Found AOW?

[Daycrawler]

A friend of mine was moving an old desk that he has had for almost 40 years. The desk was passed down form his grand father. While moving the desk he found several hidden compartments that he never knew about. several coins and other itmes were found. The odd ball was a .32 Cal. pen gun. The pen gun was in the box with .32 rounds as well as blanks. There was no paper work with the pen gun, except instructions in the lid.

So the big question is can he declare this weapon and have it registered?
Would it be automatically seized due to ATF laws? Should he turn it over to his lawyer for safe keeping? Any help would be appreciated!

[GunLawyer001]

Do some research before providing details on the Web; not all pen guns are AOW's. Some need to be "bent" before they fire, and those are OK. Some are flare guns, which I believe are OK as well.

But in general, you can't register an existing NFA firearm, you can only build one on a Form 1, or you can transfer an existing, registered one on a Form 4 (there are exceptions which don't matter here.)

An FFL/SOT can build one and register it. You could build one from parts and register it. But if it already exists and is unregistered, it's contraband.

ETA: You can't transfer contraband to a lawyer, we have no special powers like that, we can go to jail just like anyone else for possessing contraband. You could get away with handing it to police for safekeeping, but you'll probably never get it back.

[Daycrawler]

Do some research before providing details on the Web; not all pen guns are AOW's. Some need to be "bent" before they fire, and those are OK.

An FFL/SOT can build one and register it. You could build one from parts and register it. But if it already exists and is unregistered, it's contraband.

I am certain that it is real rounds were in the box. What does "bent" meen?
So Ill pass on the word that it is contraband. Thanks for your response!

[knight0334]

I am certain that it is real rounds were in the box. What does "bent" meen?
So Ill pass on the word that it is contraband. Thanks for your response!

On some pen guns, the gun hinges into the shape of a pistol. Those aren't AOW's since the firing shape resembles a handgun. Other pen guns that fire from the shape of a pen are AOW's, which would follow NFA law.

[Daycrawler]

On some pen guns, the gun hinges into the shape of a pistol. Those aren't AOW's since the firing shape resembles a handgun. Other pen guns that fire from the shape of a pen are AOW's, which would follow NFA law.

Thanks, understood!

[Nate7667]

AOW pen gun ($5 NFA)




Stinger pen gun (transfers like a normal handgun)

[wishIhada5.0]

put the box in your pocket and enjoy a cool item?

[RandomTask]

Things like this shuld be treated like gays in the military before posting them on an open forum.

[RandomTask]

Please Note: The poster was issued an infraction for this post. Reason: Hateful Content: Borderline

Hateful!? My reference was to the policy of, "Don't ask, don't tell."

sheesh...

[Chazman321]

Hateful!? My reference was to the policy of, "Don't ask, don't tell."

sheesh...

Yeah, sometimes it's better to just say something than allude to it... Been there, done that...

-Chaz