how they decide their priorities. Sometimes it seems like the popularity of AR stuff on Reddit, changes with the wind for no reason.
I’d say whatever they want me to if I was offered a full pardon. Getting out of prison and having all rights reinstated is worth a press conference afterwards to say “I only claimed guilt to reclaim my freedom, I still maintain my innocence.”
But the actual conviction is not expunged.
The criminal conviction is not expunged, with all that implies.
The take away is the jury fucked up.
Jersey jury
Judged by a group of your peers.
Wouldn’t that mean 12 gun owners?
@strych9
“I’m pretty sure that’s called “extortion” if you or I do it.”
What’s the point of having power, if you can’t abuse it?
Smug self-satisfaction?
Nah. Not into consolation prizes. I want absolute power so I can rule over everyone, and everything.
“But the lust for power never dies- men cannot have enough.
No one will lift a hand to send it from his door, to give it warning, ‘Power, never come again!”
– Aeschylus, Greece 525-426 BC