RexDart
Member
I realize that this forum doesn't constitute legal advice, but words of experience and direction certainly abound here. My question:
What counts as 'manufacturing a firearm' under BATFE regulations?
My reason for asking is that I'd like to join the hordes who assemble their own rifles from parts. I understand that if I bend/mill/make my own reciever, I've made a firearm and can't sell it afterwards.
BUT, if I buy a stripped reciever from DPMS, Olympic or whoever, and parts kits and put them together myself, does the same legal provision apply? My assumption has been no: after all the reciever, the bit with the serial number, has been bought as a 'firearm', and I should be able to re-sell it. I read on various boards about folks doing this for friends, etc.
However, I had a local gun dealer today refuse to consider doing an FFL transfer on a reciever because he didn't want "to end up on the wrong side of the law" and stated categorically that adding parts to a reciever constituted 'manufacturing' and that ANY gov't surplus parts would further classify the piece as an NFA firearm.
So, legal experts or anyone who's questioned the BATFE on this out there? What's right?
What counts as 'manufacturing a firearm' under BATFE regulations?
My reason for asking is that I'd like to join the hordes who assemble their own rifles from parts. I understand that if I bend/mill/make my own reciever, I've made a firearm and can't sell it afterwards.
BUT, if I buy a stripped reciever from DPMS, Olympic or whoever, and parts kits and put them together myself, does the same legal provision apply? My assumption has been no: after all the reciever, the bit with the serial number, has been bought as a 'firearm', and I should be able to re-sell it. I read on various boards about folks doing this for friends, etc.
However, I had a local gun dealer today refuse to consider doing an FFL transfer on a reciever because he didn't want "to end up on the wrong side of the law" and stated categorically that adding parts to a reciever constituted 'manufacturing' and that ANY gov't surplus parts would further classify the piece as an NFA firearm.
So, legal experts or anyone who's questioned the BATFE on this out there? What's right?