Department of the Treasury
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
Washington, D.C.  20226

February 15, 1996

Dear Mr. :

This is in response to your letter requesting information on the
applicability of the waiting period provision of the Brady
Handgun Violence Prevention Act (Brady) to the sale of a Thompson
Center frame.

As you are aware, Brady amended the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA)
to provide for, in those states that did not already require a
background check, a 5-day waiting period on the transfer of a
handgun by a Federal firearms licensee to a nonlicensee.

The GCA defines the term handgun as "(A) a firearm which has a
short stock and is designed to be held and fired by the use of a
single hand; and (B) any combination of parts from which a
firearm described in subparagraph (A) can be assembled."

Accordingly, the sale of a frame assembly or a frame and a barrel
alone without any grip would not meet the definition of a handgun
under the GCA.  However, the sale of a frame assembly, barrel and 
handgrip, either assembled or unassembled, would meet the above
definition and therefore be subject to the waiting period
provisions of Brady.

We hope this is responsive to your inquiry.  Should you have any
further questions concerning this matter, do not hesitate to
contact us.

			Sincerely yours,

			   [signed]

			Robert P. Mosley
		Chief, Firearms and Explosives
		      Operations Branch