August 18, 2025, 10:57 PM
neverenoughgunsNFA wait times
I was fortunate enough to get a form 1 (trust) back in about 34 hours two weeks ago. I did use Silencer Shop for the preparation/submittal service so not sure if that shaved some time off or not. Funny part is that it actually took longer to arrange to have the lower engraved than it did waiting for the ATF!
August 19, 2025, 05:43 AM
Mars_AttacksMy fun store told me to put suppressors into a trust so I can leave them to family members.
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August 19, 2025, 09:11 AM
P220 Smudgequote:
Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
My fun store told me to put suppressors into a trust so I can leave them to family members.
Just to clarify a little, you can do it without a trust as well. Form 5 is a free transfer on your death. Trust gives the added benefit of no extra paperwork and they can possess the NFA items while you're not around to directly supervise in the meantime.
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August 19, 2025, 01:16 PM
1flynDOI believe the trust takes a little longer from personal experience.
I will wait to sbr some lowers in January. I do believe like the rest the times will get crazy to like 1-2 years come January. Gonna get my lowers engraved now and literally file at midnight on December 31. Lol
August 19, 2025, 01:24 PM
Mars_AttacksWhere do you engrave the lower at?
When you buy a "pistol" and replace the brace with a stock, do you still need to have it engraved?
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August 19, 2025, 01:54 PM
Dwill104You have to engrave on the frame or receiver. Used to be able to engrave on the barrel, but that was done away with a couple of years ago. Where you engrave the receiver depends on what you’re engraving. For an AR type lower, I’ve lately gotten the engraving on the inside of the magwell flare.
If you make a SBR, has to be engraved with the maker’s (you or your trust) info. Doesn’t matter if it started out as a rifle, or a pistol, with or without a brace. The only exemption was during the braced pistol amnesty scam where you could file Form 1s for braced pistols for free and not have to mark them, but that’s gone now. The stated reason was that these “SBRs” were made by the manufactures, and didn’t need any additional information added since they already had the manufacturer’s info on it (I.e. they were considered factory “SBRs”.
August 19, 2025, 02:04 PM
Dwill104quote:
Originally posted by neverenoughguns:
I was fortunate enough to get a form 1 (trust) back in about 34 hours two weeks ago. I did use Silencer Shop for the preparation/submittal service so not sure if that shaved some time off or not. Funny part is that it actually took longer to arrange to have the lower engraved than it did waiting for the ATF!
Once it gets certified, it doesn’t matter one bit whether you did it yourself, Silencer shop did it, and anyone else did it. Once it’s certified, it pops into the ATF system and goes from there. They is nothing that tells the ATF if anyone helped you prepare it or you did it all by yourself.
I did my another one last night. Took less than 15 minutes, and that included taking pics of the receiver markings and uploading them to my computer, and updating my eforms password because it had expired.
August 19, 2025, 07:08 PM
Mars_AttacksSo just my name, city, state and the serial number that's already on the receiver?
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August 19, 2025, 07:23 PM
StorminNorminquote:
Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
So just my name, city, state and the serial number that's already on the receiver?
I haven’t built a new SBR for a long time so I did an AI search to see if anything changed from when I have done it and it doesn’t seem anything has changed. I always did my engravings on the front of the mag well. Just name, city, and state. I never re-engraved the serial number as it was already on the receiver and didn’t change.
This is the results I got:
When converting a rifle into a short barrel rifle (SBR) by filing a Form 1 with the ATF, you become the manufacturer of a new NFA firearm, even if the base firearm was previously manufactured by someone else. As the maker, you are required by federal law to engrave the firearm with:
• Your name (or the name of your trust/legal entity if applicable),
• The city and state of manufacture (where you reside or where the trust is located),
• The caliber (if not already present or if changed from original),
• The serial number (usually already present on the lower receiver for AR-15 builds, unless you are making one from an unfinished lower)
The engraving requirements are:
• Minimum depth of .003in
• Minimum print size of 1/16in
• Font must be simple block style
• Engraving must be visible and legible
For AR-type firearms, the receiver (specifically the lower receiver) is legally considered the “firearm.” Engraving to meet ATF requirements can be placed on any visible external part of the receiver. Popular areas for engraving include:
• On the magwell (outside or inside lip, as long as visible)
• Around or under the trigger area (but visible without disassembly)
• Above the receiver extension (buffer tube area)
• On the front of the receiver, below the front pin
NRA Benefactor Life Member August 19, 2025, 07:40 PM
P220 Smudgequote:
Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
So just my name, city, state and the serial number that's already on the receiver?
Name, city, state. Serial number’s already on the receiver in your case.
______________________________________________
"If the truth shall kill them, let them die.”
Endeavoring to master the subtle art of the grapefruit spoon.
August 19, 2025, 08:20 PM
Dwill104I’ve also engraved on the underside of the trigger guard, but that’s only for lowers with an integrated trigger guard, not one with the guard being a separate part.
August 20, 2025, 02:53 AM
Mars_Attacksquote:
Originally posted by P220 Smudge:
quote:
Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
So just my name, city, state and the serial number that's already on the receiver?
Name, city, state. Serial number’s already on the receiver in your case.
Perfect, thank you!
Like this?
MARZY ATTACKS NORTH, MARS
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August 20, 2025, 06:45 AM
Mars_Attacksquote:
Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
Filed today 8-18 at 4:00PM to SBR the DOE.
Let's see how fast it goes this time.
Approved at 7:17 this morning Aug. 20.
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August 20, 2025, 09:38 AM
1flynDOUsed my trust for a deadair wolf man. Took 4 days. To include the weekend.
August 20, 2025, 10:04 AM
P220 Smudgequote:
Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
Perfect, thank you!
Yeah, basically:
Bill Smith, Atlanta, GA
Or:
Smith Trust, Atlanta, GA
Just for examples in the spirit of total disambiguation and clarity.

quote:
Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
Approved at 7:17 this morning Aug. 20.
Badass! You got a local place that'll laser engrave for walk-ins? Mine does, but he frankly overcharges. $60! Ought to be half that and he's still making a ridiculous profit on the time invested.
I need to buy a MOPA fiber laser and get my 01 FFL so I can legally "gunsmith." There's going to be a shit-ton of guys who've never done anything NFA looking to get lowers engraved very, very soon.
______________________________________________
"If the truth shall kill them, let them die.”
Endeavoring to master the subtle art of the grapefruit spoon.
August 20, 2025, 11:52 AM
Mars_Attacksquote:
Originally posted by P220 Smudge:
I need to buy a MOPA fiber laser and get my 01 FFL so I can legally "gunsmith." There's going to be a shit-ton of guys who've never done anything NFA looking to get lowers engraved very, very soon.
If they push the go button, they are engraving it themselves........
My store charges $25 per.
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August 20, 2025, 12:09 PM
P220 Smudgequote:
Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
If they push the go button, they are engraving it themselves........
Like a lot of things, the ATF started cracking down hard on that. Not sure if they still are under the current administration, but that was what I gleaned in my searching in the various laser engraving forums when I looked into it back in the spring. They said you're still engaged in the business of engraving, which requires an FFL. Still, not the end of the world, and may well be worth doing. Opens the doors to transfers for friends and direct shipments to my house.
quote:
Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
My store charges $25 per.
I think that's a great price. I'm looking forward to the pic thread once you slap the stock on there. Congrats.

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"If the truth shall kill them, let them die.”
Endeavoring to master the subtle art of the grapefruit spoon.
August 22, 2025, 03:58 PM
Mars_AttacksEngraving BOTH lowers were in and out in less than an hour.
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August 27, 2025, 10:25 AM
MikeGLIForm 4 Submitted 8/25 at 2:59pm
Form 4 Approved 8/27 at 8:28am
Submitted via trust.
NRA Life Member
Steak: Rare. Coffee: Black. Bourbon: Neat. September 02, 2025, 07:59 AM
hrcjonsubmitted 8/27 approved 9/2 form 4
“So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.”