Outrageous Malfunction

The ATFE’s Firearms Technical Branch has ruled in just about every way possible that you may not obliterate the original mandated markings on a firearm. This holds for everyone, including the original manufacturer. The markings that may not be obliterated or obscured are the manufacturer’s name, location, the model number, caliber, and serial number. In the case of imported firearms, the importer becomes the manufacturer. These markings are used (primarily) to collect excise tax on the manufacture and importation of firearms.

There exists a growing number of gunsmiths and machinists that will “relocate” the original markings on your firearm to give you the appearance of some other type of firearm. For AK variants, the markings are usually relocated to the underside in front of the magazine well. For AR15 variants, the front of the magazine well seems to be popular. Once the originals are “relocated”, markings that emulate some other firearm are added. For AK variants, these would be Cyrillic markings; for AR15s, various M16 markings are added.

For added flair, some of the “relocated” markings are placed where normal furniture will hide them to give the seamless look of the firearm you wish you owned. All of this would be fine, except the ATFE makes no provision for “relocating”. The ATFE calls this obliterating, and they hold that it is illegal. The ATFE also holds that putting the markings where they can’t be seen in a normal, assembled state is obscuring the markings.

The exception (there are always exceptions, no?) is when the original firearm is destroyed. Usually, this means torch cut to ATFE standards; however, it can also mean that the original manufacturer tossed the metal into a furnace. Regardless, this is not the process the relocation experts follow. Before considering such services, it would be wise to ask the ATFE about the legality.