rifle, gunstock, ak, legal, 5.45x39I read on another forum that the reason Arsenal SGL-31s aren’t available with folding stocks, while SGL-21s are, is due to some import restrictions specific to Russia. I’m assuming there’s another ill-conceived point system involved as with Why is the BATFE blocking import of the Glock 25 to the US?, but I haven’t been able to locate any relevant info on BATFE’s site.
Anyone know where the applicable rules are? Could I put a folding stock on myself without breaking any laws?
Evidently I was just looking in the wrong places before. After tracking down the relevant codes that RayJ pointed out I discovered that SGL-31s are available with folding stocks (though they cost quite a bit more). Both the SGL-21 and SGL-31 come in at 27 3/8” when folded, comfortably above the 26” requirement. According to their literature, the SGL-31 has only 9 imported parts for 922(r), including magazine, follower, and floorplate, so it appears you’d be ok to put on even an imported folding stock.
18 USC 925(d):
The Attorney General shall authorize a firearm or ammunition to be imported or brought into the United States or any possession thereof if the firearm or ammunition
18 USC 925(d)(3):
is of a type that does not fall within the definition of a firearm as defined in section 5845(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is generally recognized as particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes, excluding surplus military firearms, except in any case where the Attorney General has not authorized the importation of the firearm pursuant to this paragraph, it shall be unlawful to import any frame, receiver, or barrel of such firearm which would be prohibited if assembled;
26 USC 5845(a):
The term “firearm” means (1) a shotgun having a barrel or barrels of less than 18 inches in length; (2) a weapon made from a shotgun if such weapon as modified has an overall length of less than 26 inches or a barrel or barrels of less than 18 inches in length; (3) a rifle having a barrel or barrels of less than 16 inches in length; (4) a weapon made from a rifle if such weapon as modified has an overall length of less than 26 inches or a barrel or barrels of less than 16 inches in length; (5) any other weapon, as defined in subsection (e); (6) a machinegun; (7) any silencer (as defined in section 921 of title 18, United States Code); and (8) a destructive device. The term “firearm” shall not include an antique firearm or any device (other than a machinegun or destructive device) which, although designed as a weapon, the Secretary finds by reason of the date of its manufacture, value, design, and other characteristics is primarily a collector’s item and is not likely to be used as a weapon.
26 USC 5845(e):
The term “any other weapon” means any weapon or device capable of being concealed on the person from which a shot can be discharged through the energy of an explosive, a pistol or revolver having a barrel with a smooth bore designed or redesigned to fire a fixed shotgun shell, weapons with combination shotgun and rifle barrels 12 inches or more, less than 18 inches in length, from which only a single discharge can be made from either barrel without manual reloading, and shall include any such weapon which may be readily restored to fire. Such term shall not include a pistol or a revolver having a rifled bore, or rifled bores, or weapons designed, made, or intended to be fired from the shoulder and not capable of firing fixed ammunition.
18 USC 921(A)(24):
The terms “firearm silencer” and “firearm muffler” mean any device for silencing, muffling, or diminishing the report of a portable firearm, including any combination of parts, designed or redesigned, and intended for use in assembling or fabricating a firearm silencer or firearm muffler, and any part intended only for use in such assembly or fabrication.
18 USC 925(d)(3) effectively is the code that bans the import of certain rifles that do not have a “sporting purpose.” The ill-conceived code is a good place to start looking and find these features that ban specific rifles from being imported to the US.
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