Shortening Your Gun Trust Name for Form 1 Engravings

If you created your gun trust years ago, there’s a good chance the name is longer than it needs to be. While a longer trust name might not seem like a big deal at first, it can become an annoyance when you’re using the trust for an ATF Form 1.  With the upcoming free ATF Form 1 tax stamps, this is a great time to revisit the name of your gun trust.  

That’s because when you manufacture an NFA firearm on a Form 1, the maker’s name must be engraved on the firearm. If your trust name is long, that means you’re engraving a long name too — which can create layout issues and just looks cluttered.

Why a Short Trust Name Matters

A shorter trust name can make Form 1 builds cleaner and easier to mark. It helps with:

• Free ATF Form 4 transfer tax stamps are coming in 2026. This helps because you can transfer your firearms for free to your new gun trust that has a shorter name.  However, the previously engraved firearms won't need to be updated. But future applications, can use the shortened name.
  

• More manageable engravings

• Cleaner aesthetics

• Less hassle when working with an engraver

• Consistency across multiple builds

For example, a trust named:

“The John and Jane Smith Family Revocable Living Gun Trust”

could be shortened to something like:

“Smith NFA Trust”

(Exact naming is up to you and should stay legally valid in your state.)

A Simple Solution: Create a New Trust

One option many people choose is to create a brand-new gun trust with a shorter name specifically for future Form 1 use. This gives you:

• A clean, simplified trust name moving forward

• A fresh structure that’s easier to manage

• A better long-term setup if you plan multiple builds

This is especially helpful for anyone who expects to file several Form 1 applications over time.