First off, I appreciate the feedback. I've done nothing yet, and checked here first, so all is copacetic
Thank you all for the clarification; it makes perfect sense (or as much so as government bureaucracy ever does).
As far as the 1903 confusion, the only thing that comes to mind is that someone he contacted at the ATF thought it was a Browning designed M1902, which would imply the machine gun rather than the pistol. Quite a difference, but then I don't underestimate the potential for government regulatory confusion.