Hmmm...
It's interesting to note that it was the FFL who called in the BATF. Understandable, if he didn't realize what he was dealing with and didn't have the experience to understand and verify that something that was stamped "machine gun" was semi-auto only. Any legitimate FFL would not want to be caught up in illegal firearms transactions.
Considering that I would have told the FFL what to expect in such a transaction, I would have expected him to voice any concerns with me personally, so that things could have been straightened out as part of a professional relationship with a customer. But not knowing me from Adam, this may be a stretch. Certainly he wouldn't want to get involved with a possible disagreement/altercation with a criminal.
That said, once the BATF is done and they've cleared the 1919 as a legal, semi-auto only weapon, this should be the end of it.
HOWEVER, I simply cannot believe that they will not provide you with documentation of their investigation. Most especially since they have questioned you about it. If they had done all this "in the background", with you having never known anything about it, then fine. This is because you have yet to take possession of the firearm...it's not yours yet. But they have questioned you about this and that brings you into the picture.
I would talk to an attorney about this...and don't put it off. Some might say "this isn't an official investigation", but that's semantics. They ARE investigating. Even if everything is on the up-and-up, you likely have every right to have that documentation in writing. So get an attorney and pursue that.
As for the questions about the pistols, as an unrelated subject with respect to their investigation...the BATF absolutely should know that all appropriate paperwork was filed. That's part of the documentation they most certainly would have reviewed. If so, then they had absolutely no business questioning an legitimate, legal transaction unless they were looking for something else.
Now, some people like to use that line "if you have nothing to hide..."
Rest assured, even if you don't have anything to hide you have every right, and a responsibility to yourself, to politely refuse to answer any such questions.
Why?
Because, contrary to popular belief, criminal investigators aren't looking to clear an individual of a crime. They're looking to find any evidence of a crime, period. If you say the wrong thing, even innocently, that remark will become part of an official record and will start a world of hurt for you.
Because these BATF officials should have already KNOWN you had made a legal multiple handgun purchase through their access of the records documenting that fact, you should immediately contact an attorney.
Now, because we all know that things like this are documented in official records somewhere, you need to do the smart thing yourself: document it in your own official records. Make it part of all the official paperwork you should be keeping anyway. Years down the road, if something should ever come up, you will have this. Another reason to have a copy of what the BATF is doing.
I'm not saying you're in trouble. Very likely you are not based on what you've presented here. However, it would be somewhat less than smart for you NOT to contact an attorney and discuss this.
If cost is a concern, then know that most attorneys offer a free one hour consultation in which they will hear your concerns and let you know what they can do to help and what it will cost. Most attorneys will work with you on payments, too. Since this doesn't actually involve any criminal charges or whatnot, then likely the expense will be fairly minimal...just payment for straight up legal advice and such.
All this said, realize that I am NOT an attorney. However, I've had a wee bit of experience with the judicial system (civilian and military) because I had the rather unpleasant experience of having married a demon-spawn for a first wife. What I encountered because of that has been very revealing. As have the discussions I've had over the years with various attorneys and law enforcement people in conversations on a variety of other unrelated topics.
If you are questioned by any criminal or law enforcement agency, you are part of an investigation. The purpose of said questioning is to find evidence of criminal activity, whether you are an official suspect or not.
