Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Update Sept. 19, 2025
Franklin Armory® Issues Statement on ATF Action Regarding Antithesis™ Firearms
Minden, Nev. – September 19, 2025 – Franklin Armory®, one of America’s leading manufacturers of innovative firearms and accessories, issued the following statement today regarding Franklin Armory’s Antithesis™ line of short-barreled firearms:
Last night, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) requested that we voluntarily bring back all 5.56 caliber Antithesis firearms in advance of the agency issuing a new classification. We were surprised by this in light of the U.S. District Court’s ruling in FRAC v. Bondi.
Out of an abundance of caution and for the well-being of consumers, dealers, and distributors, we are voluntarily requesting all of our customers to return their 5.56 caliber Antithesis firearms for a full refund.
We encourage customers who have taken possession of an Antithesis firearm to contact Franklin Armory Customer service for an RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) and shipping label. This return does not affect Reformation, the .410/45LC Antithesis, or any other firearm made by Franklin Armory.
As Facilitators of Freedom, we are actively raising our concerns with various entities within Congress and the Trump Administration. We are also hopeful that continued negotiations with ATF can arrive at a solution that avoids litigation if at all possible.
Be assured, this will not be the final chapter on Antithesis.
How is this not a gun grab?⁰⁰Why are Americans being asked to turn in their firearms, @ATFHQ? pic.twitter.com/pnChefyGQC
— Gun Owners of America (@GunOwners) September 20, 2025
Franklin Armory is back with another head-turner. The company just announced Antithesis, a short-barreled, shoulder-fired firearm that—at least for now—sits entirely outside the NFA.
If that sounds odd, it’s because it is. The Antithesis is the result of years of litigation, millions in legal bills, and a rare federal court ruling that forced ATF to back down.
According to a settlement (read here) finalized this summer, the Antithesis isn’t a rifle, isn’t a shotgun, and isn’t subject to NFA restrictions. Translation: no tax stamp, no Form 4, no fingerprints, and no need to alert ATF every time you cross state lines.
Franklin Armory is offering six versions of the Antithesis, all chambered in 5.56 NATO, with barrel lengths ranging from 7.5 to 12.5 inches. Prices start at over $1,000.
The Five Big Points
- Nationwide Application – The settlement applies across the entire U.S., not just one judicial circuit.
- Codified as Non-NFA – Antithesis and Reformation are officially not regulated under the NFA. They can’t be classified as rifles, shotguns, SBRs, or SBSs.
- Exemption from Certain GCA Restrictions – They’re immune from sections of the Gun Control Act that typically restrict transport and transfer of short-barreled firearms.
- Immediate Return of Liberties – You can buy and transfer Antithesis today on a simple 4473, with legal protections tied directly to the settlement.
- Broader Industry Impact – The ruling affects imports, exports, and licensing opportunities, opening the door for other manufacturers—especially FRAC members—to use the design.
Every one of them transfers on a standard Form 4473. The company has been quick to market this as “freedom, no strings attached.”
But here’s the thing—Franklin Armory has a reputation for skating on the edge. The Reformation, their previous “not a rifle, not a shotgun” design, was the subject of years of confusion before this settlement cleared it as GCA-only.
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With Antithesis, they’re taking a similar approach: leaning on technicalities like the statutory words “only” and “single” to argue their case. Clever? Sure. Gimmicky? Also yes.
By designing the gun to fire not just a single projectile but also multi-projectile loads—like duplex rounds or shot shells—they sidestep the NFA’s definition of a rifle, which requires it to fire only a single projectile through a rifled bore.
In other words, because Antithesis can launch more than one piece of lead at once, Franklin successfully argued it doesn’t fit Congress’s wording of a regulated short-barreled rifle.
That leaves the bigger question: who’s this really for?
Franklin Armory clearly wants to sell the concept of an NFA-free shorty, but the average gun buyer might hesitate. Will shooters embrace something this unusual—or view it as a pricey novelty destined for the safe?
Time will tell.
For now, Antithesis is legal nationwide under the settlement, with ATF officially advising FFLs to classify it as “other firearm” on the 4473.
As mentioned, whether this innovation becomes a lasting shift or just another quirky loophole in gun law remains to be seen.
The bigger political impact, however, is Franklin Armory’s role in pushing the conversation toward a full repeal of the NFA. For that effort, they certainly deserve credit.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
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Why publish this article if it’s not complete?
What a lousy article. You literally say nothing about what it actually does shoot. Ridiculous.
I’m with you Bubba! Crap article.
Since both of these videos are private and unavailable I wonder what it looks like? And how quickly ATF will change it’s mind should it catch on.
Something I would have liked to see in this article about the Franklin Armory Antithesis is a picture of the Franklin Armory Antithesis.
I noticed all the videos about it are set to private, here and at the Franklin Armory site. Definitely confidence inspiring!
How does it work? What is different mechanically? Is the gun accurate? Thanks
If it’s the same as the last time they did this, it’s not rifled. It has straight lands and grooves, so it’s not technically smoothbore either. So it’s basically a musket in 5.56. A giant gimmick that no reasonable person would ever want.
If you really don’t want to deal with NFA paperwork, just put a pistol brace on a regular 10″-14.5″ AR. Or just do the NFA paperwork, it’s not that hard and there’s no point in a short barreled AR without a silencer anyway.
This one does have a full rifled barrel which is different than their last one.
I saw that a few hours after the comment.
So the one approved by the ATF is a .410/.45 Colt version. Basically a semiauto Taurus Judge. Hard pass. They also made a 5.56 version, and apparently a 5.56 shotshell to go with it, but ATF said that this is an SBR.
More bad solutions to the problem.
Just do an SBR instead. Yeah, the NFA sucks, but until the courts get rid of it, it’s something we’re stuck with. The paperwork isn’t hard, and your local gun shop will walk you through the process.
seems kewl! but alas i would rather apply the money to training ammo.