Guidance Documents

Guidance Documents

Component Document Issued Posted ID Topic Overview
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1954-233- Revolver refitted with a 10-inch barrel January 1, 1954 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312471 Firearms This ruling advises that a revolver refitted with a 10-inch barrel and classified as an “any other weapon” and is a firearm under Sec. 2733(a) of the IRC.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1954-245- A tool powered by blank .22 and .38 cartridges January 1, 1954 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312476 Firearms This ruling advises that a tool powered by blank .22 and .38 cartridges which is used for setting studs or driving anchors into masonry or metal is not a firearm within the Federal Firearms Act.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1954-247- Device for trapping animals January 1, 1954 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312481 Firearms This ruling advises that a device for trapping animals that fires a special plastic cartridge but is not capable of firing projectiles is not a firearm within the Federal Firearms Act.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1954-372- Concealed cane gun January 1, 1954 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312486 Firearms This ruling advises that a .410 gauge gun concealed in a cane, or a pistol grip handgun with 8-inch chambered for a .410 gauge shotgun shell, are firearms within the purview of the NFA.  A flare pistol is not a firearm if capable of firing only pyrotechnic shells or cartridges designed for use with it.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1954-389- Removal of firearms from a foreign trade zone January 1, 1954 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312491 Firearms This ruling clarifies that removal of firearms from a foreign trade zone for any purpose other than reshipment to a place outside the jurisdiction of the U.S. constitutes importation as of the time they were originally brought within the limits of the U.S.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1954-519- Classification of a plastic "pistol" January 1, 1954 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312496 Firearms This ruling advises that a plastic "pistol" is not a firearm under the Federal Firearms Act although designed to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1955-341- Classification of a 20 gauge gun having two barrels January 1, 1955 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312501 Firearms This ruling clarifies that a 20-gauge gun having two barrels pointing in opposite directions, each of which is threaded to a centerpiece containing a firing mechanism and may be concealed on a person, is a firearm within the purview of the National Firearms Act.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1955-34- FFLs Assembling Firearms from Component Parts January 1, 1995 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312506 Firearms This ruling advises that a dealer who engages in the business of assembling firearms from component parts for purposes of sale or distribution in interstate or foreign commerce must be licensed as a manufacturer of firearms, pursuant to provisions of the Federal Firearms Act.  The manufacturer’s excise tax is imposed under the Internal Revenue Code of 1934 on the sale of firearms so produced. 
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1955-528- Classification of crank-operated gear-driven Gatling guns January 1, 1955 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312511 Firearms This ruling clarifies at what point a crank-operated gear-driven Gatling guns would fall or would not fall within the purview of the National Firearms Act.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1955-569- Classification of a submarine spear fishing device January 1, 1955 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312516 Firearms This ruling clarifies when a device ostensibly designed for submarine spearfishing but capable of chambering and firing .22 caliber rimfire ammunition would be considered a firearm within the purview of the National Firearms Act.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1955-699- Classification of a burgler alarm device January 1, 1955 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312521 Firearms This ruling clarifies that a burgler alarm device consisting of a metal cylinder, hinged in the middle so it can be opened to chamber a 20-gauge shotgun is not a firearm within the purview of the National Firearms Act.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1956-28- Classification of a "Molgun" January 1, 1956 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312526 Firearms This ruling advises that a "Molgun" made of an aluminum casing, an exposed firing mechanism, and a removable insert chamber of 12-gauge bore is a firearm within the purview of the National Firearms Act.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1956-47- Classification of the "Project-O-Life" January 1, 1956 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312531 Firearms This ruling advises that the "Project-O’LiFe," ostensibly designed to fire two .38 caliber gas shells simultaneously and to serve as a flashlight is a firearm within the purview of the National Firearms Act and the Federal Firearms Act.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1956-195- Classification of a Remington rolling-block carbine January 1, 1956 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312536 Firearms This ruling advises that a Remington rolling-block carbine 7mm Mauser caliber converted into a handgun type weapon chambered for the .257 Roberts rifle cartridge is a firearm defined in the .Internal Revenue Code.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1956-470- Classification of Miniature Cannon January 1, 1956 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312541 Firearms This ruling clarifies that a miniature cannon with a 20-gauge barrel and certain other component parts in its assembled condition is not a “firearm” as defined in section 5848 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1956-548- Classification of a "Bridger" 45 caliber Shoulder Line Throwing Gun January 1, 1956 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312546 Firearms This ruling clarifies that under certain conditions a “Bridger” 45 is a firearm within the purview of the NFA.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1956-581- Classification of a weapon made from a wooden rat trap January 1, 1956 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312551 Firearms This ruling clarifies that a weapon made from a wooden rattrap, affixed with a short threaded barrel chambered for a pistol cartridge and which is fired by a wire trigger release is a firearm classified as an “any other weapon” and within the purview of the NFA.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1956-597- Classification of a .38 caliber "pen" gun January 1, 1956 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312556 Firearms This ruling clarifies that a .38 caliber "pen" gun and a 20-gauge weapon ostensibly designed as tear gas devices are classified as firearms within the purview of the National Firearms Act.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1957-34- Classification of a 4-inch diameter barrel extension January 1, 1957 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312561 Firearms This ruling examines whether a barrel extension designed to reduce the risk of injury to the hearing of operators of industrial guns is a muffler or silencer under the NFA and Federal Firearms Act.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1958-109- Licensing Requirements Under Federal Firearms Act January 1, 1958 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312566 Firearms This ruling advises that any person engaged in the business of selling firearms or pistol or revolver ammunition which are received in interstate commerce, either directly or indirectly, must obtain a Federal Firearms license.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1958-417- Classification of the U.S. Army M14 January 1, 1958 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312571 Firearms This ruling clarifies that the M14 "rifle" which operates either fully automatically or semi-automatically on a selective basis, is a basic design and function of a “machinegun” as defined in Section 5848(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, and, accordingly, subject to the provisions of the NFA.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1959-340- Classification of Unique Model L January 1, 1959 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312576 Firearms This ruling clarifies that the Unique, Model L, pistol and rifle attachment, a combination pistol and rifle is not a firearm within the purview of the National Firearms Act’; however, it is subject to the Federal Firearms Act.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1959-341- Classification of the Dardick Handgun January 1, 1959 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312581 Firearms This ruling clarifies that the Dardick Handgun, by inserting the basic mechanism into a one piece rifle unit, the gun becomes a .22 caliber rifle with a barrel of over 16 inches.  The Dardick Handgun is not a firearm within the purview of the NFA; however; it is subject to the Federal Firearms Act.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1961-45- Classification of a hand gun January 1, 1961 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312586 Firearms This ruling clarifies that a hand gun of the Luger or semi-automatic Mauser type and the Fiala Arms and Equipment Company .22 caliber pistol, having a barrel less than 16 inches in length with an attachable shoulder stock is held to be a short-barreled rifle that comes under the purview of the National Firearms Act.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1961-203- Classification of a hand gun January 1, 1961 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312591 Firearms This ruling clarifies that a handgun of the Luger or semi-automatic Mauser type, having a barrel less than 16 inches in length with an attachable shoulder stock is a firearm that comes within the purview of the National Firearms Act.

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