Home Engraving?

[Swing]

Hey pals. Form 1ing NFA goodies can be fun. Question: has anyone done the metal engraving part at home? How did it turn out? What tools did you use? Thanx!

 

[Elkins45]

I've done both of my SBR's myself. I used a Dremel engraving bit for one and a handheld electric engraver for the other. In both cases I printed my info onto a stick on label and then engraved thru it instead of just doing it freehand. The end result was perfectly acceptable to me, and more importantly they meet the ATF requirements.

 

[jmorris]

I have a CNC mill that works great for engraving.

 

[plodder]

I do my suppressors and SBRs with a vibro engraver. Print the info on a self sticking address label, stick it on the firearm & trace away.

Looks like crap but works for me.
After all, it's not like there's any resale value in a Form 1 suppressor. You're going to die owning the ones you have. As for the SBRs; I engrave the barrels. The lower retains it's pristine and remarketable original markings.

 

[Ryanxia]

As for the SBRs; I engrave the barrels. The lower retains it's pristine and remarketable original markings.

I guess depends on the lower but to me, $200 barrel vs $60 lower is no brainer which one to 'deface'. Plus being able to swap between my 6.5" upper and 10.5" upper is nice.

To the OP: Aside from the depth there aren't any size requirements for the engraving of the name so to me I like having it pretty small which I know I couldn't do by hand. (Not so small you couldn't read but that it doesn't stick out)

 

[plodder]

Quote from Ryanxia:

to the OP: Aside from the depth there aren't any size requirements for the engraving of the name

I'm pretty sure the BATFE regs specifically state at least .003 (three thousandths of an inch) deep and 1/16" in height, but I'm digging for chapter & verse. I was wrong once before in my life, that time when I thought I'd made a mistake.

 

[ScottS]

Quote from Ryanxia:


I'm pretty sure the BATFE regs specifically state at least .003 (three thousandths of an inch) deep and 1/16" in height, but I'm digging for chapter & verse. I was wrong once before in my life, that time when I thought I'd made a mistake.

This makes twice, then. This has been beat to death, or so I thought.

The 1/6" requirement is for the serial number only.

Here's Chapter, and Verse, brought to you by the ATF Handbook and 27 CFR 479.102:

Section 7.4 The identification of firearms.
7.4.1 Serial numbers. Each manufacturer of a firearm must legibly identify it by engraving, stamping
(impressing), or otherwise conspicuously placing on the firearm’s frame or receiver an individual serial
number not duplicating any serial number placed by the manufacturer on any other firearm. The
requirement that the marking be “conspicuously” placed on the firearm means that the marking must be
wholly unobstructed from plain view. For firearms manufactured on or after January 30, 2002, the serial
number must be to a minimum depth of .003 inch and in a print size no smaller than 1/16 inch.

7.4.1.1 What is an acceptable serial number? Alpha characters (letters), for example a name,
are not acceptable as a serial number. A proper serial number may contain such characters or
letters, but it must have at least one numeric character (number). ATF takes the view that
marking “legibly” means using exclusively Roman letters (A, B, C, and so forth) and Arabic
numerals (1, 2, 3, and so forth). Deviations from this requirement have been found to
seriously impair ATF’s ability to trace firearms involved in crime.

7.4.2 Additional information. Certain additional information must also be conspicuously placed on
the frame, receiver, or barrel of the firearm by engraving, casting, stamping (impressing), that is, they
must be placed in such a manner that they are wholly unobstructed from plain view. For firearms
manufactured on or after January 30, 2002, this information must be to a minimum depth of .003 inch.
The additional information includes:

(1) The model, if such designation has been made;
(2) The caliber or gauge;
(3) The manufacturer’s name (or recognized abbreviation); and
(4) The city and State (or recognized abbreviation) where the manufacturer maintains its place of business.

 

[plodder]

Quote from ScottS:

This makes twice, then.

Can I at least plead "technically correct", since my Form 1 silencers each have serial numbers that must be 1/16" height?

 

[ScottS]

Well, your quote was specifically about the name, so...

But, on the bright side, only twice isn't bad.