missing s/n

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roughcreek
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missing s/n

Post by roughcreek »

What can you do when you come across a gun with no serial number. Or a Marlin with a tang sight and someone drilled through one of the numbers to install it.
I sure wanted that Marlin but unsure of the missing digit so passed.

Thanks
Roughcreek
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Ray
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Re: missing s/n

Post by Ray »

I recently ran into the same problem......

We called the missing, bored through numeral a zero and had no problems......

Have had dozens of fed. checks with "nsn" listed on the 4473 with no problems.....

If you collect house brand firearms like j.c. higgins or revelation you'll see a lot of .22s, and single and bolt shotguns without numbers.....

they weren't even required federally until 01 jan. 1969 but some states insisted well before then.....
m.A.g.a. !
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marlinman93
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Re: missing s/n

Post by marlinman93 »

In the case of the Marlin the fix was simple. You could have simply pulled the stocks and look for the whole serial number on the wood. Marlin marks serial numbers in multiple places, so it's easy to find them elsewhere. Then the hole could be filled and the missing digit engraved back on the tang.
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Blaine
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Re: missing s/n

Post by Blaine »

marlinman93 wrote: Fri Jan 24, 2020 11:13 am In the case of the Marlin the fix was simple. You could have simply pulled the stocks and look for the whole serial number on the wood. Marlin marks serial numbers in multiple places, so it's easy to find them elsewhere. Then the hole could be filled and the missing digit engraved back on the tang.
Could that possibly cause some future problem when LE sees an altered SN?
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roughcreek
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Re: missing s/n

Post by roughcreek »

Thanks guys, next time I won't hesitate to buy.
Roughcreek
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marlinman93
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Re: missing s/n

Post by marlinman93 »

Blaine wrote: Fri Jan 24, 2020 2:21 pm
marlinman93 wrote: Fri Jan 24, 2020 11:13 am In the case of the Marlin the fix was simple. You could have simply pulled the stocks and look for the whole serial number on the wood. Marlin marks serial numbers in multiple places, so it's easy to find them elsewhere. Then the hole could be filled and the missing digit engraved back on the tang.
Could that possibly cause some future problem when LE sees an altered SN?
I had the opportunity to talk with an ATF agent about this very topic. He told me, "If you didn't alter the serial number, you're OK to repair it and make every attempt to correct the problem."
He said the party who alters a serial number is the one they go after. I also asked about the question of altering serial numbers as it applies to modern and antique arms. Since it's also a violation to possess firearms where a serial number has been altered. He told me that falls back to his original statement. It needs to be fixed on any post 1898 firearm, as you're in violation if you don't.
That of course made me ask why "post 1898"? He said "Antique Firearms" are classified by BATF as "Non Guns". Thus the rules all relate to and specifically mention "firearms", which antique guns are not categorized as.
I've seen numerous antique rifles where serial numbers were damaged, worn off, or even drilled through. None of them are a problem IF you are sure they're "antique". But that brings up another issue. Say you own an 1885 Winchester High Wall with no serial number. Since these were built both as antiques and modern, there's no way to know which it is if the serial number is totally obliterated. If enough shows to determine the age, no problem. If not, it needs to be fixed, but only if you know what number was there before. I had an 1885 that had a broken tang. I needed to repair it by welding, and knew the serial number would be obliterated during the repair and polishing. I simply wrote it down, and did the repair. Then afterwards I gave the tang to an engraver, along with the old number. He put it back on. No harm, no fowl. If this wasn't OK, you'd have to throw away any gun needing such a repair.
In the case of guns known to never have been produced in post 1898, nothing needs to be done, and no serial numbers need fixing.
Pre WWI Marlins and Singleshot rifles!
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