I found a wondrous place!

[JellyJar]

To make a long story short I needed to drift the rear sight on my EMP 40 to get it to hit to point of aim. For some reason Springfield makes it very hard to drift their rear sights. After buying a sight pusher that didn't work and bending a brass punch trying to get the sight to move I looked up gunsmiths on Yellowpages.com for my area. Doing so I found the number of a gunsmith in a little town south of where I live. His place is about a half mile east of the railroad tracks on county road 20 east of the little Alabama town of Spruce Pine.

The owner, Fred, and a friend were there and he was able to get my rear sight to move. He showed me the sight pusher he used and it was massive. After getting my sight to move I gave him ten dollars in gratitude.

I don't know his complete story but I did find this out. He is retired and no longer has an FFL so he does not sell firearms any more. However, he does still do a small amount of gunsmithing but only as a hobby. Apparently he does not need or perhaps even want any more money but he was kind enough to help me out.

It was a wondrous place for a firearms buff like me! I was struck by the amount of old stock he still had in his place. I saw dozens of rifle stocks, forearms and butstocks all over the place as well as numerous rifle and shotgun barrels. I did see a few rifles and shotguns but apparently they were guns he was working on for his friends. There was a pegboard display that still had all sorts of little parts in little plastic bags hanging from hooks on it. I saw bags if various sorts and lots of boxes with who knows what inside. There is no telling what all he has in the back where I could not see!

It occurred to me that if someone on this board needed a new wood rifle stock or other small part or accessory that this might be a good place to check out for hard to find old stuff. To that end here is his address and telephone number:

Fred's Gun Repair
Country Road 20 E St Country Road, Spruce Pine, Al, 35585
256-332-4461

Should you decide to contact him please remember that he is retired and may not be there at all times. He has no regular business hours anymore. He probably does not want to work too hard anymore either.

 

[writerinmo]

I was under the impression that even to just work on firearms you needed to keep a current FFL01... correct me if I am wrong please?

 

[Mac's Precision]

You are correct. FFL required to do gunsmithing for profit. Further it is required if you are taking in firearms to be held in your custody over night.

Cheers
Mac.

 

[Coolbreeze8804]

You are correct. FFL required to do gunsmithing for profit. Further it is required if you are taking in firearms to be held in your custody over night.

Hey Mac. I am NOT questioning the veracity of your knowledge, I am simply hoping you are wrong, or that there are helpful details. I have a buddy... We know of the prohibition against gunsmithing for profit, and he doesn't charge, (ever), but what are the specifics about working on stuff for free, but they stay overnight...

 

[JellyJar]

For the record the part he worked on was the slide which does not have the serial number and he did it as I waited. Therefor he does not need a license for that.

 

[CYANIDEGENOCIDE]

You paid, it's for profit, hence the need for FFL. I am not sure of the technicalities of slide versus serial numbered receiver but the question one would need to ask is how much do you trust the ATF

 

[bigfatdave]

You should either move this or make a summary thread over in the "rate retail and private transactions" section.

Sounds like you went to a hobbyist who was helpful, let's not get hung up on the licensing requirements for working on privately-owned gadgetry ... it implies that such worthless laws and agencies might be legitimate.

 

[Mac's Precision]

In reality the ATF does regulate based on if you are acting as a "business". If you are compensated for your work, in any way you are a business. IF you are serving "customers" at your "shop" on a regular basis and keeping others firearms on site you could be defined as a gunsmith. Should the volumes of other people's guns be large enough it would become questionable if the volume of your work could be anything other than a business.

IF you are doing work for others in exchange for compensation that is by definition "gunsmithing business" you are by definition a "gunsmith" and would have to be licensed as such.

YOU may work on YOUR guns all you like as long as you assume responsibility for any dangerous incident they may cause . You may work on your buddies guns all you want for FREE as long as you understand you may be held liable if there is an injury stemming from your work. A word of warning though, YOU may find yourself without home owner's insurance and in violation of county zoning ordnances if they catch you operating a "high volume hobby" that resembles a business.

Is your buddy going to get busted for having 3 or 4 old rifles on hand to fix?..no...probably not. Is he going to get in trouble having 30 guns on site leaning against every corner of his shop...with 3-4 people coming and going every other day...getting scopes installed..triggers adjusted? Probably. If his "customers" pay him with a 12 pack of beer ...or a carton of smokes or cash "under the table"...it is only a matter of time before the ATF, county zoning enforcement and the department of revenue will be annoyed with his "not for profit hobby". IF he has business cards stuck to cork boards at the ranges and the local mom and pop store trying to get work. He has an issue.

If it is genuinely a low key hobby, with no aspects that resemble a business he is probably okay. If it doesn't alter volumes of traffic in the neighbor hood with customers or UPS shipments he is probably okay. If it is just a couple guns here and there...fine.

Should the "hobby" progress to having a significant number of other folks guns on site..then get licensed. Get insured, and zoned. One doesn't need to get his hand spanked for a "hobby" that LOOKS like a business. Free lance gunsmithing CAN get you in a heap of trouble should something go wrong. Even if the job was not PAID for...and someone gets injured or there is property damage that can be a result of your work... You will lose everything you have. IF you could be named as the "Gunsmith" that worked on my rifle...and now my brother is dead because it went off..you can be sued if not charged with reckless endangerment should there be proof that you made the gun unsafe. Keep in mind that ignorance is no defense. You can't say...I didn't know it would do that.....

If you are going to be actively working in an industry that is regulated on the business level....you had best be careful. Not having the blessing of the City, State, and Feds as well as proper insurance is risking a lot.

Below are the regs from the ATF.




I. GUNSMITHS
(I1) Is a license needed to engage
in the business of engraving, customizing,
refinishing or repairing
firearms?

Yes. A person conducting such activities
as a business is considered to
be a gunsmith within the definition of
a dealer. See Item 16, “Federal Excise
Tax” in the General Information
section of this publication.
[27 CFR 478.11]

(I2) Does a gunsmith need to enter
in a permanent "bound book" record
every firearm received for
adjustment or repair?

If a firearm is brought in for repairs
and the owner waits while it is being
repaired or if the gunsmith is able to
return the firearm to the owner during
the same business day, it is not necessary
to list the firearm in the “bound
book” as an "acquisition." If the gunsmith
has possession of the firearm
from one business day to another or
longer, the firearm must be recorded
as an “acquisition” and a “disposition”
in the permanent "bound book" record.

 

[yeti]

Odds are 'Fred' still has his license but upon his retirement it conveniently 'is expired,' or not, depending on how interested he his about any given project.

If he was in business long enough to retire and keep a well stocked shop he probably has a good grasp of the legal requirements. Saying he no longer had his FFL lets him be very choosy and only work as much as he wants.

 

[WC145]

Good effort JellyJar but it looks like an "edit" is in order. An admirable effort, but Fred may be better served to be left off the radar.
Nice work whistle blowers.

 

[Coolbreeze8804]

Looks like Bob is in good shape though, he only fixes our guns, (small shooting group of four), so I think it would be a Loooooong stretch to say he's in business. I think I actually have more of his guns at my house than he does of mine at his place...

 

[danprkr]

Sounds like you went to a hobbyist who was helpful, let's not get hung up on the licensing requirements for working on privately-owned gadgetry ... it implies that such worthless laws and agencies might be legitimate.

Well said!

 

[NavyLCDR]

To everyone who is WRONGLY saying this guy needs an FFL to do what he is doing, I would point you to 18 USC 921 (a)(21) posted below. An FFL is required for those persons "engaged in the business of" manufacturing, dealing, etc. Look at every definition of the categories of "engaged in the business of" below in the Federal statute. What is common to them all? "with the principal objective of livelihood and profit".

This is a retired guy doing a little side work out of his garage. It is even allowed for him to make profit from his side work. It is even allowed for C&R license holders to make profit due to their buying and selling from their collections. The key words are LIVELIHOOD AND. Both livelihood AND profit are required to be considered "engaged in the business of". If this guy quit working on guns tomorrow would he be able to pay his bills? YES. Is livelihood his principal objective in working on guns? NO.

Take off your tin foil hats and give the guy all the business you can and pay him what he willing to accept.

And keeping guns overnight has nothing to do with it either.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/usc_sec_18_00000921----000-.html

(a) As used in this chapter—
(21) The term “engaged in the business” means—

(A) as applied to a manufacturer of firearms, a person who devotes time, attention, and labor to manufacturing firearms as a regular course of trade or business with the principal objective of livelihood and profit through the sale or distribution of the firearms manufactured;

(B) as applied to a manufacturer of ammunition, a person who devotes time, attention, and labor to manufacturing ammunition as a regular course of trade or business with the principal objective of livelihood and profit through the sale or distribution of the ammunition manufactured;

(C) as applied to a dealer in firearms, as defined in section 921 (a)(11)(A), a person who devotes time, attention, and labor to dealing in firearms as a regular course of trade or business with the principal objective of livelihood and profit through the repetitive purchase and resale of firearms, but such term shall not include a person who makes occasional sales, exchanges, or purchases of firearms for the enhancement of a personal collection or for a hobby, or who sells all or part of his personal collection of firearms;

(D) as applied to a dealer in firearms, as defined in section 921 (a)(11)(B), a person who devotes time, attention, and labor to engaging in such activity as a regular course of trade or business with the principal objective of livelihood and profit, but such term shall not include a person who makes occasional repairs of firearms, or who occasionally fits special barrels, stocks, or trigger mechanisms to firearms;

(E) as applied to an importer of firearms, a person who devotes time, attention, and labor to importing firearms as a regular course of trade or business with the principal objective of livelihood and profit through the sale or distribution of the firearms imported; and

(F) as applied to an importer of ammunition, a person who devotes time, attention, and labor to importing ammunition as a regular course of trade or business with the principal objective of livelihood and profit through the sale or distribution of the ammunition imported.

 

[writerinmo]

If he presents himself as a business, which by the posting of his address containing the words "gun repair" then he indeed is bound by applicable laws. Whether he makes a profit or it's his only source of income has diddly to do with it... businesses end up in the red every year but they are still bound by whatever regulations cover their industry.

Bottom line is, if you charge anybody anything for doing it, whether it be cash or goods, then you are "in business".

 

[bigfatdave]

Bottom line is, if you charge anybody anything for doing it, whether it be cash or goods, then you are "in business".

OK, let's pretend I agree.

So what? Why should it matter?

 

[chuckles]

There you have it Jellyjar. Welcome to America, where no good deed goes unpunished or untaxed.

 

[NavyLCDR]

Bottom line is, if you charge anybody anything for doing it, whether it be cash or goods, then you are "in business".

The ATF disagrees with you:
http://www.atf.gov/publications/download/p/atf-p-5300-4.pdf

Page 165:

Reloading of used shells or cartridges is considered manufacturing for purposes of excise tax. Sale of such shells by the reloader is subject to the excise tax. However, if the reloader merely reloads shells belonging to a customer and is paid for labor and materials, the reloading service is not a taxable sale, as long as the reloader returns the identical shells provided by the customer to that same customer. In such instances the customer is the manufacturer and would not be liable for tax if the shells are manufactured for personal use. If the customer sells reloaded shells or uses them in a business, e.g., shooting range, the customer would be liable for the tax.

Notice, the above opinion, directly from the ATF, says that a reloader can be paid for their LABOR as well as materials and NOT be engaged in a business that requires taxes to be paid, and, therefore, does NOT require a license to engage in. Granted, the above specifically applies to reloading, but it would apply exactly the same to hobbyist gunsmiths.

I have shown you statutes and ATF opinions to back up my position. I would challenge you to produce anything from a regulatory agency or statute to back up yours.

businesses end up in the red every year but they are still bound by whatever regulations cover their industry.

You are correct. Why? Because of the statutory definition of "engaged in business" which I have already posted:

"with the principal objective of livelihood and profit"

The statute does not state that a business has to succeed in their principal objective. Fred's principal objective is NOT livelihood and profit. His principal objective is to do something that he enjoys doing and is good at - otherwise known as a HOBBY! If he makes money from his hobby, that is perfectly acceptable and legal, WITHOUT a license!

If this whole business of advertising makes a business were true, than all the garage sales and people selling on ebay would require a business license.

My FFL charges me a six pack of beer for a transfer - gee, I hope I am not distributing alcohol with a license!

 

[writerinmo]

Reloading has no correlation with gunsmithing any more than selling a scope has to do with reloading. Since the ATF has obviously felt fit to have separate sections dealing with both of them, I tend to agree with them. The section on reloading doesn't address gunsmithing, and vice versa. Would you research divorce laws before going to trial for DUI? I hope not, but feel free to go on ahead. Plus your statement ONLY applies if the reloader is reloading a customer's own shells, if he buys from another source to load and resell he is required to have a license from the ATF

And if you are using alcohol as a form of payment, then yep... you guessed it...

Just keep on telling yourself that if he is making money at it then it's not a business, especially if he has his shingle out... maybe after a time you'll convince yourself that you're right. If it's a hobby, then he won't have a sign out, or be listed in any sort of BUSINESS advertising... as the OP said, he FOUND HIM ON YELLOWPAGES.COM... guess what is listed on those pages... BUSINESSES!

And LT, you can NOT be engaged in business with a C&R either... maybe you need to spend a bit more time reading those regs in depth and maybe have a talk or two with a rep... while you can sell (and obviously buy) qualified firearms using your C&R, it is NOT a business license to do so. But then, if you don't understand what makes a business a business, I wouldn't expect one to understand that either.

 

[NavyLCDR]

Like I said, writerinmo, you have yet to post a statute or ATF opinion to back your claims.

 

[bigfatdave]

writerinmo is there an actual ethical basis to your argument, or are you just concerned with the silliness from the ATF?

Because I'm not seeing a moral or ethical issue here, and the ATF's regs are obviously in a grey area ... so who cares? Let them make rational and constitutional laws and then you might get more interest.

 

[writerinmo]

YOU posted them, LT... sorry if you can't understand them. Obviously the guy is in business or else he wouldn't be listed in the yellowpages.

For your regs, since you seem unable or unwilling to use Google, read 27 CFR 478.11, that should pretty well cover it. From the ATF website, FAQ:Q: Is a license needed to engage in the business of engraving, customizing, refinishing or repairing firearms?

Yes. A person conducting such activities as a business is considered to be a gunsmith within the definition of a dealer.

[27 CFR 478.11]Dealer. Any person engaged in the business of selling firearms at wholesale or retail; any person engaged in the business of repairing firearms or of making or fitting special barrels, stocks, or trigger mechanisms to firearms; or any person who is a pawnbroker. The term shall include any person who engages in such business or occupation on a part-time basis.

Read more: http://cfr.vlex.com/vid/11-meaning-terms-19675251#ixzz12eQymGeC


dave, I fail to see where ATF regs are a gray area, they seem pretty concise to me. So if one person decides it's ok to operate outside of the rules, I guess you agree that it's ok for everyone to do whatever they want, however they want. I don't see why you want to throw "moral or ethical" into it, since we were discussing more the "legal" aspect of it, but that's your thing.

It still goes back to my original posting... he should have an FFL. He is listed as a business that repairs firearms. IF he was only doing it as a hobby and not listed as a business per se, he would be fine doing minor work such as what he did for jelly, drifting a sight, replacing stocks or trigger mechanisms AS A HOBBY doesn't require an FFL.

 

[Mac's Precision]

Navy LT....

Do you have an FFL?

Are you in business? Have you ever applied for an FFL? Have you been interviewed by the ATF for an FFL? Do you operate under ATF regs on a daily basis?

I am just curious. Because if there WAS a way that I could prove that I could operate as a hobby I certainly would have saved the several thousand dollars it took to get licensed.

Repeatedly pounding "Principal objective of livelihood and profit" is not the answer to the question. The ATF doesn't care if you are successful. They care if your intention is to make a dollar from your labors. It is NOT that the gunsmithing business is your PRINCIPAL form of income..it is that the purpose of your labors is to make a buck to contribute to your living. IF you are making a buck...you are a professional and therefore must be zoned, licensed, insured as such.

Using garage sales as an example is not the same. The frequency that you have a garage sale is the reason you get to sell your junk and get away with it. Try having one at your location 4 days a week and see how fast you get spanked.

The if he does or does not need an FFL is NOT as simple as looking up laws and definitions and making a determination. That is not how it is done when you apply. EACH applicant has to meet certain requirements and as such each case is reviewed on several levels on a case by case basis. NO two are the same. They even have a question on the application to sort out the hobbiest so they don't waste time with folks that don't need a license. What you will soon come to discover is that you just about can't do anything without a license if you intend to make a dollar from it.

How long would you last as a basement doctor? ....well....I am just a hobby doctor...I like to do appendectomies in the evenings... I should be licensed...but it isn't my first source of income. I am really a concrete finisher by trade....but in the evenings...I have a few buddies that stop by and I do a bypass or two.

Just like any profession that is regulated on several levels....guys that push the "hobby" definition sometimes get spanked. They get spanked on the local level first usually, then the state comes in looking for taxes on profits, then if the business is federally regulated ....they will show up to enforce a lack of license and impound all tools used for making said profits.

I just don't understand why it is that some guys just don't understand it is a set of hoops you have to jump through to have an FFL. Those of us that have one have it for a reason. IF we could make money with out it....Pal....I assure you ...we would. We don't have them just because it makes it easier to order guns. I don't know too many of my local LEO customers that would frequent an unlicensed hobby gunsmith. Further, I would find it very hard to get any work from local gun shops with out proper licensing. The only work a hobby guy would get is from his shooting buddies. LE and other shops can't risk working with a non conforming unlicensed uninsured facility. NO way.

Cheers
Mac.

 

[NavyLCDR]

Well, I am sure that if the ATF thought Fred needed an FFL they would have visited Fred by now. He used to have an FFL and he is in the yellow pages. We don't need people in the gun community making up requirements that aren't supported by statue. We have enough requirements that are in the actual statutes.

Having an FFL makes you no more of an expert on the law than I am. I can read the Federal Firearms Regulations Reference Guide, 18 USC 922 and 27 CFR just as well as you can and I can communicate with the agents at my local Seattle ATF field office just as much as you can the agents at your local field office. In fact the general consensus among forums members on this forums as well as others that I have read is that there are three classes of persons that are quite well known for providing erroneous information and that it is unwise to ask legal advice from: LEO, CCW instructors and gun dealers.

 

[writerinmo]

Then maybe you need to read the regs and if you are still in doubt, contact your local ATF agents.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I am more interested in the details of the sight pusher, I could use a good heavy duty all round sight pusher.