possenti
November 21, 2003, 11:25 PM
I found a thread here similar to my question, but my problem is slightly different. All of this talk about installing a certain number of American-made parts in order to comply with the import ban and the AWB simply makes my eyes glaze over and nothing sinks in. I pray that the AWB sunsets next year, and all of this legal hand-wringing over cosmetics is no more.
Here is my situation:
I bought a MAK-90 last month from a private owner at a gun show. I have no idea when the rifle was manufactured or imported. I plan on making some modifications and adding a few features. I am a welder/fabricator with access to a machine shop, and I want to design and build many of the parts myself. Do these parts fall under the "American-made" clause?
1. The clumsy thumbhole stock must go. I'm replacing it with a handmade aluminum stock where the bottom of the pistol grip is permanently attached to the stock - a more "open" thumbhole design. It will be similar to the H&K USC Carbine stock. Any problems here?
2. The forearm will be longer than the original wooden furniture, and made from molded synthetic material - similar to the VEPR(II) rifles. Also, I want to add a (detachable?) MP5-style vertical grip. Does this violate some type of law?
3. Adding a flash-hider/muzzle brake. The design I'm considering is the "slant-type" with 3 vertical slots in each side. It will either be set-screwed on or spotted to the muzzle. This is one of my most doubtful requests.
That's pretty much what concerns me the most. I have no plans to add a bayonet, or anything else that's questionable.
I bought this rifle with the intent to "trick" it out, but the more ideas I had for it, the more I felt I was treading into unfamiliar legal territory. I'm unsure about all of the red tape, because the few other AW's I own are "grandfathered" in. Hopefully, these 3 items will pass the fed test, and I can get on with the project.
I've done this type of work to guns before with very good results. I'll post some pictures with captions here when I'm done - pending legal advice from more informed people than I.
Here is my situation:
I bought a MAK-90 last month from a private owner at a gun show. I have no idea when the rifle was manufactured or imported. I plan on making some modifications and adding a few features. I am a welder/fabricator with access to a machine shop, and I want to design and build many of the parts myself. Do these parts fall under the "American-made" clause?
1. The clumsy thumbhole stock must go. I'm replacing it with a handmade aluminum stock where the bottom of the pistol grip is permanently attached to the stock - a more "open" thumbhole design. It will be similar to the H&K USC Carbine stock. Any problems here?
2. The forearm will be longer than the original wooden furniture, and made from molded synthetic material - similar to the VEPR(II) rifles. Also, I want to add a (detachable?) MP5-style vertical grip. Does this violate some type of law?
3. Adding a flash-hider/muzzle brake. The design I'm considering is the "slant-type" with 3 vertical slots in each side. It will either be set-screwed on or spotted to the muzzle. This is one of my most doubtful requests.
That's pretty much what concerns me the most. I have no plans to add a bayonet, or anything else that's questionable.
I bought this rifle with the intent to "trick" it out, but the more ideas I had for it, the more I felt I was treading into unfamiliar legal territory. I'm unsure about all of the red tape, because the few other AW's I own are "grandfathered" in. Hopefully, these 3 items will pass the fed test, and I can get on with the project.
I've done this type of work to guns before with very good results. I'll post some pictures with captions here when I'm done - pending legal advice from more informed people than I.