I’d ask for the name of the “owner of record”…except the SOBs probably wouldn’t give it to you.  That person obviously transferred it (unless it was stolen) without the necessary paper work, so you’d think ATF would want to know why.

Reality check often a good place to start!
A sad situation for you and I do sympathize. That said… Not to blame ATF for doing their job. You’ve submitted a registerable firearm with request to transfer. Apparently, “chain of title” is required. That’s likely the law and not seeming unreasonable considering a “controlled category”. From there, what would you have of them? Returning the rifle to you, they themselves with an unlawful transfer! The real matter not of equity but of law and I do understand your feelings of trapped. But “due diligence”. When you play in regulatory territory, expected to know the rules and hazard consequences if you don’t. While I could see myself caught in similar position, blaming others and threats of legal action, seeming loss of perspective. A judge won’t suffer that loss, if even to get in the courthouse door! You’re presumptively a good guy, but strongly suggest you remain objective! Perhaps to play first within the ‘system’. If you didn’t already receive guidance concerning alternatives or administrative appellate rights from ATF pursuant to notification, why not request information concerning such. Never to suggest not to consult qualified counsel. But sometimes first steps, self-help a good place to begin. That including a self-assessment of possibility in establishing chain of title from yourself backward. Even appeals are fine, but needing hard evidence rather than speaking of “equity” alone! Burden is on you! The aside if someone offering good ‘free’, inside info concerning admin policy/procedure tips, not to ignore considering. Conversely, your own lament… “No one I’ve spoke to and nowhere on line…” Advice falsely relied upon.
Absolutely no legal advice here…
Just my take

iskra said
Not to blame ATF for doing their job.

Part of their job OUGHT to be contacting the owner of record to find out why he failed to follow the proper procedure for transferring a NFA gun. 

Sorry to hear of your woes, and not of much use after the fact, but this thread reminds me of a video I watched a few weeks ago regarding procedures and things to expect/prepare for when dealing with the BATF and a potentially NFA firearm, especially regarding documentation.

FWIW.

Steve

I am curious how the BATF over looks the short barreled (14″) shotguns now in production and condemns a curio and relic short carbine?

RDB

Well rogertherelic, as one ‘relic’ to another…
Lacking entirely Mavericks expertise and accepting his perspective as valid. Yet offering another perspective as you purport to contrast situations in regulatory context. First supposing you need to define your application of the term ‘overlooking’. But a ‘for instance’. If a NFA regulated item being transferred is a new weapon and any/all necessary documentation in order, a fundamentally different situation from documents of official record in direct & relevant conflict with purported registration request information submitted. Hope that also offers a response to your question as posed. In ‘real life’ context here, apparently “NFA non-regulated weapon”, issue not arising.

The side note quite admittedly, well beyond my league here on actual NFA procedural matters/requirements. No experience/expertise – no pretense!
I an concerned about appearance of ATF proponent/Forum villain here. I’m not and kindly don’t shoot the messenger! Rather tackling critical questions in a form of Socratic ‘hashing out’, good for defining; separating factual issues from ‘chaff & flak’. Moving toward understanding requisite to finding answers.
All here, just my take.

Generally, we as collectors ask that the ATF to exempt rifles/carbines with barrels less than 16 inches form the National Firearms Act (NFA); meaning that the NFA rules don’t apply.  Sounds like this particular carbine had been registered as an NFA firearm,  kinda the same as a machine gun getting registered. Once it’s an NFA firearm, I’m not sure how you change it’s classification…sort of once it’s a machine gun, it’s always a machine gun…in the eyes of the ATF.