JUL 31 1963 CP:AT:EF:TWD Browning Arms Co. Ogden, Utah Attention: John V. Browning, President Gentlemen: This refers to your letter of June 25, 1963, wherein you discuss our ruling of May 28, 1963, to Browning Industries, Inc., Ogden, Utah, concerning the FN Browning light rifle, caliber 7.62mm. The fact that the rifle in question was originally designed to fire full automatic was not the only yardstick used in the latest classification determination of the FN Browning light rifle, which resulted in our ruling of May 28, 1963. Many other features played a part in the final decision, including the ease whereby the rifle could be restored to full automatic fire. This ruling, however, was not intended to be precedent setting since every classification determination of a firearm is decided individually on its own merits. Furthermore, we did not intend that the ruling have retroactive effect. Therefore, all of those weapons imported by you prior to May 28, 1963, may be sold in the United States without restrictions under the National Firearms Act, provided of course that they are not altered so that they may fire full automatic. There are a number of weapons in this country which were developed as full automatic and at some later time other models of those weapons were introduced as semiautomatic only. This Division did not consider such models as being in the machine gun category. We would use the same criteria in any consideration involving guns developed by you. Very truly yours, [signed] Dwight E. Avis Director, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Division CC: ARC:A&TT, SAN FRANCISCO CC: ARC:A&TT, OMAHA TWDARR/dlw 7/30/63