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The white whale of AOWs

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CitizenClark:
If my Internet research is any indication, lots of folks would like to buy a smoothbore, side-by-side 12 gauge handgun. Such an animal would either be an AOW (if never assembled with a shoulder stock) or a short-barreled shotgun (if it is manufactured from a shotgun that was originally fitted with a shoulder stock).

There are two major advantages under federal law of an AOW version over an SBS version, and some other advantages based on the law in certain states. The federal advantages are that the transfer tax is only $5 instead of $200 and that as an AOW temporary interstate transport doesn't require prior approval of an ATF Form 5320.20. Additionally, some states (e.g., California) prohibit SBSs but allow AOWs.

As far as I know, the most common AOW of this type is the Ithaca Auto & Burglar, but good luck finding one for sale.

Nebraska's own Hatcher Gun Company manufactures some very cool short shotguns, but since they are all manufactured from shotguns originally fitted with shoulder stocks, these are SBSs and not AOWs.

My understanding is that the reason that all such new manufacture shotguns are SBSs and not AOWs is that the shotgun manufacturers whose products could potentially be made into an AOW will not sell virgin receivers for the purpose of manufacturing an AOW, and those that might sell them for this purpose are somehow prevented from importing the virgin receivers and can only bring in such shotguns if they are assembled in some sort of sporting configuration.

It seems to me that there is an opportunity here, but I just have no idea how much it would cost to tool up for producing these things from scratch, or who might be persuaded to undertake such a project.

Ideas?

unfy:
How good is Serbu's business with it's super shorty ?  that might hint.

RobertH:
from what i have heard a few times is that shotgun manufacturers only release a small number of virgin receivers to some manufacturers.  Serbu is a main one.  i also think Dave Hineline was able to buy some virgin receiver at one time.

now, what if you buy the Mossberg Just In Case shotgun.  it is a pistol gripped shotgun, could that be made into an AOW?  it never had a stock, just a pistol grip.  yes its a $200 Form 1 to make the AOW, but $5 to transfer it.

unfy:

--- Quote from: RobertH on March 14, 2013, 08:01:13 AM ---now, what if you buy the Mossberg Just In Case shotgun.  it is a pistol gripped shotgun, could that be made into an AOW?  it never had a stock, just a pistol grip.  yes its a $200 Form 1 to make the AOW, but $5 to transfer it.

--- End quote ---

Dunno if it takes a Form 1 with $200 stamp to turn it into an AOW ?

But yeah.

I've got a Mossberg Persuader that came PGO.  Swapped out factory pistol grip with a knoxx stock pistol grip.  The thought of turning it into an AOW is indeed strong but would defeat it's purpose (home defense).

CitizenClark:

--- Quote from: unfy on March 14, 2013, 08:24:33 AM ---Dunno if it takes a Form 1 with $200 stamp to turn it into an AOW ?

--- End quote ---

RobertH is correct: the AOW transfer tax is only $5, but the making tax is the same as for other NFA firearms: $200.

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