reloading actions from the movie. Legal status In the United States under the National Firearms Act, to make a short barreled rifle from a firearm originally made and sold as a rifle requires payment of $200 for a tax stamp, approval from the BATFE and federal registration. However, a "lever action pistol" made and sold subject to BATFE regulations is treated as a pistol by federal law. While most states allow the purchase of Mare's Leg lever action pistols, New York State has banned this gun from being sold there. They are also not approved for sale in Massachusetts. It is hard to get in California since it is not on the CA Roster of Approved Handguns (California Penal Code § 32015) and therefore cannot be sold or transferred to a civilian unless the gun is already privately owned within the state, having been previously imported under one of the narrow exemptions to the handgun roster. References External links Chiappa Firearms Rossi Firearms Lever-action rifles Pistols