Variance Order Policies

Contract Manufacturing, Variance/Custom Receivers

General Manufacturing Company offers a wide variety of contract manufacturing including CNC milling, turning, assembly, and many other services for your custom projects or OEM needs. Please send RFQ’s to info@generalmfg.net
We offer several different options for getting your brand name onto our quality billet and forged lower receivers. If you are a 07 Manufacturer, we can guide you through the process to get an ATF approved marking variance so that we can mark lowers with your info instead of ours which will help you appeal to your local customer base. If you are a 01 Dealer, we can still help you customize these lowers as well. We can also do special runs for groups, organizations, forums, etc. with a minimum order of 25 parts.

  • For 07 Manufacturers:
    • Your Logo
    • Your choice of model designation
    • Your choice of serial number sequence
    • Your choice of fire control markings
    • Your choice of caliber markings
    • Your business name, city, state as the manufacturer
    • NO mention of General Manufacturing Company anywhere on the lower or packaging
    • GMC will submit a variance request on your behalf which takes approximately 30 but no more than 90 days to get approved with a ONE TIME per variance $50 fee.
    • NO SETUP FEE! (Initial Order must be a minimum of 25 parts)
  • For 01 Dealers or Small Batch Custom Runs
    • Your Logo
    • Your choice of model designation
    • Your choice of serial number sequence
    • Your choice of fire control markings
    • Your choice of caliber markings
    • We must engrave “General Manufacturing Company, Bethel Park, PA” in a discreet area on the side of the lower as the manufacturer
    • No mention of General Manufacturing Company anywhere else on the lower or packaging
    • No marking variance request necessary – we can start on your custom order right away!
    • NO SETUP FEE! (Initial Order must be a minimum of 25 parts)

How It Works:

Once we receive the requested info, we will prepare the ATF Marking Variance Request on behalf of your company. We will send the variance to you for review, corrections. You will sign the marking variance request and e-mail it back to us so we can submit your package to ATF and start the wait time. Between 30-90 days after submission, the BATFE will send back an e-mail to your company and ours at the same time when the variance is approved which allows us to start work on your order. (01 Dealers and Custom Orders will skip the variance step; however, we still require all the info below in the same format) At this time our engraving department will send you photos of an actual lower engraved with your info for your approval before we start manufacturing your custom lowers.

What We Need from You:

It’s very important to us that we make this a smooth and simple process for both of our companies. To get started we need some information from your company. Please e-mail the info to us variance@generalmfg.net with the subject line: “New Variance Request”. Please ensure you send in ALL information in ONE e- mail to us to simplify the process. The easiest way for both parties to keep all the information straight would be to format the information in the order it is below.

  • Attach a scanned copy of your current FFL to the e-mail
  • FULL name of one responsible person on the license (FIRST, MIDDLE, and LAST NAME)
  • Official Title of this responsible person
  • Phone Number for ATF to call with any questions
  • E-Mail Address for ATF to e-mail with any questions
  • Type of Lower
  • Model Designation: i.e. M-16, M-4, XY-15, etc.
  • Caliber Designation: i.e. MULTI, 5.56mm, .300BLK, etc.
  • Serial Number Sequence: *Must be at least one letter and one number* i.e. GMC001 to GMC999 **NOTE: Even if you are not ordering them all at once, we recommend placing a variance for a larger sequence so that we don’t need ATF approval (and the 30- 90 day wait time) for each order you place. For example, if you choose XYZ0001 to XYZ9999 that allows you to order multiple times, up to 9,999 lowers, on this one variance without having to ask permission from ATF again.
  • Attach graphic file for your logo (if applicable). Any format will work; HOWEVER, we request a black and white line drawing. Basically, a white background (or no background) with black lines to represent what will be engraved. We can make small changes to graphics as necessary however we are NOT a graphics artist shop and CANNOT create a logo for you. There is a one time $50 art fee for this as well.
  • Approximate quantity for your initial order

**TIP – We can put all styles/calibers of lowers we make on one variance request even if you’re not ready to order them all!**

Payment & Terms:

At the time of order confirmation, a 50% deposit of your total order will be due upon receipt. When your order is ready to be engraved (usually 24-48 hours before they leave for anodizing) you will be sent an invoice for the remaining 50%balance due immediately. Turnaround at anodizing varies depending on their workload, however 7-10 business days has been the norm. Once we receive them back from anodizing, they will go through final quality control and assembly for the pieces of hardware we provide “when applicable”, get individually bagged, packaged, and boxed up to ship. Drop shipping from anodizing can be done per your request.

FOR RAW FINISH ON ANY OF THE ITEMS ABOVE PLEASE DEDUCT $5 PER PART NO MATTER THE QTY.

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