My grandfather was discharged from the Navy in 1946, and before re-enlisting, managed to get his Mauser, BAR, and 2 1911's back to the States. (My how times have changed).
Unfortunately, the BAR was sold when he needed some money after my father was born (damn)

The 2 1911's were stolen in the 1950's from a break in. (Double Damn)

The Mauser which was taken to my Aunt Edith's (his sister's house), along with a Ward's Western Field bolt action .410, thankfully made it to me. (Thank God.)
Could have also been in a WW2 vets home that died. Its not uncommon to hear of some one finding a WW2 era Machine gun in a vets home. The sad part is, your only real legal choice that has a chance to not be destoryed is to give it to a LE agency.
Uh,...That's a big negative Ghost Rider,........Keep it in the Family....we have Zombies now,... and their coming....