so I'm looking at a Springfield Armory select fire M1A. I called SA with the serial number and they said it WAS one of theirs and it was not a conversion. They also told me that the gun was made in 1987. I thought anything made after 1986 was not transferable?

typically post-86 MG's are not transferable.

i am not too familiar with the M14/M1A platform or how you can legally convert them to FA. Is there something like an M16 RDIAS, HK Sear Pack, or UZI bolt for the M14/M1A that could have been registered pre-86 and married to the gun?

did you see the owners paperwork? if the rifle has the tax stamp, the serial #s match, and it's dated before 5/1986, I would be okay with it.