Pre-May Dealer Sample SBR Question

[Grasshopper]

Hi All,

Found some pre-may dealer sample SBR's in the inventory.  I imagine that would make them foreign manufactured firearms imported in a SBR configuration between 68 and 86.

It is obvious that they can be transferred to other FFL holders of SOT status.

My question is can the short barrel be removed from the Pre-may sample and the remaining firearm be sold as a non-NFA firearm (w/o the barrel)?

Thanks,

Grasshopper

[bug]

Yes. Install or bring existing barrel to 16" and it can be sold as a regular title 1 firearm. Notify NFA branch that the SBR no longer exists. The old barrel is just a part and can be sold separately. The resultant title 1 gun can be registered as an SBR at a later date.

[Got Uzi]

I’m not sure you can if it was imported as an NFA item. To my understanding those are treated as MG’s and can’t be made into a title one. If I’m wrong, I’d like to know for sure one way or the other. 

[bug]

I saw it done around 5 or 6 years ago at KCR.  My memory is fuzzy but I believe they were SIG 551-2 SBRs. The guy picked them up from a PD when he was supplying them with new weps. I was very interested at the time but failed to follow up. I'll see if I can find contact info that I got at the time. He was able to dance around 922R because they were imported as NFA and it did not apply. They were nice at $4500.

[Grasshopper]

Thanks Bug & Got Uzi.  Your help is appreciated.  I've found very limited information until now on the guns.  They are unusual for sure.  Funny thing is I think one of them is of the Sig 551 variety.

Crazy additional question:  If you remove the barrels on two identical Pre-Sample SBR's would they then no longer be SBR's?  (Sort of like removing the barrel from a Lahti L39 is it still a DD?).  Back to the SBR's.  Could you then register the receivers that were Pre-Sample SBR's with a different short barrel (like swapping the barrels between guns when approved) to make transferable SBR's?

Arg - 922R.  I think that may prevent conversion to a normal rifle or SBR.

Grasshopper

Edited July 22, 2023 by Grasshopper

[bug]

I haven't found any additional info but I'm still looking. The process he told me he had to keep to was, convert SBR to title 1. Either perm weld attachment to SBR barrel or install a new 16" barrel. Sell/transfer as title 1 and notify ATF of permanent change to T1. He was told by them that 922R did not apply in this case. Now, he may be currently finishing out a 42 month sentence in Fed prison for all I know, but that was his deal and there seemed to be a lot of takers. It wasn't a parking lot thing, he had a couple of tables and some nice looking stuff.