If you own an SBR or SBS, you know that it is engraved much the same way as any other firearm. However, if you’re making your own silencer, suppressor, or SBR, you must follow the exact marking guidelines set forth by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). These guidelines dictate everything from what kind of engraving you should do to where you should place the markings.

Use the Required Engraving Marks

Since you are making the NFA item yourself, you’ll have to create some of the required markings yourself, while others are already set for you. This information must be marked on one of the following places: the frame, receiver, barrel, or pistol slide (if applicable). Here’s what needs to be engraved:

• Manufacturer
  • This will either be your name (“John Doe”) or the name of your trust (“The Doe Trust”).
• Model
  • You don’t have to create a model, but if you create one and enter it on the Form 1 application, then it has to be included on the NFA item. The model name can be whatever you want it to be.
• Caliber
  • Pretty straightforward
• Serial Number
  • You must create a serial number. It’s almost entirely up to you, but alpha characters, e.g., a name, will not be accepted as a serial number by themselves. If a name is to be used, there must be at least one numeric character in addition to the alpha characters. For example, “JOHNDOE” is not acceptable, but “JOHN DOE1” is acceptable.
• City and State
  • The city and state in which you are physically making the NFA item also have to be included. You can choose to spell out the entire state or use the two-letter postal abbreviation.