SBR engraving

[dogtown tom]

Thank you.

Am I correct in assuming this is not retroactive? Or do I have to go back and engrave the receiver of my SBR that was registered in 2014? Section (5) makes this appear to be OK to retain the current engravings.

You are fine.

 

[someguy2800]

I'm curious about where they will let you put the additional engraving. I have a contender that I would like to SBR but don't really want to engrave on the side or bottom of it. I was wondering if I could put the engraving under the wood. Anybody know if that would be okay? I don't really see a callout in the rules that says it needs to be readily visible.

 

[dogtown tom]

I'm curious about where they will let you put the additional engraving. I have a contender that I would like to SBR but don't really want to engrave on the side or bottom of it. I was wondering if I could put the engraving under the wood. Anybody know if that would be okay? I don't really see a callout in the rules that says it needs to be readily visible.

See the red

§ 479.102 Identification of firearms.
(a) Identification required. Except as otherwise provided in this section, you, as a manufacturer, importer, or maker of a firearm, must legibly identify the firearm as follows:

(1) Serial number, name, place of business. By engraving, casting, stamping (impressing), or otherwise conspicuously placing or causing to be engraved, cast, stamped (impressed) or otherwise placed on the frame or receiver thereof, an individual serial number, in a manner not susceptible of being readily obliterated, altered, or removed. The serial number must not duplicate any serial number placed by you on any other firearm. The frame or receiver must also be marked with either: Your name (or recognized abbreviation), and city and State (or recognized abbreviation) where you as a manufacturer or importer maintain your place of business, or in the case of a maker, where you made the firearm; or if a manufacturer or importer, your name (or recognized abbreviation) and the serial number that begins with your abbreviated Federal firearms license number, which is the first three and last five digits, as a prefix to a unique identification number, followed by a hyphen, e.g., “12345678-[unique identification number]”; and

(2) Model, caliber or gauge, foreign manufacturer, country of manufacture. By engraving, casting, stamping (impressing), or otherwise conspicuously placing or causing to be engraved, cast, stamped (impressed) or placed on the frame or receiver, or barrel or pistol slide (if applicable) thereof certain additional information. This information must be placed in a manner not susceptible of being readily obliterated, altered, or removed. The additional information shall include.....

It might be you arguing with ATF that your required markings are conspicuous while hidden under the wood.

That said, in the past ATF has allowed SxS shotguns to be serialized on the "watertable". You can only see that if you break open the shotgun.
Further, more than one importer marks theirs inside the magwell lip on pistol frames. Only visible when you remove the mag.

 

[12Bravo20]

I remember now what the big discussion was about on ARFCOM. it was the change that all engraved markings need to be in a conspicuous location. Which some got upset about. Some people were engraving the barrel under the handguards or on the inside lip of the magwells or even on the removable AR trigger guards in the past. With the updates that was no longer an option.

 

[Elkins45]

Further, more than one importer marks theirs inside the magwell lip on pistol frames. Only visible when you remove the mag.

Are you referring to reimport markings? Or does someone actually do their SN this way?

 

[someguy2800]

If I could do it inside the receiver, visible with the barrel open, I could work with that, but if I have to do it on the outside of the frame then I’ll forget about it. I like contenders too much to do that to mine.

 

[MachIVshooter]

If I could do it inside the receiver, visible with the barrel open, I could work with that, but if I have to do it on the outside of the frame then I’ll forget about it. I like contenders too much to do that to mine.

I should think that would be fine.

"Conspicuous" is not well defined here, but I would think as long as it's somewhere it would occur to a person to look and doesn't require a bunch of disassembly and/or the use of tools to expose it.

But this isn't legal advice. Best bet is to write a letter and get a response with your name on it saying you're GTG engraving in your proposed location.

 

[dogtown tom]

Are you referring to reimport markings? Or does someone actually do their SN this way?

The importers name, city, state...."Simpsons Ltd. Galesburg, IL"