When is a manufacturer required to serialize?

[bradsteen]

Random question popped into my head, hoping some of the fine folks on here might know the answer.

When a manufacturer is developing a new product, there is going to be some trial and error. At what point is serialization required if they are doing a prototype?

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[Nosferatu]

I don't remember there being a specific requirement other than 'prior to being sold'.

We engraved ours in batches after all the final machining was done, before it got it's surface finish applied and entered in the bound book at this time.

Prototypes got their own serial numbers and never sold. There was no specific guidance from the ATF on this, but to avoid any potential imperial entanglements with local po-po, it was done JIC.