ATF Clarifies Its Position On "80% Finished" Receivers
by Robert M. Hausman
Contributing Editor
Legal guidance on so-called "80% finished" firearm frames and receivers
was offered by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
(ATF) during the annual Importer's Conference held in early August in
Washington, DC. The conference is open to attendance only by licensed
importers.
In response to a question from an attendee asking for a definition of an
"80% finished" receiver, Sterling Nixon, chief of ATF's Firearms Technology
Branch, responded that the term "80% finished" is not an ATF term, but
rather one created by industry. There are a number of commercial firms that
offer frames and receivers that are advertised as being "80% finished" and
not subject to regulation as firearms.
ATF views these items as being either a firearm or not a firearm, Nixon
explained and added that ATF does not use the term "80% finished."
"Anyone offering anything that has not been evaluated by ATF may be in
violation," Nixon warned. Thus, consumers purchasing these so-called
"80% finished" parts should ask the seller to provide proof that these
items have been evaluated by ATF and deemed to be non-firearms before
purchase.
Last June, ATF launched an investigation of KT Ordnance, a Dillon, MT,
company that was selling "80% finished" frames and receivers for several
different firearms by mail order. While ATF has not commented or made
any announcement of its action, a Montana newspaper reported that ATF
confiscated all inventory, records and made copies of the company's
computer hard drive. According to the company's website, it was up to
the purchaser to complete the rest of the necessary manufacturing steps
and thus turn the part it bought from KT into a firearm. It is not known
whether or not the parts KT offered had been evaluated by ATF.
The New Gun Week, of September 10, 2006
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