Serialized Polymer80 pistols: what we sell and why

Polymer80 built its name on frames that buyers finished at home. That business ended, and the law around it changed. What this store sells is the other half of the Polymer80 story: complete, factory-serialized pistols and the slides, barrels, triggers and magazines that fit them. This page explains the legal line, why we stay on the right side of it and what that means when you order. It is general information, not legal advice. We are an independent store and are not affiliated with Polymer80 or Glock.

The frame is the firearm

Under the Gun Control Act, the frame or receiver of a handgun is legally the firearm. Everything else, the slide, the barrel, the trigger group and the magazine, is a part. That is why a slide can ship to your door but a frame cannot. Since 2022 the ATF's definition of a frame includes partially complete frames and kits that can readily be finished into a working frame, and it requires those items to carry a serial number and to be sold through licensed dealers with a background check.

What changed in 2022 and 2025

ATF Final Rule 2021R-05F took effect on August 24, 2022. It rewrote the definitions of frame and receiver, brought "readily completable" kits under the same rules as finished firearms, and required licensed dealers to mark and record them. Manufacturers and retailers challenged the rule, and it went to the Supreme Court. On March 26, 2025, the Court upheld the rule in Bondi v. VanDerStok, holding that the Gun Control Act can reach weapon parts kits and unfinished frames. After that decision the rule is settled law, and Polymer80 had already wound down its frame business in 2024.

What we sell

Serialized pistols. The PFS9, PFC9 and PF9SS are complete handguns with a manufacturer's serial number on the frame. They ship only to a licensed dealer, where you fill out ATF Form 4473 and the dealer runs the federal background check.
Slides and barrels. Complete and stripped slides, optic-cut slides, stainless and threaded barrels in full-size and compact lengths.
Triggers and internals. Flat and curved trigger shoes, connectors, springs, pins, slide locks and magazine releases in the Gen3 Glock pattern.
Magazines, sights and grips. Standard and extended magazines where legal, iron sights, optic plates and grip tape.

What we do not sell

We do not sell unserialized frames, partially finished frames or the fixtures and tooling used to finish them. Those items are firearms or firearm-making equipment under current federal law and are not part of our catalog. If a search in our store returns nothing for a frame kit, that is by design, not a stock problem. We also do not sell items that would convert a pistol to fire automatically; nothing in the catalog will do that.

Why this matters to you

A serialized pistol is simpler to own. It can be transferred, sold, inherited and insured like any other handgun. It can travel with you to states that ban unserialized guns, and a dealer or gunsmith can work on it without questions. If you ever need warranty service on a slide or barrel, the maker will ask for the pistol's serial number. A gun without one raises questions you do not want to answer at a range, a pawn shop or a traffic stop.

State rules on top of federal law

Several states go further than the ATF. California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia have passed laws on unserialized or home-built firearms, and some require serialization of older ones. None of those laws affect a factory pistol with a serial number. Your state may still add a permit, a waiting period or a magazine limit to the purchase; read our state-by-state buying guide before you order.

How a purchase works here

Add a pistol to the cart and check out. Price and stock are confirmed live before you pay.
Tell us which licensed dealer you want to use. We verify the dealer's license and ship the pistol to them.
At the dealer you show ID, complete Form 4473 and pass the background check. Dealers charge their own transfer fee.
Parts ship to your door, subject to the magazine rules where you live.

Common questions

Is a Polymer80 pistol a "ghost gun"? No. The pistols we sell were serialized at the factory and transfer through a dealer with a background check like any other handgun. The term describes unserialized firearms, which we do not sell.
Can I buy a slide without a pistol? Yes. Slides, barrels and internal parts are not firearms and ship to your door where legal.
Do I have to register the pistol? Federal law has no registry. A handful of states register handguns or require a permit for each one; the dealer handles that paperwork at pickup.
What if my state bans unserialized guns? Those laws do not affect a factory-serialized pistol. Your state may still add a permit, a waiting period or a magazine limit.

Common questions

Is a Polymer80 pistol a "ghost gun"? No. The pistols we sell were serialized at the factory and transfer through a dealer with a background check like any other handgun. The term describes unserialized firearms, which we do not sell.
Can I buy a slide without a pistol? Yes. Slides, barrels and internal parts are not firearms and ship to your door where legal.
Do I have to register the pistol? Federal law has no registry. A handful of states register handguns or require a permit for each one; the dealer handles that paperwork at pickup.
What if my state bans unserialized guns? Those laws do not affect a factory-serialized pistol. Your state may still add a permit, a waiting period or a magazine limit.

Choosing between the three pistols

The PFS9 is the full-size gun, the PFC9 the compact and the PF9SS a single-stack subcompact. Our PFS9 vs PFC9 comparison covers the two double-stack pistols in detail, and the slides and barrels guide shows what fits each size. Browse the Polymer80 catalog or all pistols.

General information, not legal advice. Current as of September 2026. Laws change; check the official source before you act.