Hi,
Since I can seem to find a search button anymore, I have to ask the following questions:

How can I attach a Phantom flash hider to a preban 14.5" barrel to comply with BATF regulation RE: Legal rifle barrel length?

Which gunsmith would do it reliably and fast?  Any of them live in Northern Virginia?

Directions can be found in the How To section at the Maryland AR-15 Shooters Site.  Also on that site if you look in the Where to Buy section under "Custom Shops & Gunsmiths" you will find a place near Richmond that does lots of AR15 work.

It's a great site for AR15 info.

To make it easy for you:
groups.msn.com/TheMarylandAR15ShootersSite/howtoattachamuzzlebrake.msnw

And the Bardwell ATF letter:

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
Washington, D.C. 20226

JUN 18 1998
F:FPD:FTB:RAT
3311


Dear Mr. :

This refers to your letter of March 31, 1998, in which you ask
about permanently attaching a muzzle device to various firearms.

A muzzle device, such as a muzzle brake or barrel extension, which
is attached to a barrel by means of welding or high temperature
silver solder having a melting point of at least 1,100 degrees
Fahrenheit, is considered to be part of the barrel for purposes of
measurement.  A seam weld extending at least one-half the
circumference of the barrel or four equidistant tack welds around
the circumference of the barrel are adequate for this purpose.

A firearm having a muzzle brake, cap, or barrel extension
permanently attached by those same methods to cover the threads on
a barrel, would not be considered to have a threaded muzzle.
Please note, however, that any muzzle device or barrel extension
which functions as a flash suppressor or grenade launcher would
still constitute one of the qualifying features of a semiautomatic
assault weapon as that term is defined in 18 U.S.C. section
921(a)(30(B).  Industrial adhesive products are not an acceptable
method for permanently attaching a muzzle device.

                             - 2 -

Mr.

We trust that the foregoing has been responsive to your inquiry.
If you have further questions concerning this matter, please
contact us.

Sincerely yours,
[signed]
Edward M. Owen, Jr.
Chief, Firearms Technology Branch