The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office is asking the county's permission to trade two Thompson machine guns from the 1920s for 88 rifles. (AP Photo/Winston-Salem Journal, Lauren Carroll)

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office is trying to trade two vintage machine guns from the 1920s to a gun store for 88 rifles for its officers.

Chief Deputy Brad Stanley (, a sidearm and a Taser.

Sheriff Bill Schatzman says the old machine guns were likely donated to the sheriff’s office by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. in the 1930s when the company stopped paying workers in cash.

Officials estimate the swap with Craig’s Firearm Supply is worth about $60,000.

County commissioners will vote on the trade next week.

 

Read Fox News in-depth coverage of the story here: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/01/08/sc-sheriff-swaps-bonnie-and-clyde-era-tommy-guns-for-new-arms/