Make a foriegn stock US made?

[pjj342 632]

I am in the process of looking for a fixed buttstock for my x39 saiga rifle. I will eventually buy the kvar / arsensal warsaw stock if I cant find any cheaper options.

My question is: Is it possible to reprofile or put holes in or do somethning to a foriegn make butt stock / handguard to be able to call it 'US' made? Or if its cut and sanded for the first time abroad, is it a non US parts count item of life? If we are able to do this, we all could save alot of money on stocks. Im in no way trying to skirt the laws of the united states, they are definately here for a reason. I would just like to know if I can but a dirt cheap buttstock from Bulgaria or somewhere, refinish black, put a groove in the side or put an vertical oval hole close to the end and call it US made, because I did the reshaping. Would this work? Or would it still be from bulgaria in the eyes of the law?

Edited July 22, 2011 by Boomsick42

[stnls1911 55]

I think you can only take and make another part, such as a pistol grip. The pistol grip would then be considered made in the U.S. I think if it stays as a butt-stock, it will still be foreign made. If I am wrong, someone please correct me.

[L5K 162]

The stock entered the country as a stock. Therefore no matter what you do to it, it will be a foreign made stock. The only way to convert a foreign made part into a US made part is to change what the part itself is. You cannot turn a foreign stock into a US made stock. You can turn a foreign chunk of wood into a US made stock because it did not enter the country as a stock.

[G O B 3,516]

Foreign parts are always foreign, as long as they retain the original function. You could make a USA handguard out of a foreign buttstock,because it has a new function.

[Deadeye 325]

arent some of the skeliton russan stocks being modified and called american made

http://cgi.ebay.com/Saiga-Skeleton-Rifle-Buttstock-Extendable-11-13-3-4-/390137100108?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5ad5fbb74c

[pjj342 632]

That may be, deadeye. I really dont know thats why I asked. As for the other responses, that would make sense. Im not going to get into to the 'how the hell would they know if you changed its shape and called it yours' argument, because unless they are made of a country specific wood, then it just may pass. But I guess arsenal it is, If thats how the law works. Im not about pushing the legal envelope.

Edited July 23, 2011 by Boomsick42

[DrThunder88 912]

Does anyone have a cite for the "change functions" rule? I was under the impression this was the case, but I can't find either a scanned letter or text from a letter stating it.

[TARE 47]

How would whoever inspecting identify a part as foreign if say all foreign markings where removed for instance from a wooden stock, and remarked with professional looking "made in USA"? I would think it'd be quite difficult to distinguish a refinnished stock as foreign especially when the firearm owner must be proven guilty.

 

What if i went to a gun show, gun shop or through private sale inadvertantly bought a refinished wooden stock that was done up as described and seemed to be US made, could the blame still be on me?

[Joesmoe 14]

Unless you snitched on your self the government could never prove that a refinished stock set was foreign made.

[G O B 3,516]

Remember, it is best NOT to poke bears with a stick while they sleep.