Is there anyway to legally build an 80% Ak

[saegerbomb]

First and foremost, forgive me for my ignorance. Years ago during the 80% boom, I bought a couple of AK kits. Is there still a legal route to getting the unique serial number via DOJ if and when I build? I do have CA complaint parts. Has anyone gone through the process with the DOJ? And if so, could you offer some guidance?

 

[Yetiultimate]

Yes, you can apply for a serial number on cfars and then have it engraved on the receiver. Its very time consuming, these days I just order my receivers complete.

https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/consumer-alert.pdf

 

[weaverftw]

Yes, you can apply for a serial number on cfars and then have it engraved on the receiver. Its very time consuming, these days I just order my receivers complete.

https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/consumer-alert.pdf

I assume this is the same for ARs as long as it either has the maglock+kingpin type setup or is featureless?

Is there any legal/historical path that would result in someone legally owning a self-manufactured AR without a S/N (if they built it in a certain timeframe etc)? Or is it true that anyone who built one in the past (even if it was legal to not have a S/N at the time) must have applied for a S/N by that 2019 date or else must apply for a S/N for a new build?

 

[Yetiultimate]

I assume this is the same for ARs as long as it either has the maglock+kingpin type setup or is featureless?

Is there any legal/historical path that would result in someone legally owning a self-manufactured AR without a S/N (if they built it in a certain timeframe etc)? Or is it true that anyone who built one in the past (even if it was legal to not have a S/N at the time) must have applied for a S/N by that 2019 date or else must apply for a S/N for a new build?

There is no grandfather clause for a non-serialed AR or AK build in CA. I only built 1 AR from an 80% back in the day, but I built many AKs. After paying the fees to the engraver, paying the fees to the DOJ for the unique serial number, taking the photos, submitting them and waiting for the inevitable kickback because they wanted to see another stupid angle, etc…it was just faster and easier to get 100% receivers and rebuild them myself. Especially since I had all the tooling anyway.

 

[Deleted member 9396]

Apply for a serial number? meh... 80% serialized builds can't be transferred (to your heirs or anyone else)...... not worth it, IMO

*I know, i'm straying from your original question... apologies... but hey why not

May i suggest you build them on a 100%? A serialized receiver?
have the receivers shipped to your favorite local FFL and then get Randall or another smith to build 'em (or build yourself)

ReCreator Blanks Online Store

Reserve your AK receiver blanks, parts, tooling, ect.

www.recreatorblanks.com

or

100 FFL Required Receivers – FFL Required Firearm Products

Here on the Arms Of America site you’ll find all sorts of firearms and accessories, like these 100 FFL Required Receivers. Visit our site and get yours today!

armsofamerica.com

AOA is awesome for receivers and so is Matt @ Recreatorblanks

look....$59 only



and you want to use enough US made parts for 922r compliance
922R is easy to follow:

BuildAkVerifyCompliance < Gunwiki < TWiki

gunwiki.net

AKs are fantastic : )
Good luck!

 

[davethebull]

OP are you going to send it to an AK gunsmith to put together or are you doing it yourself?

Reason I am asking, is because I just started with one and when I started I didn't realize how much effort and money it takes. In the end, at least for me, it would have been more cost effective just to buy a built one. So I started with the receiver, parts kit, barrel, rivets, trigger, but then there's the tools needed... I have thought about sending it in to be put together because to do it myself, I would need all of the following tools:

• Barrel Install Tool
• Long Rivet Tool
• Trigger Guard Tool
• Rivet Jaws
• 12-ton press
• Headspace gauge- I ended up not using this
• Drill Press

And others that I can't remember at the moment.

 

[weaverftw]

There is no grandfather clause for a non-serialed AR or AK build in CA. I only built 1 AR from an 80% back in the day, but I built many AKs. After paying the fees to the engraver, paying the fees to the DOJ for the unique serial number, taking the photos, submitting them and waiting for the inevitable kickback because they wanted to see another stupid angle, etc…it was just faster and easier to get 100% receivers and rebuild them myself. Especially since I had all the tooling anyway.

Any reason you can’t engrave yourself? Do they have to be engraved by a certain type of registered business or in a specific font/size or something? Was hoping to build one and engrave using chisels i use for kanji on forged carbon steel knives…

The link to the actual rules for serialization looks to be broken (or something’s up with my phone)

 

[Yetiultimate]

Any reason you can’t engrave yourself? Do they have to be engraved by a certain type of registered business or in a specific font/size or something? Was hoping to build one and engrave using chisels i use for kanji on forged carbon steel knives…

The link to the actual rules for serialization looks to be broken (or something’s up with my phone)

Sure, you can engrave it yourself. Here are the guidelines that must be followed and submitted to the DOJ after being finished. This is generally through photos and if the auditor has any questions or concerns the registration will be denied.

“
For firearms manufactured, imported, or made on and after January 30, 2002, the engraving, casting, or stamping (impressing) of this information must be to a minimum depth of .003 inch. The additional information includes:

(i) The model, if such designation has been made; (U) The caliber or gauge;

(iii) Your name (or recognized abbreviation) and also, when applicable, the name of the foreign manufacturer or maker;

(iv) In the case of a domestically made firearm, the city and State (or recognized abbreviation thereof) where you as the manufacturer maintain your place of business, or where you, as the maker, made the firearm; and

(v) In the case of an imported firearm, the name of the country in which it was manufactured and the city and State (or recognized abbreviation thereof) where you as the importer maintain your place of business. For additional requirements relating to imported firearms, see Customs regulations at 19 CFR part 134.

(b) The depth of all markings required by this section will be measured from the flat surface of the metal and not the peaks or ridges. The height of serial numbers required by paragraph (a)

(1) of this section will be measured as the distance between the latitudinal ends of the character impression bottoms (bases).”