Pinned Folding on AK Pistol

[spartand003]

So today I came up with an idea. People pin open folding stocks in area's where they are illegal or don't meet the legal length folded. They do this so they can have the authenticity of whatever rifle they have. So, could the same be true in reverse? Could someone take say a Draco or an Uzi and pin a folded stock closed and it still be considered a pistol?

 

[MasterSergeantA]

Already being done with the PPS-43s. Folding stock is welded in the folded position so that it cannot be opened up into a "stock".

http://centerfiresystems.com/pps43-pis.aspx

The "pinning" might be an issue if the pin could be very easily removed. I said "might" because my AR-15 pistols could easily be converted to SBRs by the simple swap of a buffer tube and addition of a stock...but that requires more than the simple knocking out of a pin. My Dracos have trunnions that are already set up for underfolding stocks, so installing one and welding it in the closed position could conceivably do the same thing.

The only problem I see is that the PPS-43 comes from the manufacturer/importer with the stock already welded. If you drilled out the trunnion holes (or mounted a folding mechanism on the rear plate of the Draco) once you mounted the stock, you would have an illegal SBR UNTIL you got it welded up. If you had a way to weld the whole lashup together before mounting it, you would not have to worry about it at all.

It would be considered a "pistol" under federal law; whether your state and local gendarmerie agreed would remain to be seen in the light of their rules. Some states regulate pistols separately.

My question would be why do it since you can't actually use it and it just adds unnecessary weight. The answer, "because I just think it would be cool", works for me, but I can't think of it being cooler than a Draco pistol by itself. Now an SBR...? Yeah...

 

[spartand003]

I was thinking cool, but if someone wanted a set up like a Krink in 7.62 but didn't want or couldn't legally have an SBR. They could have a folding stock for the look or authenticity.

 

[Quiet]

AFAIK...
Pinning it not enough.
It needs to be welded in the closed position.
Manufacturers have to submit a sample to BATFE in order to determine if it's a Title 1 handgun or Title 2 SBR.

IMO...
BATFE clarification should be obtained prior to doing this as an individual.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Keep in mind that individuals cannot do this. You can't make a pistol out of a rifle without a tax stamp. It would have to come from the manufacturer "permanently folded" (usually meaning welded and pinned) and that manufacturer would have to specifically make it that way, and get ATF approval.

Or, pretty much what Quiet said I posted before reading his response.

 

[Sam1911]

Keep in mind that individuals cannot do this. You can't make a pistol out of a rifle without a tax stamp.

Right, but if you have a Draco pistol there may conceivably be a way to install a permanently folded folding stock and still have it be a pistol.

You'd really want to be sure the ATF was cool with the end result and your plan for getting there.

Or...just pay the $200 and do the full monty.