Ghost Guns, Unserialized Firearms & 80% Receivers in Delaware
Learn Delaware law governing unserialized firearms, unfinished frames and receivers, removed serial numbers, privately manufactured firearms, 3D-printed firearms and the pending 2026 changes proposed by House Bill 418.
Current Delaware Restrictions
Unserialized unfinished receiver: Possession prohibited
Altered serial number: Separate felony
3D printing: Special restrictions apply
House Bill 418 has passed—but is not yet current law
HB 418 passed the Delaware General Assembly on July 1, 2026. As of August 8, 2026, the General Assembly lists the bill as ready for Governor action.
Until the bill is enacted, the existing Delaware Code provisions described below remain the controlling statutory text. DelawareGunLaws.com will update this page if HB 418 becomes law.
Delaware regulates several different kinds of unserialized firearms
“Ghost gun” is a common informal term. Delaware’s statutes use more precise terms, including untraceable firearm, unfinished firearm frame or receiver, and firearm with a removed, obliterated or altered serial number.
Untraceable Firearm
Delaware prohibits knowingly possessing an untraceable firearm.
Unfinished Frame or Receiver
Knowingly possessing an unfinished frame or receiver without the required manufacturer identification and serial number is prohibited.
Altered Serial Number
Firearms with knowingly removed, obliterated or altered identifying serial numbers are separately regulated.
3D-Printed Firearms
Delaware restricts unlicensed use of 3D printers to produce firearms and certain firearm components.
Jump to a section
What does Delaware mean by an “untraceable firearm”?
Delaware defines an untraceable firearm as a firearm for which law enforcement cannot trace the chain of sale or distribution from a licensed retailer to its first retail sale.
The statutory definition contains exclusions
Possession of an untraceable firearm
Current Delaware law prohibits knowing possession.
Under the current version of § 1463, knowingly possessing an untraceable firearm is a Class E felony.
The statute separately addresses manufacturing, assembling, selling or transferring an untraceable firearm.
Do not assume that personal manufacture creates an exception
Delaware’s current statute directly regulates possession and manufacture of untraceable firearms, regardless of whether the firearm was originally made for personal rather than commercial use.
What about an “80% receiver” or unfinished firearm frame?
Delaware uses the statutory term unfinished firearm frame or receiver rather than relying on the informal marketing term “80% receiver.”
The Code defines an unfinished frame or receiver as one that requires additional machining or molding before it can be used as part of a functional firearm and that is designed and intended for firearm assembly.
Possession without the required serial number is currently a Class D felony
Section 1459A currently prohibits knowingly possessing an unfinished frame or receiver that lacks the required manufacturer name and individual serial number, subject to the statute’s manufacturer exception.
Can an unfinished receiver be sold or transferred?
Section 1459A currently restricts knowingly transporting, shipping, transferring or selling an unfinished firearm frame or receiver unless the statutory requirements are met.
The statute requires involvement of a federally licensed gun dealer or manufacturer.
Manufacturer identification and an individual serial number must be conspicuously placed as required.
Applicable federal recordkeeping requirements must be satisfied.
Firearms with removed or altered serial numbers
A firearm that originally had a manufacturer’s or importer’s serial number but later had that number removed, obliterated or altered presents a different issue from a privately manufactured firearm that never had one.
Knowingly possessing or transporting such a firearm is a Class D felony
Section 1459 prohibits knowingly transporting, shipping, possessing or receiving a firearm or firearm frame or receiver while knowing that its identifying serial number has been removed, obliterated or altered to conceal its identity or origin.
What about older firearms that never had serial numbers?
Not every old firearm without a serial number is automatically a prohibited “ghost gun.”
Pre-1968 firearms
Delaware excludes firearms manufactured before 1968 from its statutory definition of an untraceable firearm.
Pre-1973 firearms
Section 1459’s removed-or-altered-serial-number prohibition does not apply to a firearm manufactured before 1973.
Do not add a serial-number conclusion based only on appearance or age
Older firearms should be identified by manufacturer, model and approximate production date before deciding whether the absence of a serial number is legally significant.
Can I 3D print a firearm in Delaware?
Delaware imposes specific restrictions on this activity.
Section 1463 makes it a criminal offense for an unlicensed person to use a 3D printer or similar device to manufacture or produce a firearm, firearm receiver or major firearm component.
The statute also addresses distribution of certain digital files or electronic instructions that may be used to program a 3D printer to manufacture a firearm, firearm receiver or major firearm component for a person who is not licensed as a manufacturer.
This is not just a serialization issue
Even if someone intended to serialize the finished item later, Delaware’s current statute separately regulates the act of unlicensed firearm manufacturing using a 3D printer.
Covert or undetectable firearms
Delaware separately prohibits knowingly possessing certain covert or undetectable firearms.
Class E felony
Knowing possession of a qualifying covert or undetectable firearm is prohibited.
Class D felony
Manufacturing, causing manufacture, transporting or selling a qualifying covert or undetectable firearm is separately prohibited.
What would House Bill 418 change?
HB 418 is not yet reflected as enacted law
The General Assembly currently lists HB 418 as passed on July 1, 2026 and ready for Governor action. The provisions below describe what the bill would do if enacted.
Creates a compliance path for qualifying unserialized items lawfully possessed before the legislation’s effective date.
Would also address qualifying items lawfully acquired in another jurisdiction before the owner moves to Delaware.
Would generally provide six months from the relevant effective date or establishment of Delaware residency.
Serialization through a federally licensed dealer/manufacturer or rendering the item permanently inoperable.
HB 418 would also require a background check when a newly serialized item is returned
Under the bill, return of a newly serialized firearm or unfinished frame or receiver would constitute a transfer subject to Delaware’s § 1448A background-check process. A denied transfer would require the licensee to surrender the item to law enforcement.
Can a Delaware FFL serialize a privately made firearm?
The answer depends on the exact item, applicable federal requirements and Delaware law.
Do not transport an unserialized item to an FFL without arranging it first
Current Delaware law already criminalizes possession of certain unserialized items. A proposed serialization procedure under pending HB 418 should not be treated as available until the bill becomes law. Contact the receiving dealer and, when appropriate, qualified counsel before moving or transporting the item.
What if my homemade firearm is legal in another state?
A firearm’s lawful possession in another state does not automatically make it lawful after entering Delaware.
Check Delaware law before bringing the item into the state
Under the current Code, possession of an untraceable firearm or an unserialized unfinished frame or receiver can be a felony. HB 418 proposes a future compliance process for certain new residents, but that process should not be relied upon unless and until the bill is enacted.
Questions involving an unserialized firearm?
Coastal Firearms
DelawareGunLaws.com is supported by Coastal Firearms, a Delaware federally licensed firearms dealer.
Because Delaware’s unserialized-firearm laws carry felony penalties and HB 418 remains pending, do not bring an unidentified or unserialized firearm, frame or receiver to Coastal Firearms without contacting the store first.
Coastal Firearms can help identify the firearm and determine whether an ordinary FFL service may be appropriate, but questions concerning possession of an item that may already violate Delaware law should be addressed with qualified legal counsel before transportation.
Frequently asked questions
Are ghost guns legal in Delaware?
Delaware currently prohibits knowingly possessing an “untraceable firearm” as that term is defined by state law. Possession is a Class E felony.
Are 80% receivers legal in Delaware?
Delaware regulates what it calls an unfinished firearm frame or receiver. Knowingly possessing one without the required identifying manufacturer information and individual serial number is currently a Class D felony, subject to the statute’s limited exception.
Can I build my own firearm in Delaware?
Do not assume that federal rules governing privately made firearms permit the activity under Delaware law. Delaware independently prohibits possession and manufacture of specified untraceable firearms and separately regulates unfinished frames, receivers and 3D printing.
Can I 3D print a gun in Delaware?
Delaware § 1463 prohibits an unlicensed person from using a 3D printer or similar device to manufacture or produce a firearm, firearm receiver or major firearm component.
What if the firearm’s serial number was removed?
Section 1459 separately prohibits knowingly transporting, shipping, possessing or receiving a firearm or firearm frame or receiver while knowing the manufacturer’s or importer’s serial number was removed, obliterated or altered to conceal the firearm’s identity or origin.
Is an old firearm without a serial number automatically illegal?
No. Delaware’s untraceable-firearm definition expressly excludes firearms manufactured before 1968, and § 1459’s altered-serial-number provision does not apply to firearms manufactured before 1973. The firearm should still be properly identified before drawing a legal conclusion.
Did Delaware change its ghost-gun law in 2026?
The General Assembly passed HB 418 on July 1, 2026, but as of August 8, 2026 the General Assembly’s official bill page lists it as ready for Governor action rather than enacted. The existing Delaware Code remains the current law until an amendment takes effect.
What would HB 418 do?
If enacted, HB 418 would create a limited compliance path for certain previously lawfully possessed unserialized firearms and unfinished frames or receivers. The owner would generally have six months to obtain qualifying serialization through a federally licensed dealer or manufacturer or render the item permanently inoperable.
Can I bring a legal homemade firearm with me when I move to Delaware?
Do not assume so. Delaware law applies after the firearm enters Delaware. Current law prohibits certain untraceable firearms and unserialized unfinished frames or receivers. HB 418 proposes a future process for some new residents, but that proposal should not be relied upon unless it becomes law.
Related Delaware firearm-law topics
Official sources
11 Del. C. § 1459
Firearms with removed, obliterated or altered serial numbers.
11 Del. C. § 1459A
Unfinished firearm frames and receivers without serial numbers.
11 Del. C. § 1462
Covert or undetectable firearms.
11 Del. C. § 1463
Untraceable firearms and 3D-printed firearm restrictions.
Legal information, not legal advice.
DelawareGunLaws.com is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with the State of Delaware, the Delaware General Assembly, ATF or any government agency. Unserialized-firearm laws carry serious criminal penalties and are currently the subject of pending legislation. Do not transport, possess, manufacture, transfer or attempt to serialize a potentially regulated item based solely on a general online summary. Verify current law and obtain qualified legal advice when necessary.
Delaware Gun Law Updates
Follow important Delaware firearm legislation, court decisions and statutory changes—including the status of House Bill 418.