REWATS - serial number changed?

[gunhistorian]

This may have been addressed in another part of the forums, but I was wondering if a remanufactured DEWAT (that is, restored to firing condition) and, presumably taken out of the Form 5 transfer (free) to a taxable transfer weapon would require the serial number to be changed by -- perhaps -- adding a letter prefix or suffix to the original serial number. Seems that would be an easy way to tell if a Class 3 weapon has been rewatted, thus saving a potential purchaser from a lot of hassle with FOI requests to determine the history of the gun.

[jim c 351]

A rewat is not a remanufacture , so the serial number remains the same.

I own two such guns, a Lewis and a M3 SMG and the number stayed the same.

Jim C

[reconbob]

My understanding is that activating a DEWAT is considered manufacturing. The gun goes

from being an "unserviceable" $5 transfer gun to a "serviceable" $200 transfer gun. True, you

are not making a new machine gun but you would have to do a Form 1 - which they would approve,

or if a Class 2 you have to put it in your book and send in the Form 2. This is what the ATF

told me years back when I reactivated some guns. They said I should alter the serial number

to reflect this. So, serial #1000 became #PO1000, etc. Now here we are years later with a new

generation of bureaucrats so who knows what they would say now....

 

Bob

Edited October 18, 2014 by reconbob

[bug]

and Bob, am I correct in that you are required to mark the gun as well?

[johnsonlmg41]

You definitely do NOT alter the serial number of the gun in any way AT ALL. No adding prefixes, suffixes or even deepening the existing markings,. If you are reactivating or REWAT ing a machinegun you are a "maker", not a manufacturer and are supposed to add your information to the firearm somewhere where it is readable without disassembly. There are guidelines as far as size, depth, and information required of the markings on ATF's website. This is a form 1 activity and will require a form 1 to be approved before you begin the work.

 

FOI's are the direct result of the original serial number of the gun. If that number is altered it's become a mess. If the number was altered prior to May of 86, you effectively created a new pre-86 transferable (bun not likely a C+R) machinegun on a form 1 and no information will be available prior to that. If the serial number was altered on a registered dewat gun after May of 86 that is a can of worms.

 

There are a lot of real, unaltered vintage machineguns that were registered simply by filing a form 1 and adding a name on them somewhere between 1968 and 1986 using the serial number that was on the unaltered contraban registered part. It was never legal but was allowed up until 1968 GCA, when the last amnesty occurred, but it was done and so far they seem to be transferred without a problem? Buyer beware.

[Z3BigDaddy]

You be correct... the serial number stays the same. In the eyes of the ATF your deactivated, at the moment, Thompson is an NFA registered machinegun even though it cannot be "live" until proper taxes are paid.