AOW or not? AK pistol with folding FOWARD pistol grip...

[cpileri]

Given a factory stock welded-mag AK pistol, as seen at Urban Armory and others, would adding a folding FOWARD pistol grip to it (such as sold by TDI) make it an AOW?

It seems so, but I read that there have been court interpretations that specify the pistol 'as originally designed' must have a foward PG to be an AOW and therefore the aftermarket ones don't make it a NFA violation.

Any legal eagles know?

C-

 

[MrAcheson]

I could be wrong, but pistols cannot have fore-grips or you start running into trouble with the law. All the AR pistols I have seen lack anything around the barrel up front, same with the MP5 pistol derivatives.

I would also be willing to bet that adding a component aftermarket will not get you around the law. It will instead get you in more trouble for illegally possessing and manufacturing an AOW.

 

[Hkmp5sd]

Adding a vertical foregrip to a pistol, regardless of who did it, turns it into an AOW.

but pistols cannot have fore-grips

That comes from the assault weapons ban. When it goes away, newly manufactured pistols can have a horizontal foregrip.

 

[boofus]

No you can't put 2 grips on a pistol without the ATF paperwork. You CAN get a folding stock AK after Sept and stick another grip on the front though. Even if you keep the stock folded on the AK all the time it still counts as a rifle so it is ok to put the forward grip on it. Weird how the law works isn't it?

 

[Hkmp5sd]

You CAN get a folding stock AK after Sept and stick another grip on the front though.

Adding that to his AK pistol creates a SBR.

 

[boofus]

Well I meant a legal title 1 folding stock AK rifle.

 

[ctdonath]

There is some confusion over whether it applies to forward vertical grips which are easily removed. A permanent (ex.: welded) second grip makes it an AOW and does require paperwork & tax; not so sure about a screw-on grip (ex.: attached to an AR accessory rail).

I suggest you send a letter to the BATF on this one.

 

[cpileri]

running the serial number?

running the serial number?

Is there a way to check to make CERTAIN that this particular type of pistol, or any one really, but this one being so visibly curious, actually IS made with a pistol receiver?

There must be or else the FFL holders wouldn't sell them. But I want the paper in my hand.

Thanks!
C-

 

[Hkmp5sd]

Contact the manufacturer and/or importer and ask them to check the serial number and see how the firearm was classified in their records when made or imported, handgun or rifle.

 

[cpileri]

tried

Manufacturer (Hesse) cannot be contacted directly.

But there must be a way to check, right?

Otherwise how would the atf know?

C-

 

[Hkmp5sd]

How indeed!

Since you are buying from an FFL, just make sure the receipt lists the serial number and calls it a handgun/pistol. If by some fluke someone later on figures out it used to be a rifle, you're covered. The most they can do is declare it contriband and confiscate it.

 

[cane]

Now I'm confused, I have a 14" barreled Thompson Center Contender, with a pistol grip type fore end. I used this for long range pistol shooting, is this a SBR/AOW?

 

[cpileri]

mmmmm... yeahhh....welllllll......

there's gotta be a better way. More definitive.

C-