About Firearm Engraving

Before a firearm or suppressor is made, the individual or entity building the firearm must file an application with and receive permission from the ATF before proceeding with manufacturing. The approved application should bear the NFA stamp, which indicates the make, model, serial number, barrel length, total length, and caliber/gauge of the firearm.

All of this information should then be engraved (or otherwise permanently marked) by the maker on the appropriate parts (i.e., the frame, receiver, or barrel, depending on the information in question). If the firearm maker is an individual, the finished firearm should also be engraved with the individual’s name and the city and state in which it was produced.

If the firearm marker is an NFA gun trust rather than an individual, the finished firearm should be engraved with the name of the trust in place of the name of the individual.

The requirements for the engraving are outlined in the Code of Federal Regulations § 479.102. Some of the key points indicated include:

• The markings should be placed conspicuously on the firearm. 

• The markings should be created such that they cannot be easily removed or altered.  

• The markings should be made to a minimum depth of 0.003 inches and print size of ≥0.0625 inches. 

These constraints apply to all firearm manufacturers, makers, and importers. Individuals or entities buying pre-manufactured firearms are not required to engrave the purchased firearms as they should already be appropriately marked

Please bring photo ID and a copy of your approved ATF documents upon drop off of your firearm.

Contact us with any questions regarding firearm engraving