Is it Legal to machine Your Own Gun Parts??

[Tolly]

I was wanting to know about the legality of making your own firearms parts is. The reason I asked is because I took a raw Caspian slide to a friend of mine today who is a master machinist and owns his own machine shop equipped with all the latest CNC stuff to ask him about doing some custom serrations. After looking at the slide he said he could do the custom serrations with no problem but then followed that up by saying," hell, I'll make you an entire custom slide if you want me to using the Caspian as a guide for critical areas." Hmmmmm, I thought I would check the legal ramifications before having him cut loose on a custom slide. I was told by a gun shop owner that you could make everything but the slide as that is what the government regulates as far as serial numbers and so on. Do any of y'all know if it legal to make your own parts, and if so which components are legal to make and which aren't? Thanks!

[scooter]

The FRAME is what is regulated not the slide If you try to buy a frame online they will ask for your FFL #.Im pretty sure its not illegal to make your own just can not make them for sale.Only real worry is you use the right material for the slide so its not too soft/brittle...

[Azrael256]

Yup, Scotter got it. You can make the whole pistol yourself with no problem. Just don't try to make anything FA, SBR, SBS, or AOW and you're cool. If you want to sell it, that's fine, you'll just need to serialize it and file some paperwork. Making a slide is not a problem at all.

[Ericthenorse]

You can make all the custom parts you want... If you want to sell them, you will just need a regularr business license, and you are good to go... You will need special licenses if you want to work on actual guns for other people.. Depending on what state you live in, (not here in CA) you can even make your own reciever, as long as the finished gun is not illegal. You also are supposed to issue it a serial number, and you can never sell it. do a google search for DIY guns, and they will have lots of info for you... :D :D

What was said in the post above mine is almost right..... You can NEVER sell a home made gun.... Only a licensed gun manufacturer can sell a gun that they made....

[Tolly]

Thanks for the info guys. We are going to make a couple of them out of heat treated(rc30) 4140 barstock billet and see how they come out. I am not a gunsmith and I am certainly not ready to build my own 1911, but I want a custom slide and this is a way for me to get whatever I want for only material costs. If everything I've read so far is correct I think I could later resale a pistol which I had only made the slide for but used an already existing frame right? If not how do people sell custom built pistols that they assembles at home on their own? If the slides turn out okay we may later try making a frame to build a custom 1911 from that I would never sell. I am just now getting into 1911s and I am trying to learn all I can about them so that I can ultimately build and work on my own guns. I love to tinker with stuff and I am an almost lifelong custom engine builder and cylinder head specialist(port reshaping and flowing) looking for a change of hobbys. Thanks again for the info!

[John]

Yup, Scotter got it. You can make the whole pistol yourself with no problem. Just don't try to make anything FA, SBR, SBS, or AOW and you're cool. If you want to sell it, that's fine, you'll just need to serialize it and file some paperwork. Making a slide is not a problem at all.

Could you please elaborate on FA, SBR, SBS, or AOW? I am not sure I understand.

[swampertwo]

Could you please elaborate on FA, SBR, SBS, or AOW? I am not sure I understand.

FA= full auto
SBR=short barrel rifle <16"
SBS= short barrel shotgun < 18"
AOW= any other weapon

SPAS-12s and 'street sweepers' fallinto the AOW category I believe.
Jeff

[John]

Learning something every day, thanks Swamper!

[DanR]

Try this site:

https://www.vbd.com/noc/shop/products_category.asp?CategoryID=44

They have 80% frames and "raw" frames at good prices. Their service is also very good.

[ptannjr]

From what my understandings are on the AKs (i would assume it is the same on all Firearms) You can build the whole thing yourself with no worries, you can even sell it down the road as long as you did not build with the intent to see. The only concerns would be as mentioned FA, SBR, and the like. You can never build a Full auto but a Short barrel Rifle is no issue but it HAS to be registared as such and you must pay the $200 tax on the SBR. The AK forums are good places on infor for home builds as they typically make the receiver themself most of the time, you can try gunco.net for more info from people that know alot more than i do.

[Hawkmoon]

Yup, Scotter got it. You can make the whole pistol yourself with no problem. Just don't try to make anything FA, SBR, SBS, or AOW and you're cool. If you want to sell it, that's fine, you'll just need to serialize it and file some paperwork. Making a slide is not a problem at all.
Yeah, but the key here is YOU can make a pistol YOURSELF -- slide, barrel and small parts are okay regardless of who actually makes it, but the frame (receiver) is what the BATFE considers to be the "firearm," and if you want to make one of those, your buddy cannot make it for you. He can stand beside you and tell you what to do and how to do it, but he cannot perform the machine work.

[ptannjr]

Yeah, but the key here is YOU can make a pistol YOURSELF -- slide, barrel and small parts are okay regardless of who actually makes it, but the frame (receiver) is what the BATFE considers to be the "firearm," and if you want to make one of those, your buddy cannot make it for you. He can stand beside you and tell you what to do and how to do it, but he cannot perform the machine work.
Yep buddy can take it to 80% and you have to complete. Not quite sure what indicates 80% or 81%

[DanR]

Try cutting in the slide rails and polishing the feed ramp. That is all I have to do to my 80% frame. They even cut in the threads into the grip grommets holes.

[Ericthenorse]

Read this.... http://www.ktordnance.com/kto/about.php You can never sell a home made gun without a federal firearms manufacturing license... It does not matter if it is a rifle of a pistol... It also doesn't matter if you built it with the intent to sell or not.... You can pass it down to an heir, but they also can't ever sell it... Federally, you are not required to serial number it, but some states require it. Check with your state government to be sure. I would suggest doing it anyway, because I don't think the cops would be too happy with a gun with no numbers. It would be legal, but try to explain that to the guys fitting the bracelets to your wrists... :D