With the AWB sunsetted, are 14.5" uppers legal to  own without registering them as pistols or machine guns?

No. These are short barreled rifles (SBR) and are classified as a class III weapon.  You need a ATF tax stamp approved form in order to possess a rifle with a barrel shorter than 16".

You can, however, buy a 14.5" barreled upper and add a flash hider the overall length of the barrel to 16". The only downside is that the flash hider must be permenanylt pinned or silver sodered in place.

ADCO charges reasonable prices to permenantly attach a flash hider if you are interested.

Hope this helps.

thanks

Since there's no ban now, I've got this recurring thought about building a pistol with a 14.5" barrel.  I reallize that it would be more of a toy than a serious firearm, but it's been illegal for 10 years & now it's not.  Anybody got any legal or technical advise?  Thinking of a 14.5 kit from J & T or Model 1 on a new lower specified as a pistol on the yellow form.  Disassemble the folding stock & use only the buffer tube.  Seems too simple - am I overlooking something?