This may seem like a dumb question, I have an oppurtunity to buy an Encore (rifle) for an awesome price. Can I use the same frame for a pistol???

You may get different answers from different folks, but as I understand it if the frame leaves the factory as part of a rifle, then it cannot be used for a handgun frame. To do so is breaking the ATF rules. If it leaves as a handgun frame it can be used for either. From a practical aspect, it will work for a handgun as the frames are all the same, & you would probably never have a legal problem, but it is illegal as I understand it to use a "rifle" frame for a handgun.

ditto on vances post...jim257

Thats another one thats been going round and round here in NY. After personally calling the ATF and NYS Pistol permit division and T/C, all are saying exactly that. A frame which leaves the factory as a PISTOL frame can be a pistol or a long gun. A frame that leaves the factory as a LONG GUN can only be a long gun. If you purchase a used
Encore/Contender and are not sure, you can call Thompson and give them the serial number and they will tell you what the frame was when it left the factory.

Unless you murder somebody with it who is really going to check that out?

If This is really such a BIG deal than maybe T/C should modify the frames so that the 2 cannot be mixed and matched. Don't you think the ATF would be all over this if they thought it was an issue. Furthure more I don't believe in breaking the law in the ways mentioned above but by simply swapping a butt stock for a hand grip ang shorter barrel I don't see anything wrong with it!!!

What they need to do is sell the frame (as a pistol) and add the accessory kit of choice (barrel, grip/stock, and forend).

Make it MUCH simpler.

bigjohn, i'm sorry if i sounded abrupt in my post. i certainly didn't mean to imply you would do any of those things. i, too, think it's a stupid law that doesn't make any sense. the thing keeping atf from probably making a big deal out of it is the fact that there aren't too many criminals making single shots their weapon of choice. since tx44hunter doesn't have one yet, i'd recommend he spend a little more and be legal from the get-go. admittedly, the odds of getting caught are pretty slim. and if you did, they probably wouldn't do much if they thought you were a "good" guy. but the fact that they could, keeps me honest. i wouldn't fair very well in a federal prison or living life with my right to firearms taken away. again, i'm sorry if i offended you.