I’ve been seeing more people doing this lately so I thought I would make a fresh post to remind everyone to engrave your SBR before you send off paperwork (and after you check function). Doing your paperwork first not only makes it so that you now own an NFA item that you can’t just ship to any old engraver but it also means that said engraver has to be perfect. They’re human so this is asking a lot and humans make mistakes. A recent example is that I had a couple lowers engraved for SBR purpose and told them specifically to NOT have a period after my first initial. Of course they come back with a nice solid & deep period after my first initial on both lowers. Now, since I hadn’t yet completed my form to send off this is a non-issue. Simply fill out the form with what’s engraved on the lower and send off never to think about again. Had I already done paperwork I would have been stressing that that little dot could get me pinched some day down the road by someone trying to nail me down with anything and everything they could. I get that this is a slim chance but so is having to present your tax stamp in the first place and isn’t that why we jump through all these hoops… peace of mind? That’s a rather small issue but what if they gouge your receiver badly and now you’re married to a munged up $50 hunk of metal for life. Wouldn’t you rather get another $50 hunk of metal and start over for something you’re about to marry to for life? Also an easy option if you haven’t yet completed your form and sent it off.
To some this seems like a no-brainer but I’ve been seeing more and more new SBR people lately talking about doing their paperwork, getting approved and THEN looking for engraving so I thought I would post this brief reminder to those of all experiences as it’s something simple that could be overlooked that could come back to bite you. I had someone point this out after my first SBR (that I lucked out on after WAY over paying to have it engraved locally once I found out I couldn’t ship it to just anyone now) and it’s already saved me on multiple occasions so I’m just paying it forward. Happy NFA’ing!
You’re assuming that the engraving has to match the paperwork exactly, period for period. The law only says that the engraving has to represent the name, city, state of the maker.
So you can debate but tell me what the pros are of doing it the other way?
In my case, it was just a dot but I sleep well at night knowing that my engraved lower matches my ATF paperwork EXACTLY. Some don’t worry so much about details. I have a serious doubt that the ATF hires those types of people.
That’s missing the point… There are just too many what if’s regarding the engraving.
Lower gets lost in transit?
Lower mistaken for someone else lower complete wrong info is engraved.
Lower damaged in transit.
Lower damaged by engraver.
The point is, save yourself the potential head and heartache and have the lower engraved first.
It amazes me how many of ‘those people’ exist on gun forums and they’re usually first to post to threads too trying to impress everyone with their intelligence by disagreeing with EVERYTHING.
And what if said SBR isn’t approved? Then what? Fortunately for me, there’s someone in my state that does things properly, and it’s done while you wait! So is someone is that incompetent to screw up paperwork RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM, one should NOT want to be dealing with said person. JS
I am not arguing with anyone. Just stating facts. Show me the penalty. If your tax is paid it’s paid. I don’t think they really care about what is written on the lower.
If you have problems with the ATF I don’t think it will be over misspelled wording. Lots of people have been charged with NFA violations. But I don’t know of anyone being charged for a misspelled word.
Oh, I’m supposed to believe that the ATF doesn’t care what’s written on a lower now. I guess I can engrave all my LMT lowers the same and have only one tax stamp because what’s a few different characters engraved on a lower if everything else is ‘close enough’ right?
You know what doesn’t throw up ANY red flags with the ATF if you’re being investigated? Perfectly matching firearm engraving & paperwork.
Still waiting to hear what advantages sending the paperwork in for approval BEFORE engraving holds. Until you make that point your entire case is invalid.
Is there a reason it might not be approved? If so, you are in a different situation than the vast majority of folks here.
Even it it wasn’t approved, who cares? so you have a lower with your name on it? What’s the problem?
On the other hand, to Jer’s point, what if it’s damaged or rendered useless, and you have just wasted $200 bucks and a 6 month wait.
See above, it’s not just about the spelling on a lower, it’s damage or loss as well.
What exactly is the Upside of submitting paperwork, waiting 6 months to a year, and spending $200, THEN doing the engraving?
There is no penalty for misspelling a lower. There IS however a penalty for having an unapproved NFA item. Do you want to end up in a Federal court explaining a period or a letter?
You’re one to talk about flair for drama since you would know. Who comes into a ‘Friendly reminder’ thread with NO point to the contrary and yet still proceed to argue.
The BARFCOM influence has become entirely too prevalent on this site. The ratio of people who actually know something to people like this is becoming too much to take.
Damaged how? Especially when it’s done on site? That’s the point I was making. $200 would still be wasted as well as your weapon if you can’t get that particular make, model, and caliber again. Say if you’re Doing a form 1. I’d rather find me a shop in-state, and does the work while I wait. Who’s also extremely competent. Just saying.
Typical fallback retort for someone who clearly studied at the altar of BARFCOM. Here’s an idea, sometimes a good idea is just a good idea. Not every thread needs your 2 cents especially if you just want to argue w/o having an actual point.
I don’t know what is happening with you OP. Not sure why you keep putting me in with the ar15 crowd. I had a simple question nothing more. I will say a prayer for you. I will leave. Peace be with you and your family.
