I received an odd phone call from the ATF NFA Branch the other day.  Last June I submitted 2 Form 1s for SBRs.  The other day the examiner called and said he needed clarification on who the manufacturer was; I had stated on the form that I was the manufacturer as I was using 2 80% lowers.  The examiner wanted to know who the original manufacturer was, I told him that the lowers were 80% lowers from Tactical Machining.  He wanted me to update the form to indicate that Tactical Machining was the manufacturer: I reiterated that I was the manufacturer as I was completing the machining necessary to turn the 80%, non-firearm, into a completed lower. He seemed confused by this and wanted a photo of the manufacture’s markings.  I told him there were none yet, that I would have the lower engraved with the necessary info when I completed the machining.

He seemed very concerned and confused with my statements;going so far as to say he was surprised that I intended to perform the machining necessary to make a firearm as “very few people have that ability”. 

He wanted me to send him photos of the lower in question and the detailed steps I would take to manufacture the lower.  He said he would take this info and forward it to the Technical Branch.

I have emailed Tactical Machining to let them know about this phone call but have not heard anything back from them.

I intend to do as he requested but I wanted to know if anyone else has received phone calls like this one.

I don’t want to publish his name as I am hoping that he is new and doesn’t know much about 80% lowers.

Curious as to why you are doing a Form 1 for an 80%?  Completed lowers are so damn cheap.  And a lot of people seem to justify 80% lowers to have a gun that is not on any registry, no paperwork, etc.  Defeating that when you put it on a Form 1.  It is now "in the system".

I want my own "roll marks".
And, I purchased these with a credit card so they're already in the system.  

Assuming you used FMI as the manufacture indicating that they are DIY/homemade receivers?
Send a picture of a square block of AL.

OP sounds like me.

Because I can.

I don't build guns to "keep them out of the system"  I build them because I can.

Why is it so difficult for people to grasp?

Because I can.

That is sweet.

That is cool

Holy crap, that's badass

Ok that is pretty cool. However I cannot imagine the headache you went through to get that approved.

Since it was 80%, it should have been pretty easy. The hard part is finding an engraver who can do that correctly on the first try.

Doesn't really need to be first try, does it? :-p

Who did you use? My dealer was talking about something like that, but I'd seen a few folks won't do "Colt" anymore?

I bet that raised some eyebrows.

I can't imagine the fun your going to have if a LEO takes a look and arrests you for possession of an unregistered MG. Doesn't matter if it's semi-auto only, they will let the DA work that part out.

I SBRd an 80%. I used FMI in the manf. block. There is an old thread on filling out Form 1s for DIY stuff. I believe BigWaylon wrote it up.

Would love a link to that if anyone has it handy!

It is not hard, just ike a regular F1 but you do not fill out the Original MFG stuff and you make up your own SN & Model.

Who's getting arrested for possession of an unregistered MG?

I was thinking the same thing. If he cannot tell it is not a F/A, he will not know if you show him the wrong form!

Update to my earlier post.

I did EFORM it. If you look in box d I put FMI
In box a I put United States.

A also submitted a generic CNC blueprint of a lower receiver. It has all the measurements and stuff. It wasn't a requirement to do send that but I figured it wouldn't hurt.

I had no issues with mine. I submitted 12/27/15 and got it back 4/28/16.

PS I haven't seen a new Form 1 yet so you may cross reference a new one with an old on incase the boxes are off