Overall lentgth

B

bullfrog99

New member
Do overall length laws, (26" national , 30" in Mi) apply to a gun with a folding stock when the stock is extended or when it is folded. If it applies to an extened stock: if a stock is folded and the gun is unfireable, like some russian designs on AK's does the length revert to extened?
 
The overall length Federal 26" requirement is the length in it's shortest configuration, i.e. folded, yet still operable. That is why the semi-auto Mini Uzi (with folding stock) has a barrel length of 19". That is how it meets the minimum length requirement. However, the Kel-Tec folding rifles cannot fire when the stick is folded, therefore the 26" law only applies when the stock is fully extended. I don't know about the Michigan 30" requirement.

The 26" law is not quite fixed in stone, however. Lakeside Guns manufactures a 1/2 scale M1919 semi-auto belt-fed .22lr that only has a 10" barrel, and the OAL is less than 26". It is not an NFA firearm. The BATF let them get away with this because the tripod is permanently mounted to the gun (per BATF instruction)
 
The overall length Federal 26" requirement is the length in it's shortest configuration, i.e. folded, yet still operable.
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Not really. The law doesn't actually say whether it is folded or extended. What it does say is:
Firearm. (a) A shotgun having a barrel or barrels of less than 18 inches in length; (b) a weapon made from a shotgun if such weapon as modified has an overall length of less than 26 inches or a barrel or barrels of less than 18 inches in length; (c) a rifle having a barrel or barrels of less than 16 inches in length; (d) a weapon made from a rifle if such weapon as modified has an overall length of less than 26 inches or a barrel or barrels of less than 16 inches in length; (e) any other weapon, as defined in this subpart; (f) a machinegun; (g) a muffler or a silencer for any firearm whether or not such firearm is included within this definition; and (h) a destructive device. The term shall not include an antique firearm or any device (other than a machinegun or destructive device) which, although designed as a weapon, the Director finds by reason of the date of its manufacture, value, design, and other characteristics is primarily a collector's item and is not likely to be used as a weapon. For purpose of this definition, the length of the barrel on a shotgun or rifle shall be determined by measuring the distance between the muzzle and the face of the bolt, breech, or breechlock when closed and when the shotgun or rifle is cocked. The overall length of a weapon made from a shotgun or rifle is the distance between the extreme ends of the weapon measured along a line parallel to the center line of the bore.
http://www.atf.gov/pub/fire-explo_pub/complete.htm
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The "extreme ends" are not the ends when the stock is folded or collapsed.

Bardwell, in his NFA FAQ makes the comment that:
A short barreled rifle is a rifle (which is defined as a shoulder fired, rifled bore firearm) with a barrel length of less than 16", or an overall length of less than 26", or any weapon made from a rifle falling into the same length parameters (like a pistol made from a rifle). In measuring barrel length you do it from theclosed breech to the muzzle, see 27 CFR sec. 179.11. To measure overall length do so along, "the distance between the extreme ends of the weapon measured along a line parallel to the center line of the bore." 27 CFR sec. 179.11. On a folding stock weapon you measure with the stock extended, provided the stock is not readily detachable, and the weapon is meant to be fired from the shoulder.
http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs.cmu.edu/user/wbardwel/public/nfalist/nfa_faq.txt
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