Cutting the frame for a loading gate, and legality.

[hawg]

Uh.. you're going to have to show me where I said he has a letter. LOL.

My bad, You quoted him and keep bringing him up.

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

I can not imagine why the BATF would waste their time writing a letter to explain and point out that taking something that is not a firearm and modifying in a way that does NOT allow it to fire fixed ammunition has not created a firearm.
No reasonable person would interpret federal law to to say that it did.

 

[Zulch]

I must say, this has been a very interesting thread. One has to wonder if someone's ears are burning by now?

 

[grter]

I can not imagine why the BATF would waste their time writing a letter to explain and point out that taking something that is not a firearm and modifying in a way that does NOT allow it to fire fixed ammunition has not created a firearm.
No reasonable person would interpret federal law to to say that it did.

Who also happens to have in his/her possession and/or the same immediate premises a conversion cylinder that fits just perfectly into that gun which also happens to be made for that gun brought and paid for using a credit card would be icing on the cake. Nobody with common sense will believe whatever story you make up to explain that. It better be legal in your area of residence and if I were you I would not even screw around with the idea of sending it across state lines without paperwork. It's just like polymer 80 kits (and those were not even drilled/machined yet) all over again. Those who sold the kits most certainly knew what they were getting into as well as how to make money marketing and selling them. BATF did eventually get to it. It's like the old TV movie saying "one day, and that day may never come, you will be called on to......," If you want to take a stand in court know what you are getting into first.

Is it "shaky ground" for BATF yes it is and it's also shaky ground for the seller and buyer. Not every one wants to get caught up in grey areas of the law especially given the current anti-1st and 2nd amendment political leanings of both Democrats and trash double talking republican leaders (that translates most of them [Donald Trump included] despite what they tell you.)

Like I said this fiasco is my problem with conversion cylinders.

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

↑↑↑↑
That scenario has nothing to do with a groove in the C&B revolver frame.
A C&B revolver without the groove would fit into this scenario exactly the same as one with a groove.
Anything could happen in the future, but today a C&B revolver with or without a groove in the frame is still an antique firearm according to the feds.

 

[grter]

A cap and ball revolver with a conversion cylinder alone would fit into this scenario. The groove that you milled into the frame to make sliding bullets in easier along side with your cartridge cylinder is going to make a tighter case. Saying that you did it to make capping easier and they can ignore your slug cylinder, cache of bullets and everything else based on your good word is not going to make them say oh why didn't you so in the first place you can now take your gun and slug kit home with you and mail it wherever you like.

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

...The groove that you milled into the frame to make sliding bullets in easier along side with your cartridge cylinder is going to make a tighter case....

No it doesn't make a tighter case. (assuming the "case" is that a C&B revolver is no longer an antique firearm if there is a groove in the side of it)
The groove does not make "sliding bullets in easier" in a cap and ball revolver.
You can't slide bullets into a C&B cylinder with or without the groove so the groove is irrelevant.
If there is a conversion cylinder installed in the revolver then it is no longer and antique firearm because then it can fire fixed ammunition.
The fact that a groove makes "sliding bullets in easier" if the revolver is converted is also irrelevant.
Even without the groove, with a conversion cylinder installed, the revolver is no longer an antique firearm.
It makes no difference if one is to perceive loading to be easier or harder.
A converted C&B revolver that can fire fixed ammunition is no longer an antique firearm.