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If you own an NFA item, like a suppressor or an SBR, that was made by a company, you no doubt noticed that it is engraved much like any other firearm with various markings such as the make, model, caliber, serial number, etc.
But what if you’re making your own silencer or SBR or SBS? The rules are still the same. Without exception, every NFA item has to be engraved with a specific set of markings as defined by the ATF. Not only does the ATF have requirements about what you have to put on the item, but they also have requirements as to where and how you mark that information.
To avoid running afoul of the law, we’ll go over what you need to include and how you’ll need to do it so that you can enjoy your new NFA item.
Because the ATF has a strict set of guidelines and requirements on what needs to be marked on your NFA item, there’s also an order in which you should do things. Here’s what you need to do.
You may think of a manufacturer as a company that produces a product on a large scale, but in the eyes of the ATF, a manufacturer can be just one person making only one item. As such, you are a manufacturer.
Homemade NFA items have to be submitted to the ATF for approval on what is called a Form 1. It’s very similar to the Form 4 used for NFA items being purchased from a company or a dealer, so if you’ve ever filled out a Form 4 to buy a silencer, then completing a Form 1 to make a silencer or other NFA item will be very familiar to you.
Since you are making the NFA item yourself, you’ll have to create some of the required markings yourself, while others are already set for you. This information must be marked on one of the following places: the frame, receiver, barrel, or pistol slide (if applicable). Here’s what needs to be engraved.
The only time any of this information may vary would be if you’re taking an existing rifle or shotgun and turning it into an SBR or SBS. In that case, you’ll use the already existing make, model, caliber, and serial number on your Form 1 and you’ll only have to engrave your name or your trust and the city and state where the item was made.
In addition to guidelines on what you have to mark on the NFA item, the ATF has also determined the minimum depth and size of the markings. They are as follows:
They chose these sizes to ensure that the information would not be susceptible to being readily obliterated, altered, or removed.
Thankfully, the government doesn’t expect you to run out and buy expensive commercial-grade machinery just to mark your NFA items. That’s why they give you a few choices. The exact method of marking is up to you, so long as it is one of the following three:
The popularity of laser engravers in recent years has made this method the go-to for most people. Some people own their own personal laser engraver, but if you don’t, a lot of gun shops have them and can do this for you for a nominal fee. The information can also be hand engraved with a Dremel, so long as the size and depth requirements are met. It doesn’t have to be pretty; it just has to meet the requirements!
If you’re truly making the item from scratch and you have the ability and wherewithal to do so, you can cast the required information directly into the NFA item. Most people won’t be delving this deep into the manufacturing side of things, but it’s nice to know that it is an option that’s out there should you choose to go that route.
You can get a set of letter and number hand stamping dies at most craft stores, and this is also an acceptable way of marking the NFA item. This option is an affordable way to have the tools necessary for marking future items at your disposal. As was mentioned with the engraving option, it doesn’t have to be pretty. The ATF only cares that the required information is there in the correct size and depth.
While there’s no way around the government regulations and requirements for making your own NFA item, at least they leave some of the information up to you to create so that you can make the item uniquely yours.
We’ve seen a wide variety of interesting (and sometimes entertaining) models and serial numbers put on Form 1 items before, so feel free to be creative here. Pay homage to a loved one, a faithful furry friend, or have some fun and channel an internet meme or an inside joke. As long as you meet the legal requirements for the required information and mark it in the right size and depth, the rest is up to you.