(CA) What is an AK receiver?

[carp killer]

I have an associate (of course) who is thinking of switching out the front end on an AK-74. This means everything, including the trunion, which has the serial number of the registered gun. The receiver has NO serial number. It is just a bent piece of sheet metal with some holes in it. Since the AW is already registered with the DOJ and the serial number of the front trunion will be different than the other parts (bolt, bolt carrier, ect). Would the gun be a new, unregistered AW? Or is the sheet metal that NEVER had a serial number really the registered part?

 

[Zach S]

Im no expert, but from what I understand the part that has the serial number stamnped into it is considered the firearm. Which would be the trunion of your AK, an AR lower, my thompson upper, ect.

I could be wrong though, the G19 rental at the range has the serial number stamped into the frame, slide, and barrel IIRC...

 

[Victor Romen]

A serialized part is not necessarily the receiver. Bolts, bolt carriers, lower receivers (and upper receivers), barrels, trunnions and other parts are commonly serialized so that they match the receivers (“matching numbersâ€). The receiver is usually defined as the part that houses the operating parts of the firearm. This varies from firearm to firearm though. The AR has two distinct halves and both house operating parts. In the case of the AR-15/M-16 the lower receiver is the controlled part (and also typically the only serialized part of the rifle). On the FAL the upper receiver is considered the firearm. This is the receiver (and controlled part) of the AK series:
http://www.buymilitaria.com/ak_images/AKRECEIVERSTAMPED.jpg
You can see the trigger guard. The barrel trunnion mounts to the right hand side of the picture and the stock would be on the left hand side.

Typically the lower grip frame of a semi auto handgun (like a Glock or 1911) is considered the receiver and thus the controlled item. Parts other then the actual receivers are typically numbered to aid in identification (“this goes to this gun†when dealing with large amounts of the same firearm) and also to possibly prevent tampering.

I’m no lawyer, but in your friends case the unserialized piece of metal that holds everything together is still the receiver. Especially under CA law, which if I am not mistaken has banned the receiver out right (as opposed to the features the weapon possess). I have no idea what his options might be to rectify this situation. Any idea where he bought the AK or did he build it up himself from a receiver flat?

Hope that helps and makes sense (it’s late).

 

[AJ Dual]

Per current ATF regs on AK's the "bent sheetmetal box" is the reciever.

IIRC, the trunion and reciever were at one time either considered one part by the ATF in the past, or the trunion number was acceptable as the S/N for some imported AK's for awhile, but now it's the actual reciever sheet-metal box that requires FFL to transfer and is considrered the "firearm" by the agency. The trunion is just a "part" like the barrel or sights, and is unrestricted, at least federally.

Now I have no idea what California requires. Without knoing that, and if you want an opinion anyway, here's what I'd do: I'd stamp the reciever with whatever serial number it was purchased under and registered with. (I'd also check the reciever carefully, it might have an S/N you haven't found yet, especially underneath...) and stamp the new trunion with the same number if it truly is blank. If the trunion has it's own S/N, then the new trunion number just becomes the trunion's part number, not the whole firearms serial number.

I'd then destroy the old trunion by cutting it into 3 or more pieces, leaving the S/N stamping as intact as possible, and keep the chunks in an envelope with your other gun paperwork.

I will state again, I have no idea if that's "legal", but it provides a paper-trail that you had no intent to "create" an unseralized firearm, obliterate a serial number, or another "new" one, and tried to do right.