Got a response from the BATF.

[scythefwd]

Back in August, I emailed the ATF about a SKS I was looking at that had the bayonet lug ground off. I was leery because I thought that might be enough of a departure from the stock configuration to run amok with 922R. Here is my email, with certain personal data deleted and the ATF's response. Just to clarify things a tiny bit in very muddy waters.

"Thank you for contacting the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and
Explosives. As you describe it the firearm is in legal configuration.

ATF - Office of Enforcement Programs and Services

-----Original Message-----
From: scythefwd*
Sent: Monday, August 31, 2009 3:17 PM
To: EPS Directorate
Subject: Question about the legality of the configuration of a SKS.

To whom it applies,
I am looking to purchase a Chinese surplus SKS. This rifle is of
undetermined age, has the orginal fixed 10 round magazine, standard
iron sights, and is all original including the stock(all serial
numbers match). It is not a Norinco, but from the markings on it, it
looks to be an actual military surplus firearm. It was imported by
KFS ATL.GA. It appears the the bayonet lug has been ground off. Does
this firearm still comply with regulations applicable to it. For
instance, in this configuration, would it be importable now? If it
isn't importable in it's current configuration, would replacing the
ground off lug with an original Chinese bayonet lug get it back into
compliance.

Thank you for your time,
scythefwd*
-----------------------------------------
*******

NOTICE: This electronic transmission is confidential and intended
only for the person(s) to whom it is addressed. If you have
received this transmission in error, please notify the sender by
return e-mail and destroy this message in its entirety (including
all attachments)."

*=changed data

 

[nalioth]

Did the response get or something?

 

[scythefwd]

"Thank you for contacting the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and
Explosives. As you describe it the firearm is in legal configuration.

ATF - Office of Enforcement Programs and Services


Nalioth - that is the whole response. I didn't have the headers turned on so they didn't get copied. What is in quotes is what is sitting in my mail box right now.

 

[Oro]

I believe this is so because the importers got BATF permission to do this Otherwise the guns could not be sold in some jurisdictions with the lug still on it or with the bayonet still attached. I have heard this on the SKS boards and seen many SKS's being sold from distributors in this fashion, and with the bayonets removed and then the lug ground off.

 

[scythefwd]

Oro, I wasn't sure as I know the person that ground off the lug. It was imported before ban with the bayo still on it, so I wasn't sure. I don't see many sks's here except for the new cherries yugo sks's with bayos.

 

[nalioth]

Nalioth - that is the whole response. I didn't have the headers turned on so they didn't get copied. What is in quotes is what is sitting in my mail box right now.

My bad, the way you laid out your post was confusing to me.

 

[scythefwd]

No problem, I understand the confusion.