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Posted: 3/18/2010 1:33:30 PM EDT
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I am interested in adding a front vertical grip to a pistol, specifically a Thompson TA5 pistol. I like the look of the tommy gun, and don't need a rear stock (John Dillinger style). I do not own such a pistol yet. Adding a grip up front should be a simple procedure and only a $5 tax stamp -BUT! -
I understand that for me to actually change the horizontal grip to a vertical grip, that means I become the manufacturer of an AOW and therefore I would need to have a $200 tax stamp from the ATF. To get around this, I would need to have a C2 manufacturer do the grip change, then let them register the firearm as an AOW. They don't need to pay the $200 tax, apparently. Then, I can purchase the pistol as an AOW from them and pay only the $5 tax stamp. Is this correct? Can any C2/C3 dealer do the actual work and register the firearm, or is a C2 manufacturer a completely different entity? Can I buy a pistol first and bring it to a C2 manufacturer or do I need to have them handle the entire transaction? And if true, does anyone know of any C-2 manufacturers in NE Floirda? |
My advice would be to pay the $200.00 and register it as an SBR. You'll then be able to put the vertical grip on it and in the future when you decide that you really need a stock (and believe me you will) you'll be all set. Shooting such a weapon even with the vertical grip will get old fast. To fire any aimed shots is very cumbersome with such a set-up. Firing from the hip is comfortable but only really fun if it's a full auto weapon. Trust me, after going through a few boxes of ammo you'll be wanting a stock on it big time. Just my 2 cents......and your $200.00 
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Well, the TA5 does not have the provision of adding a stock, so I'm OK with that. It's strictly a pistol and that will do fine by me. If it was good enough for Dillinger, etc...
Plus, there's a big difference between $5 and $200. Auto-Ordnance does offer the Thompson as an SBR, but it costs way more than the pistol version. I could buy a regular Thompson carbine, then SBR it, but again, budget rules here. OK, I also understand a class 2 is a manufacturer and a class 3 is a dealer. Got a little confused there. Still, can a class 3 dealer build and register an AOW? |
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Yes, your pistol version does have the ability to add a stock although it is not well known. Original Thompson stocks were removable by pushing a button on top and sliding the stock off the track. Tommygunner.com makes an adapter which is very innexpensive. You drill and tap four holes in the bottom of the Thompson receiver. The adapter is then bolted to the bottom of the receiver which blends in nicely and looks like the receiver was made that way. You can now attach and detach (in about 2 seconds) an original stock. Stocks can be had dirt cheap from numrigh and elswhere.
MadDog
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Quoted:
Yes, your pistol version does have the ability to add a stock although it is not well known. Original Thompson stocks were removable by pushing a button on top and sliding the stock off the track. Tommygunner.com makes an adapter which is very innexpensive. You drill and tap four holes in the bottom of the Thompson receiver. The adapter is then bolted to the bottom of the receiver which blends in nicely and looks like the receiver was made that way. You can now attach and detach (in about 2 seconds) an original stock. Stocks can be had dirt cheap from numrigh and elswhere. MadDog Hmm..I was under the impression that the lighter alloy used in the TA5 wasn't good for mounting a stock assembly, that it was too weak. Well, if the pistol becomes an AOW, it can never be an SBR. Can a pistol become an SBR? edit - Now I understand the bottom rear of the pistol's receiver has a raised area so you can't add that stock adapter without doing some serious cutting and metalwork. I'll have to take another look at one of the pistols, I guess. MadDog, are you on the Jax Jaguars forums? |
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It would need to be an NFA manufacturer.
IIRC, One benefit of buying the pistol first then sending it to them is that you don't have to have the return transfer done through a dealer. If a C2 is returning a firearm provided by you that they manufactured into an NFA firearm they can Form 4 it directly to you (even if you're not in the same state) so you don't necessarily need to find a manufacturer in your state. Most people don't realize this and they just have it go through a dealer, but I'm pretty sure this is legit and can be done if you owned the firearm prior to its conversion into an NFA firearm. ETA, I think Spikes Tactical in Apopka is a manufacturer. I know that's not exactly NE FL but its not terrible either. |
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THanks, Sig. I forgot about Spikes Tactical. They sometimes appear at the local gun shows. I'll have a chat with them. Good advice, from all of you. As an update, I wrote to Kahr Arms and asked them if they had any interest in making the TA5 into an AOW with the vertical grip. They said they had no plans to do so. I don't know why not, they already make an SBR version of their Thompson. For just $5 more ( and the resulting paperwork) I'd certainly be interested in one. |
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