With the on-paper legality of pistol stabilizing braces in question here in the United States, it appears that other countries and their militaries are taking advantage of the same equipment at a firesale price. According to a source within the pistol brace industry, manufacturers have made agreements with dozens of foreign groups to provide them with pistol stabilizer braces for various platforms including the AK-47, M4/AR-15 platform, as well as several large orders for PDW style braces, presumably for MP5 pistol platforms. Although adopting the use of pistol-stabilizing braces may seem strange for a military unit, American Mercenaries have used pistol braces in the past. As the pistol brace amnesty deadline looms over our heads, are pistol brace manufacturers making a desperate move to secure their livelihood?

More Pistol Stabilizing Brace News @ TFB:

• Rifle Dynamics: “Let us Deal with the NFA” Pistol to Rifle Services
• New Radial Delayed Blowback Rifle Conversion Kits from CMMG
• New 11.3″ Pistol/SBR In 300 HAM’R Introduced by Four Peaks Tactical

Photo: Shutterstock | Manufacturers Rush To Export Thousands Of Pistol Stabilizing Braces As Amnesty Deadline Looms

Manufacturers Rush To Export Thousands Of Pistol Stabilizing Braces As Amnesty Deadline Looms

During a failed attempted coup against Venezuela’s President, Nicolás Maduro, in May of 2020, American Mercenaries were captured along with a stockpile of weapons and gear including mounted FN MAG Machine Guns, one airsoft pellet gun, Beta C-Mag drums, Glock handguns, and several braced AR-15 pistols of various lengths with what appear to be KAK Blade-type braces.

While the raid was ultimately a failure and resulted in the capture or death of almost the entire raid party, what’s interesting to note in this particular situation is that not only were several more caches of weapons found, but inside of those stockpiles were even more pistol braces which had yet to be attached to any AR pistols. Perhaps this isn’t the first time that a large export of pistol braces has made its way out of the USA? With today’s news, it certainly won’t be the last.

Photo: Shutterstock | Manufacturers Rush To Export Thousands Of Pistol Stabilizing Braces As Amnesty Deadline Looms

One source pointed to the small country of Seychelles in the Somali Sea section of the Indian Ocean as a possible point of shipment for some American-made pistol stabilizing braces leaving the country. Keep in mind that the nation of Seychelles has been no stranger to mercenary action in their own country and has seen attacks from foreign mercenaries as recently as the 1980s. TFB and sister site OVD both reached out to the Seychelles Chief of Defense Forces, Belcalas Almánzaar, for comment on the news. His response was simple:

While apparently deemed worthless in the U.S. via regulation, these firearm braces, obviously not rifle stocks, will assist our coast guard authorities in repelling Somali pirate attacks on vessels crossing between East Africa and our waters.

Photo: Seychelles Defence Forces |

We also had the opportunity to speak to a Procurement Specialist, Colonel Stevelaad Judkans who said that they received special assistance from America’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives:

We relied on the very helpful American ATF agents, who are of the opinion that arm braces are completely indistinguishable from regular rifle stocks.

Photo: Shutterstock | Manufacturers Rush To Export Thousands Of Pistol Stabilizing Braces As Amnesty Deadline Looms

It is a relief that not only are these stabilizing braces not being exported to nefarious groups, but also that the U.S. government saw it fit to help a developing nation’s military by advising them in regards to their small arms development and use – a task for which they are most assuredly prepared to handle among their litany of other tasks.

As to how many pistol-stabilizing braces will be making their way out of the country, nobody can give a solid estimate, but one could surmise that in order to avoid the unending scrutiny of the ATF, most manufacturers will opt to cut deals with various militaries and foreign mercenary groups in order to liquidate their remaining inventory. In short, life funds a way.

And in case you haven’t figured it out by now, welcome to April.