I understand you can not buy a braced pistol. The intent of my question is - why couldn’t I buy the unbraced pistol, Form 1 it in the 120 day forbearance period, saving the normal cost of the stamp and engraving? Not requiring the engraving is kind of a head scratcher……
Read closely. I'd think it'd have to be owned and configured or "assembled" no later than the day the rule is published. Doing after the rule is published would appear to be a deliberate violation -- if BATF can track the serial in their unofficial registry, then it can open you up to legal liability...
I wasn't aware that the engraving requirement had been removed -- I figured you still had to do it after your Form 1 had been approved, but I haven't read closely... This whole thing smells bad, and I don't think it'll be upheld by the courts, so I'd prefer not to have an NFA item if at all possible.