A Timeline of Transferable Machine Gun Regulations

1934 – National Firearms Act (NFA):The NFA was enacted to regulate machine guns, short-barreled rifles, and other NFA firearms. It required registration with the federal government, a tax stamp for transfers, and background checks.

1968 – Gun Control Act (GCA) & Pre-GCA 120-Day Amnesty:Before the GCA was enacted, the federal government allowed a 120-day amnesty period during which owners of unregistered machine guns could register them with the ATF without penalty. This helped bring many existing firearms into compliance before stricter licensing and record-keeping requirements took effect.

1968 – Gun Control Act (GCA):The GCA established stricter licensing and record-keeping requirements for firearm manufacturers, dealers, and importers, reinforcing federal oversight of machine gun sales.

1986 – Firearm Owners’ Protection Act (FOPA) & Hughes Amendment:The Hughes Amendment to FOPA prohibited civilian ownership of machine guns manufactured after May 19, 1986. Only pre-1986 machine guns could be legally owned and transferred by civilians, creating a fixed and declining supplyof transferable machine guns.

1986–1988 – NFA Amnesty Period:Following the Hughes Amendment, the ATF allowed an amnesty period during which owners of unregistered post-1986 machine guns could surrender them or, in some cases, register pre-1986 machine guns without paying the $200 NFA transfer tax. This period encouraged compliance and prevented illegal circulation.

Present – NFA Compliance & Transfer Process:All transferable machine gun transactions require:

• ATF Form 4 (transfer application) for civilian-to-civilian sales

• Background checks on the buyer

• Payment of a $200 transfer tax per firearm (unless covered by historical amnesty)

• Compliance with state and local laws

Key Takeaways:

• Supply is fixed and declining due to the 1986 cutoff.

• Demand continues to rise among collectors and investors.

• Compliance with federal and state regulations is essential to maintain legality and preserve value.

• For historic pricing trends, see MachineGunPriceGuide.com.

Bottom Line:Transferable machine guns are tightly regulated under federal law. Understanding the history of these regulations, including the pre-GCA 120-day amnesty and the post-1986 NFA amnesty period, is critical for collectors, investors, and enthusiasts seeking to acquire these rare and valuable firearms.