Ed,
The official ruling from ATF is that they can basically do what they want. They have often and repeatedly interpreted their own rules to suit the case they are trying to make. They have often reversed their own rulings with little or no explanation.
If you have both parts, (i.e. a stock and you only own a 4" barrel pistol), that's intent, should they choose to prosecute you. Why own the stock if you don't have the correct pistol it goes to?
You could offer up logic about you being a collector and the stock came up for sale and you could not pass it up and you are currently looking for a correct artillery to match it to.....but ATF could not care less, should they choose to prosecute you.
The rule of thumb with ATF is give them as little as possible to arouse their interest in you. If you own the stock and a 4" barrel gun, keep them in separate places and inform as few people as possible that you own both.
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