27 CFR § 478.98 - Sales or deliveries of destructive devices and certain firearms.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t27/s478.98"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "27 CFR § 478.98 - Sales or deliveries of destructive devices and certain firearms."
title_number: 27
title_name: "Alcohol, Tobacco Products and Firearms"
section_number: "478.98"
section_name: "Sales or deliveries of destructive devices and certain firearms."
chapter_name: "BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS, AND EXPLOSIVES, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION"
part_number: "478"
part_name: "COMMERCE IN FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "5 U.S.C. 552(a); 18 U.S.C. 847, 921-931; 44 U.S.C. 3504(h)."
regulatory_source: "33 FR 18555, Dec. 14, 1968, unless otherwise noted. Redesignated at 40 FR 16835, Apr. 15, 1975, and further redesignated by T.D. ATF-487, 68 FR 3750, Jan. 24, 2003."
cfr_part: "478"
---


# 478.98 Sales or deliveries of destructive devices and certain firearms.

The sale or delivery by a licensee of any destructive device, machine gun, short-barreled shotgun, or short-barreled rifle, to any person other than another licensee who is licensed under this part to deal in such device or firearm, is prohibited unless the person to receive such device or firearm furnishes to the licensee a sworn statement setting forth

(a) The reasons why there is a reasonable necessity for such person to purchase or otherwise acquire the device or weapon; and

(b) That such person's receipt or possession of the device or weapon would be consistent with public safety. Such sworn statement shall be made on the application to transfer and register the firearm required by Part 479 of this chapter. The sale or delivery of the device or weapon shall not be made until the application for transfer is approved by the Director and returned to the licensee (transferor) as provided in Part 479 of this chapter.

[T.D. ATF-270, 53 FR 10497, Mar. 31, 1988]