barnbwt
member
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2011
- Messages
- 7,340
I've checked around here and elsewhere online, and I can't seem to find a good consenus on the "rules" of legal manufacture (or "smithing," I guess) of semi-automatic firearms. Specifically, I have dreams of one day making a semi-auto handgun.
I know one must follow rules when making any NFA items that ensure they are for "personal use" only; not selling them, first and foremost. But, since personal manufacture of machine guns is illegal, I assume the ATF would need to inspect/test or otherwise sign off on a semi-auto design stating it is not easily converted to FA.
What does this process look like? Does the ATF keep or destroy the guns being tested as part of this? Are they sworn to confidentiality if the design contains patentable elements, or will the design be available for any enterprising agent with a phone-camera? I have no plans to make a gun for sale, but if the design proves very successful, I would like the option to "fill out the paperwork" to pursue a business with my designs protected.
Most manufacture NFA topics I read about were related shortening things, putting foregrips on handguns, and (illegal by MG registry) FA conversions of currently SA firearms. The legality of finishing an original SA design from whole cloth doesn't seem to come up much (I wonder why there's no small scale firearms innovation in the US, anymore )
I figured I'd give the brain trust here a shot at answering this riddle Thanks!
TCB
I know one must follow rules when making any NFA items that ensure they are for "personal use" only; not selling them, first and foremost. But, since personal manufacture of machine guns is illegal, I assume the ATF would need to inspect/test or otherwise sign off on a semi-auto design stating it is not easily converted to FA.
What does this process look like? Does the ATF keep or destroy the guns being tested as part of this? Are they sworn to confidentiality if the design contains patentable elements, or will the design be available for any enterprising agent with a phone-camera? I have no plans to make a gun for sale, but if the design proves very successful, I would like the option to "fill out the paperwork" to pursue a business with my designs protected.
Most manufacture NFA topics I read about were related shortening things, putting foregrips on handguns, and (illegal by MG registry) FA conversions of currently SA firearms. The legality of finishing an original SA design from whole cloth doesn't seem to come up much (I wonder why there's no small scale firearms innovation in the US, anymore )
I figured I'd give the brain trust here a shot at answering this riddle Thanks!
TCB