NFA Dictionary (National Firearms Act Terms)

A

• ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) – The federal agency responsible for enforcing the NFA and regulating firearms commerce in the U.S.

• Application to Transfer (Form 4) – ATF form used to transfer an NFA item from one individual or entity to another.

• Application to Make (Form 1) – ATF form used by an individual or legal entity to make and register an NFA firearm.

• Approved Form – A form processed and signed by the ATF indicating legal approval for making, transferring, or manufacturing an NFA item.

• Amnesty Registration (1968) – Period when unregistered NFA firearms could be legally registered under the Gun Control Act of 1968.

B

• Barrel Length – Measurement from the closed bolt face to the muzzle end of the barrel (important for determining SBR or SBS status).

• Bore Diameter – Internal diameter of a gun barrel, used to classify destructive devices.

• Braced Firearm – A firearm equipped with a stabilizing brace; classification under the NFA has varied depending on ATF rulings.

C

• Class 2 SOT – Special Occupational Taxpayer authorized to manufacture NFA firearms.

• Class 3 SOT – Dealer qualified to buy, sell, and transfer NFA firearms.

• Collector’s Item – Certain NFA firearms with historical or collectible value, sometimes affecting transferability or value.

• Constructive Possession – Legal concept where owning parts that can assemble an NFA item (without proper paperwork) may constitute illegal possession.

D

• Dealer Sample – A machine gun registered to an FFL/SOT that can be possessed and transferred only to other SOTs or government agencies.

  
  

  • Pre-86 Dealer Sample (Pre-May) – Machine gun imported or registered before May 19, 1986. These can be retained by an SOT after they give up their license. Pre-May samples often have higher value because they can be privately owned by former dealers and are not transferable to non-SOT civilians.

  • Post-86 Dealer Sample (Post-May) – Machine gun manufactured or imported after May 19, 1986. These may only be possessed by active FFL/SOT holders with a law enforcement demo letter. Once the SOT relinquishes their license, all post-samples must be destroyed, transferred to another SOT with a law letter, or surrendered to ATF.

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• Destructive Device (DD) – Includes explosives, bombs, grenades, and firearms over .50 caliber (unless sporting). Requires NFA registration.

• Demo Letter – Law enforcement letter authorizing a dealer to obtain a post-86 dealer sample for demonstration purposes.

E

• E-File – ATF’s online system for submitting NFA forms electronically, significantly reducing approval times.

• Entity – A trust, corporation, or LLC that can register NFA items (as opposed to an individual).

F

• Form 1 – Application to Make and Register a Firearm.

• Form 2 – Notice of Firearms Manufactured or Imported (used by SOT manufacturers).

• Form 3 – Application for Tax-Exempt Transfer between FFL/SOT holders.

• Form 4 – Application for Tax-Paid Transfer to an individual or non-SOT entity.

• Form 5 – Tax-Exempt Transfer (e.g., inheritance or government transfer).

• Form 9 – Application for Export of an NFA firearm.

• Form 10 – Registration for law enforcement or government agencies (non-transferable to civilians).

• FFL (Federal Firearms License) – Required license to engage in the business of manufacturing, importing, or dealing in firearms.

• Flaming or Fleming Conversion – Slang referring to certain HK conversions (named after Fleming Firearms).

G

• Gun Control Act (GCA) of 1968 – Law that, among other things, incorporated and expanded the NFA, regulating importation and licensing.

H

• Host Firearm – The firearm into which a registered NFA component (like a registered sear or trigger pack) is installed.

• HK Registered Sear/Trigger Pack – Component registered as the machine gun under NFA; can be moved among compatible HK hosts.

I

• Importation – Bringing firearms into the U.S.; heavily regulated under the GCA and NFA.

• Individual Registration – NFA item registered to a person, requiring fingerprints, photo, and CLEO notification.

L

• Law Letter (Demo Letter) – Required documentation for obtaining post-86 dealer samples.

• Legal Lengths – Minimum 16” barrel for rifles, 18” for shotguns; shorter requires NFA registration.

M

• Machine Gun – Any firearm that fires more than one round per trigger pull. Includes frames/receivers, conversion parts, and auto sears.

• Making Tax – $200 tax paid when creating an NFA item via Form 1.

• Manufacturer (FFL 07 / Class 2 SOT) – Entity authorized to produce NFA firearms.

• Muzzle Device – Flash hider, compensator, or suppressor attachment; part of barrel length if permanently attached.

N

• National Firearms Act (NFA) – 1934 law regulating machine guns, short-barreled rifles/shotguns, silencers, destructive devices, and AOWs.

• NFRTR (National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record) – Central database maintained by the ATF for all registered NFA firearms.

• Notice of Firearms Manufactured or Imported (Form 2) – Used by licensed SOTs to register NFA items they make or import.

O

• Once a Machine Gun, Always a Machine Gun – Legal principle that a firearm that has ever been a machine gun remains one under law.

• One-Stamp Gun – Common term for an NFA firearm requiring a single $200 tax stamp (e.g., a suppressor or SBR).

• Overall Length (OAL) – Total length of firearm with stock fully extended or unfolded.

P

• Paper Form – Traditional mailed NFA form; slower than e-file.

• Pistol Brace – Stabilizing accessory for pistols; classification under NFA has been controversial.

• Pre-May Dealer Sample (Pre-86) – Machine gun imported before May 19, 1986, eligible for retention by SOTs after dropping their license.

• Post-May Dealer Sample (Post-86) – Machine gun imported or manufactured after May 19, 1986, restricted to demo/law enforcement use only.

• Public Law 99-308 (Hughes Amendment) – 1986 law banning civilian registration of new machine guns after May 19, 1986.

R

• Registered Receiver – Machine gun where the receiver itself is the registered part (not the sear or trigger pack).

• Registration – Legal record of an NFA firearm with the ATF.

• Reactivation – Process of restoring an unserviceable machine gun to firing condition (requires Form 2 or Form 1).

• Reweld – Process of welding cut receiver sections back together (must comply with NFA manufacturing rules).

S

• SBR (Short-Barreled Rifle) – Rifle with barrel under 16 inches or overall length under 26 inches.

• SBS (Short-Barreled Shotgun) – Shotgun with barrel under 18 inches or overall length under 26 inches.

• SOT (Special Occupational Taxpayer) – Additional tax status allowing an FFL to handle NFA items.

  
  

  • Class 1 – Importer

  • Class 2 – Manufacturer

  • Class 3 – Dealer

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• Silencer / Suppressor – Device for muffling firearm report; regulated under NFA.

• Stamp – Informal term for the $200 (or $5) tax paid to register or transfer an NFA item.

• Striker-Fired Conversion – Modifying a semi-auto to full-auto; illegal without registration.

T

• Tax Stamp – Proof of NFA tax payment; issued upon approval of Form 1 or Form 4.

• Title I Firearm – Standard firearms regulated under the Gun Control Act (GCA) but not under the NFA. Includes most rifles, shotguns, and handguns. Title I guns require no tax stamp or ATF registration.

• Title II Firearm – Firearms regulated under the National Firearms Act (NFA), including machine guns, SBRs, SBSs, suppressors, AOWs, and destructive devices. Require registration in the NFRTR and an approved tax stamp for transfer or manufacture.

• Transfer – Any change of possession or ownership of an NFA firearm.

• Transferable Machine Gun – Machine gun legally registered for civilian ownership before May 19, 1986.

• Trust (NFA Trust) – Legal entity that can hold NFA items; allows multiple responsible persons and easier inheritance.

• Two-Stamp Gun – Firearm requiring two tax stamps (e.g., an SBR with a suppressor).

U

• Unserviceable Firearm – NFA firearm that has been permanently altered to be incapable of firing; can be registered or reactivated.

• Under the NFA – Refers to any firearm or device regulated by the National Firearms Act.

W

• Weapons of War Clause (Hughes Amendment) – Legislative clause restricting new civilian machine gun registrations post-1986.

• Weapons Made from a Rifle or Shotgun – Firearms altered below minimum length requirements, regulated as SBR/SBS.

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