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Posted: 9/13/2025 8:03:06 AM EDT
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Posted this in FFL discussion area, but also gonna post it here to see if it gets more views and answers: I am an SOT, trying to help another SOT (mfr) with an AK project. Ideally we would like to remove a serialed AK front trunnion from one receiver (this is the only serial on the firearm) and swap in a different front trunnion and barrel. The removed trunnion and barrel will be used in a different project, trunnion will get scrubbed for that as it is going on a US serialed receiver. The receiver in question has already been engraved with the other SOT’s info and the serial number added to the actual receiver as part of that engraving, so it isn’t like the receiver will ever not have a serial on it. Anyhow he asked ATF about it and got a response that made me wonder if they even realized he was an FFL/ SOT MFR…. Said that serial numbers can never be moved, and that it would be illegal to separate the trunnion from the receiver since it was the only serial on the gun. Now I know serials can be moved, have heard of it being done at times for various reasons. Does anyone know what the real answer is to this? (I am not sure the flunky who answered the email question didn’t just think it was from a random gun owner and not an SOT.) If we cannot separate the trunnion then I think we have two routes forward- just swapping out the barrel only and forcing the headspace possibly via bolt swapping or oversized pin, or just destroying the receiver and using a new generic receiver. Option 1 might be a pain to do, as I will end up dealing with headspace on the build plus again when I reuse the barrel. Option 2 will be more paperwork as the receiver has already been Form 2’d into a MG, but might be the easier route. However if we could just legally relocate the serial officially to the receiver life would be a lot easier… Any info, letters, etc would be helpful, thanks! |
a loaded gun won’t set you free, so you say…
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As far as I know a serial number can only be relocated on the same frame or serial numbered part. As example, there were Colt autos converted to double action that required the frame where the serial number was to be machined away. The ATF allowed a licensed FFL to stamp the same serial on another area of the frame before machining the frame. The AK with it's trunnion is a different situation and I'd recommend contacting the BATF in a different manner, possibly a formal letter. I'm not sure they even have a process to do a change like this. SECOND THOUGHTS I went away and gave this more thought. In the USA the actual receiver is THE serial numbered item and that's the actual receiver, the trunnion is just a part. Buy a new AK receiver and the actual serial number is on it, what's on the trunnion and other parts means nothing So, if the receiver you have has a valid serial number and company name, THAT'S the actual "gun" the trunnion is just a part. As example I had an AK74 that was built on a new unfired Bulgarian parts kit that was imported in the late 90's. It was assembled on a new Armory USA receiver that had a serial number and company name. All other parts had the original Bulgarian serial number, but THE serial number was the one on the receiver. So, if that's the case, you can forget the trunnion number and move the trunnion to another serial numbered receiver. Once the company name an "A" serial number was applied to the receiver, the trunnion and any other numbers no longer had any meaning. |
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