requires a permit or license for the possession of an NFA weapon before the applicant takes possession,
a certified copy of the license or permit should be submitted with the Form 1 application.
Section 6.4 Approval of Form 1. Non-FFL/SOT’s may seek approval to manufacture an NFA firearm
(e.g., short-barreled rifles, short-barreled, shotguns, wallet guns, etc.) via submission of an ATF Form 1.
Upon receipt of the completed Form 1, ATF will process the application and, if approved, a tax stamp
will be affixed to the original of the form and the approved application will be returned to the applicant.
Approval by ATF will effect registration of the firearm to the applicant. Upon receipt of the approved
application, the applicant may make the firearm described on the approved Form 1. The approved form
must be retained by the applicant and made available at all times for inspection by ATF officers or
investigators. Note: Under no circumstances may the firearm in question be made prior to receipt of
the approved Form 1.
The approval of the Form 1 application authorizes the applicant to make the firearm. The approval does
not authorize the applicant to convey or ship the firearm to another person to manufacture the NFA
firearm. If another person will manufacture the NFA firearm, the other person would be the maker and
the application must be submitted by that person. Subsequent to the making, the firearm could then be
transferred, subsequent to an approved Form 4 application, to the person who wanted the modification to
be made.
If the applicant on the Form 1 lacks the skill, ability, and/or equipment to manufacture the NFA firearm,
the applicant, after receipt of the approved Form 1, can have the firearm created or modified at a
premises other than shown on the approved Form 1 as long as the creation or modification was done
under the direct oversight of the applicant, thus having the applicant retain custody and control of the
firearm. If the location is outside the applicant’s State and the firearm being made is a short barreled
rifle, short barreled shotgun, destructive device, or an unserviceable machinegun which is being
reactivated, the applicant will also need to request permission to transport the firearm interstate as
required by 27 CFR 478.28.
Section 6.5 Disapproval of Form 1. If the submitted application is disapproved, ATF will advise the
applicant, provide a reason(s) for the disapproval, and return the making tax payment.
Section 6.6 Reactivation of a registered unserviceable NFA firearm. The Form 1 may be used to
reactivate a properly registered unserviceable firearm, including registered unserviceable machineguns.
Block 4(i) of the form should indicate that a registered unserviceable weapon is being reactivated. The
remainder of the form should be prepared and submitted with the making tax in the same manner as
described above except that a law enforcement certification is not required. The existing serial number
on the unserviceable firearm should be used. If the reactivation will be performed by a Class 2
manufacturer, see Chapter 7 for additional information.
Section 6.7 Incorrect Description of Firearm. If the original registration document for the
unserviceable firearm contains incorrect descriptive information for the weapon, a letter should be
written to the NFA Branch providing the proper description and/or indicating what portions of the
description need to be changed. The letter should contain photographs of the actual markings on the
firearm. If a correction of the recorded serial number is needed, a photograph or pencil rubbing of the
serial number is required. ATF will provide a response indicating that the NFRTR has been amended to
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