Ethics question?

[dfariswheel]

"IIRC working on the gun wasn't the problem.
It was the length that the barrel was cut to, under 18"."

No, it was actually that the overall length was less than the Federal minimum of 26". Weaver cut the wooden stock down by 3/8" too much and the gun was 3/8" of an inch under 26".

Weavers lawyer, Gerry Spense, stood up in front of the jury, held up the gun and told them that 3 people were dead over a few pennies worth of cheap foreign wood.
The jury found Weaver not guilty on the gun charge.

 

[1911Tuner]

While the your post is correct for a dealer, what Z71 is engaged in is clearly not what is defined as a "Dealer in Firearms",

And the burden of proof lies not with the ATF, but with the alleged "Hobby Gunsmith" in question. While a conviction may not be the end result...such a situation can truly wreck your day and cost upwards of 15-20 large to fight it. Like the IRS...conflicts with the BATFE is best avoided.

I can refinish a stock on my father's gun for him legally,

Trades...sales...gunsmithing, etc between son-father/father-son aren't subject to the letter of the law here, assuming that neither is otherwise legally barred from the possession and/or ownership of a firearm.
Besides...The stock isn't defined as a firearm according to ATF guidelines.

 

[Jim Watson]

"And the burden of proof lies not with the ATF, but with the alleged "Hobby Gunsmith" in question. While a conviction may not be the end result...such a situation can truly wreck your day and cost upwards of 15-20 large to fight it. Like the IRS...conflicts with the BATFE is best avoided."

Agreed. Any large government agency has effectively unlimited power to hassle you if they want to. You might win... broke. The US does not have loser pays court decisions.