The phrase "Assault weapons" was legally defined under the Federal Assault Weapons Ban which sundowned in 2004. It was anything but "weasely": Semi-automatic rifles able to accept detachable magazines and two or more of the following: Folding or telescoping stock Pistol grip Bayonet mount Flash suppressor, or threaded barrel designed to accommodate one Grenade launcher Semi-automatic pistols with detachable magazines and two or more of the following: Magazine that attaches outside the pistol grip Threaded barrel to attach barrel extender, flash suppressor, handgrip, or suppressor Barrel shroud safety feature that prevents burns to the operator Unloaded weight of 50 oz (1.4 kg) or more A semi-automatic version of a fully automatic firearm. Semi-automatic shotguns with two or more of the following: Folding or telescoping stock Pistol grip Detachable magazine. Except for ("and this is true!"): Browning BAR Mark II Safari Semi-Auto Rifle Browning BAR Mark II Safari Magnum Rifle Browning High-Power Rifle Heckler & Koch Model 300 Rifle Iver Johnson M-1 Carbine Iver Johnson 50th Anniversary M-1 Carbine Marlin Model 9 Camp Carbine Marlin Model 45 Carbine Remington Nylon 66 Auto-Loading Rifle Remington Model 7400 Auto Rifle Remington Model 7400 Rifle Remington Model 7400 Special Purpose Auto Rifle Ruger Mini-14 Autoloading Rifle (w/o folding stock) Ruger Mini Thirty Rifle Browning Model 81 BLR Lever-Action Rifle Browning Model 81 Long Action BLR Browning Model 1886 Lever-Action Carbine Browning Model 1886 High Grade Carbine Cimarron 1860 Henry Replica Cimarron 1866 Winchester Replicas Cimarron 1873 Short Rifle Cimarron 1873 Sporting Rifle Cimarron 1873 30" Express Rifle Dixie Engraved 1873 Rifle E.M.F. 1866 Yellowboy Lever Actions E.M.F. 1860 Henry Rifle E.M.F. Model 73 Lever-Action Rifle Marlin Model 336CS Lever-Action Carbine Marlin Model 30AS Lever-Action Carbine Marlin Model 444SS Lever-Action Sporter Marlin Model 1894S Lever-Action Carbine Marlin Model 1894CS Carbine Marlin Model 1894CL Classic Marlin Model 1895SS Lever-Action Rifle Mitchell 1858 Henry Replica Mitchell 1866 Winchester Replica Mitchell 1873 Winchester Replica Navy Arms Military Henry Rifle Navy Arms Henry Trapper Navy Arms Iron Frame Henry Navy Arms Henry Carbine Navy Arms 1866 Yellowboy Rifle Navy Arms 1873 Winchester-Style Rifle Navy Arms 1873 Sporting Rifle Remington 7600 Slide Action Remington Model 7600 Special Purpose Slide Action Rossi M92 SRC Saddle-Ring Carbine Rossi M92 SRS Short Carbine Savage 99C Lever-Action Rifle Uberti Henry Rifle Uberti 1866 Sporting Rilfe Uberti 1873 Sporting Rifle Winchester Model 94 Side Eject Lever-Action Rifle Winchester Model 94 Trapper Side Eject Winchester Model 94 Big Bore Side EjectUnder the Assault Weapons Ban of 1994 the definition of "semiautomatic assault weapon" included specific semi-automatic firearm models by name, and other semi-automatic firearms that possessed two or more from a set certain features:
APPENDIX A
Centerfire Rifles--Autoloaders Centerfire Rifles--Lever & Slide