Questions for Fega members

[KSnyder]

Everyone,
Before accepting work engraving a "modern" gun does one need a 01 FFL? Do you need to keep a bound book for all your jobs? No sense going on "vacation" to the grey bar hotel out of ignorance!
Thanks,
Kent

 

[fegarex]

The quick answer to this is yes. You can engrave "bits and pieces" of the firearm without one but to do the action, receiver or whatever usually has the serial number on it yo uneed a FFL. It is considered "gunsmithing". And yes you need a bound book.

 

[ED DELORGE]

Hello Kent, Yes Rex is right. The law says if you work on firearms you need an FFL. On the other side, the BATF may not give you one. If you only do this for a hobby or for friends you most likely don't need one. But if you want to make a living out engraving or gunsmith work, and want the privelege of shipping and receiving firearms from customers out of state, then you will have to have one. Of course the simpelest way to be sure is to call your closest BATF office and see what they say. Let us know what they say, they seem to change their opinion every now and then.

Good Luck

 

[monk]

take some friendly advice: don't call these chaps on a monday morning or late friday afternoon ! they will have you thinking that you work for them !

 

[KSnyder]

everyone,
For me its murphys law, if it can happen it will happen. Yeah, you got a friends or aquaintances gun or guns for engraving , you get the job done and as a favor u take the guns over to the guys house to get paid & have a couple cocktails. On the way u stop at the drug store for some gum or a bic lighter and when you come out the windows broke the gun/ guns are gone and they are not yours but u must report them stolen and what where you doing with them if they're not yours, blah, blah, blah. What's that you say? you dont have an FFL for gunsmithing? You get the picture.
A far out senario but I'm guessing something similar may have happened a time or two.
Just wondering if its worth the headache.
Btw, an old timer I know won't even work on "modern guns" anymore because of government intrusion , tax issues etc. And he worked at a very reputable shop that's been in business for 40 yrs.
I may be losing my day job and will have alot more time on my hand for my hobby so I may give it a go.

Kent

 

[Dave London]

Kent
If you are planning to make a living engraving guns then yes get the FFL. Other wise I dont think it is worth it My 2 cents not to be confused with sense Dave

 

[sdcoxx]

Kent,
Alternatively, you may engrave at a licensed shop. It would be another service the shop could offer and another source for engraving projects for yourself. Stephen

 

[Ray Cover]

Kent,

Don't let folks give you the wrong picture about the BATF. They ARE NOT a bunch of jack booted thugs.
I have NEVER had a bad or discouraging experience when dealing with them. Neither from my local agents or from the regional agents. Every time I have dealt with them they have been very professional and helpful no matter when I called them or what the issue was.

I have found that just like with any other law enforcement officer, if you give them the respect they are due you will get it right back in return. As long as you are not trying to jerk them around they are fine to deal with. At least that has been my experience.

The only issues you are likely to run into are local issues such as your area's zoning laws. Some towns have residential zoned areas that do not allow home businesses etc. Check to make sure you don't have any of those issues first. Then apply for your license. They are really not that hard to get and it is not all that expensive.

As far as the additional tax burden goes, the way I understand it, that only applies to manufacturers and it is supposed to go to wildlife habitat conservation or some such thing. To engrave or repair a gun as a gunsmith would you should not encounter any additional tax burdens ( unless that is one of those local issues you may encounter but I highly doubt any local municipality would have such a tax)

As far as intrusion goes, I have had one agent visit my studio for the initial interview when I first applied for my FFL. They have not been back since. In all the years I have had an FFL the only interaction I have had with BATF has been when I have contacted them with a question or a rare NICS check when I sold one of the handfull of guns I bought to engrave and resell.



Ray

 

[Big-Un]

When I got my license way back in the '80's, my Congressman had to get involved to get them to approve it, which was done promptly after he called them. After that I never heard from them or saw them. In fact, I had a terrible time finding someone to turn my book in to when I decided to not have a BATF license any more. I'm not sure having one is worth it for the hobbiest, but having one is the law, so I believe you need to protect yourself. Maybe some lobbying by the engraving community could get a new interpretation for certified engravers from the BATF or whatever branch of government is responsible for us.

 

[Andrew Biggs]

This dosn't effect you guys in the USA but I thought it may be interesting.

Here in New Zealand if you want to own, shoot or work on a firearm you have to have the appropriate licence.

A catergory is for rifles & shotguns. Limited to single shot and semi autos up to 10 rounds. No gun registration required
B Catergory is pistols of any kind
C catergory is collectors items and covers everything but you can't use/fire them at all.
D catergory is a dealers licence which is what gunsmiths etc have and covers having in your possesion everything.
E catergory covers military style semi automatics

With each catergory there are varying levels of security you must have like alarms, thickness and type of gun safe etc. There is also various restrictions and endorsments you must comply with. B,C,D and E all require gun registration (serial numbers taken and held by the police)

It's a good system and works pretty well overall

The bottom line is the police who are the licencing agents are good to deal with 99% of the time if you comply with the law and treat them with a bit of respect as they are only doing their job and what the law requires of them. Some of the more arcane laws can be a bit silly but that also applies to a lot of things in our society.

Try to bend the rules or dodge them in any way, shape or form and you get caught then you are screwed 100% of the time.

The moral of the story is comply with the law and you are fine.

Cheers
Andrew