I need to know if the following is legal:

At a gun show, I believe I saw an add where a gun smith would "turn Down" the tip of an AR bbl enough to slip a AR15/M-16 type flash supressor over the bbl then attach it by welding/pin.

I believe the point made was that it was not "threaded", which bystanders insisted was the restriction under the law.

The pictures looked really nice and for about $85.00 I would like to have it done if it is legal.

Comments?

If it functions as a flash suppressor, it's not legal on a post-ban with a detachable magazine and pistol grip, whether or not the barrel is threaded.

If it's 22mm in outer diameter, it's not legal because it's also considered a 'grenade launcher'.

If it doesn't function as a flash suppressor and isn't 22mm in outer diameter, then that attachment method would be legal, yes.  The permanent attachment isn't required if there are no threads (it could be attached with setscrews, for instance).

Just to stir things up a little.  What if you have a bull barrel exactly 22mm in diameter on a postban?  Will they consider that a 'grenade launcher'??

Threads never were, are not now, and untill flashiders or grenade launchers are built to fit them never will be evil feature on post ban assault weapons.

The threading is not evil. Ability to accept flash hiders and grenade launchers is.

You can thread barrels and install muzzle comp devices.


                  DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
            BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND FIREARMS
                     WASHINGTON, DC 20226

                          OCT 19 2000

                                                      903050:GKD
                                                      3311/O-697

Dear Mr. Bardwell:

This refers to your letter of June 29, 2000, asking if the
externally threaded front sight base of Romanian manufactured AK-74
rifles would be considered to be a "threaded barrel designed to
accommodate a flash suppressor."  You state in your letter that the
threading on the Romanian front sight base is unlike that of AK-74
rifles manufactured in other countries.  You further state that, to
the best of your knowledge, the Romanian producers did not
manufacture a flash suppressor for their AK-74 rifles.

If there are no flash suppressors manufactured having a threading
compatible with the Romanian AK-74 muzzle threading, then it
follows that the described rifle would not have a "threaded barrel
designed to accommodate a flash suppressor."  However, should a
flash suppressor become available in the future that has a
threading compatible with the Romanian front sight base threading,
then the rifle would be considered to have a threaded barrel
designed to accommodate a flash suppressor.

We trust that the foregoing has been responsive to your inquiry.
If we can be of any further assistance, please contact us.


                       Sincerely yours,


                           [signed]
                     Curtis H.A. Bartlett
           Acting Chief, Firearms Technology Branch



You can install flash hiders by no methods, threaded welded or stuck on with velcro.

That question has occured to me, as well, Kope. My gut feeling is that a 22mm barrel would be OK - but unless someone submits a sample and gets a determination from the ATF, we'll probably never know.

Thanks for the responses.

The problem is that the "stock" threading on an AR15 IS designed for the AR15 type flash hider and therefore is illegal on a post-ban AR15. Of course if you went through the trouble of threading the barrel in a non-"stock" AR15 pitch/thread and threaded a non-"stock" (outer diameter) flash hider in the same thread pitch then it would not be illegal as long as the flash hider you threaded to fit your AR15 does not hide the muzzle flash.


"
If there are no flash suppressors manufactured having a threading
compatible with the Romanian AK-74 muzzle threading, then it
follows that the described rifle would not have a "threaded barrel
designed to accommodate a flash suppressor." However, should a
flash suppressor become available in the future that has a
threading compatible with the Romanian front sight base threading,
then the rifle would be considered to have a threaded barrel
designed to accommodate a flash suppressor."


Threads never were, are not now, and untill flashiders or grenade launchers are built to fit them never will be evil feature on post ban assault weapons.

The threading is not evil. Ability to accept flash hiders and grenade launchers is.

You can thread barrels and install muzzle comp devices.