I was reading online, after talking with my dad, who used to work in a gun shop during the late 1960s, about how the Baby Browning .25 ACP pocket pistol was banned from importation due to the Gun Control Act of 1968.  I don't understand the basis for this ban.  It has always been my understanding that the GCA of 1968 banned the importation of "non sporting firearms" which was considered NFA items (hence the pre 86 dealer sample classification) up until 1989 when Bush I signed the executive order expanding it to cover certain semi autos.

Is there another part of the GCA of 1968 that I don't know about, or was this another pull it out of their ass ruling by the ATF?

Not enough "points" to allow importation.....


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Factoring Criteria for Weapons

Note: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms reserves the right
to preclude importation of any revolver or pistol which achieves an
apparent qualifying score but does not adhere to the provisions of
section 925(d)(3) of Amended Chapter 44, Title 18, USC.

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PISTOL

Prerequisites

1.  The pistol must have a positive manually operated safety device.
2.  The combined length and height must not be less than 10" with
    the neight (right angle measurement to barrel without magazine
    or extension) being at least 4" and the length being at least 6".

Individual CharacteristicsPoint value

Overall Length
For each 1/4" over 6" 1 pt

Frame Construction
Investment case or forged steel 15
Investment case or forged HTS alloy 20

Weapon Weight w/Magazine (unloaded)
Per ounce 1

Caliber
.22 short and .25 auto 0
.22 LR and 7.65mm to .380 auto 3
9mm parabellum and over 10

Safety Features
Locked breech mechanism 5
Loaded Chamber Indicator 5
Grip Safety3
Magazine Safety5
Firing Pin Block or Lock 10

Miscellaneous Equipment
External Hammer 2
Double Action 10
Drift Adjustable Target Sight 5
Click Adjustable Target Sight 10
Target Grips 5
Target Trigger 2

Qualifying score is 75 points

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Revolver

Prerequisites

1. Must pass safety test.
2. Must have overall frame (with conventional grips) length (not diagonal)
   of 4 1/2" minimum.
3. Must have a barrel length of at least 3"

Individual Characteristics

Barrel Length (Muzzle to Cylinder Face)
Less than 4" 0
For each 1/4" over 4"1/2

Frame Construction
Investment Cast or Forged Steel15
Investment Cast or Forged HTS Alloy20

Weapon Weight (Unloaded)
Per ounce1

Caliber
.22 short to .25 acp0
.22 LR and .30 to .38 S&W3
.38 Special4
.357 mag and over5

Miscellaneous Equipment
Adjustable Target Sights5
(drift or click)

Target Grips5
Target Hammer and Target Trigger5

Safety Test

A Double Action Revolver must have a safety feature which automatically
(or in a Single Action Revolver by manual operation) causes the hammer to
retract to a point where the firing pin does not rest upon the primer of
the cartridge.  The safety device must withstand the impact of a weight
equal to the weight of the revolver dropping from a distance of 36" in a
line parallel to the barrel upon the rear of the hammer supr, a total of
5 times.

Qualifying score is 45 points.

ATF FORM 4590 (7570.5) (10-77) Edition of 5/74 may be used
–– 
Larry Cipriani –– [email protected]

 

The GCA established import criteria for handguns. I don't remember them offhand but they include size, type of sights, and "target" features.

The Baby Browning doesn't qualify. Neither does the Walther PPK, that's why post-1968 PPKs were made in the US.

the handgun importation "points " system is full of fuck

To be imported, a handgun has to earn 75 points. If it didn't get enough points, it didn't meet the criteria of "sporting use" and wasn't imported.

This is why the PPK/S came about. The PPK by itself wasn't heavy enough to qualify for enough points. So, Walther added a PP frame, which made it heavy enough.

So, more than likely, the Baby Browning didn't earn enough points to be imported.

Here is the form: