accurate answer from mark christian?

Txs

January 08, 2013 20:23

If a firearm is marked with an importer's stamp does this have to remain unmolested, same as it's serial?

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  gunnut505

  January 09, 2013 02:35

  I'm not even close to Mark's expertise level, but the serial number must remain unaltered; any importers' stamps are decorations, like brass tacks on a Sharps.

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  perry shooter

  January 09, 2013 03:16

  I Agree with 505 I however would not remove the Makers name either . as all 4473 forms have both maker and serial number as part of the transfer form. Only thing I would add is sometimes an attempt to hide something will cause more loss in value then just leaving as is .

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  11b6r

  January 09, 2013 04:12

  There is quite a bit more to it than "brass tacks".
  
  http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&rgn=div8&view=text&node=27:3.0.1.2.3.6.1.2&idno=27
  
  Whether an importer's mark can legally be removed by an unlicensed person AFTER the weapon is imported- I dunno. If the ATF is as specific as it is about size of marking, not being readily obliterated, etc- likely there IS a regulation that says NO.

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  nmyers

  January 09, 2013 06:07

  ATF P5300.4 page 11 states that it is illegal to possess a firearm that has had the importer's or manufacturer's serial number altered, obliterated, or removed. (The importer must assign a new SN if the manufacturer's SN is not "arabic".)
  
  Nowhere in this document does it say you may, or may not, remove the import markings (name, city, state of importer) or the manufacturer's name. Many imported guns have the import markings on the barrel, & changing the barrel is always legal. I agree with Perry Shooter, it could cause you transfer problems if the manufacturer's name were removed; but, it's not illegal.
  
  Neal

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  gotstolefrom

  January 09, 2013 11:46

  It is best to leave those marks on unless you can prove it was a bring-back. Some importers seem to take the time to make them inconspicuous, some seem to have the opposite intent.
  
  My cousin had an importer's mark that REALLY put the ugly on the gun. It was done in that 'dot matrix printer' look. When you looked at the gun, that was the first thing you noticed (since the 'dots' were in the white). Without 'removing' the marking, he knocked the tops off the divots with oiled sandpaper, cleaned with solvent and let dry. Then put a little 'cold blue' [:o)]in the divots then a quick wipe. I don't know how many times he did it, but it reduced the ugly significantly. I tried it on a Mosin I have with similar results...except that the cold blue area is a shade off but thats how cold-blue touch up comes out for me.

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  EOD Guy

  January 14, 2013 11:06

  I have a letter from BATF stating that there is nothing in the Federal regulations forbidding an owner from removing an import marking. However, some State may have laws that might restrict the removal.

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