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Antique serial numbers and the law

upjumtddebl
Recently came across a Colt sa black powder frame parts gun with a 3 line patent date and a single line address on the barrel (non slanted) also it is US marked. the serial number is partially gone with only the first two numbers showing (23????). there is no trigger guard or backstrap so all i have is the frame number. if it is pre 1898 or antique would the law care?
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8 comments

Date Votes
  • steg
    The serial number may also be stamped on the cylinder spindle and written on the inside of the grips; and no, if the gun dates before December 31, 1898, the Federals could care less.
    I strongly suggest that you buy a copy of the "Blue Book Guide For Colt Dates of Manufacture" by R.L. Wilson.
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  • mark christian
    I am not a SAA expert by a long shot but if I recall correctly the "cut off" for antiques is at 182,000. If that is in fact correct then a SAA in the 23x,xxx range would not be an antique.
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  • Spider7115
    The 2300 range would be 1876 and the 23000 range would be 1902. However, that would be a smokeless frame so your blackpowder frame should be well within the "antique" range. If it's stamped "US", it would have originally been a cavalry model.
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  • slumlord44
    I seem to recall that as long as a gun had a serial # it could not be defaced or removed reguardless of age. Problem with antique is that serial # determines date of manufacture and may be needed to determine if it is an antique or not.
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  • Spider7115
    quote:Originally posted by slumlord44
    I seem to recall that as long as a gun had a serial # it could not be defaced or removed reguardless of age. Problem with antique is that serial # determines date of manufacture and may be needed to determine if it is an antique or not.

    That's true but the poster didn't say how the serial number was defaced. If it was a result of rust, pitting or normal wear, it wouldn't have been removed intentionally and would not be illegal. If it was obviously ground or filed off, that's another story.
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  • perry shooter
    Long guns did not by law have to have a serial until 1968 hand guns did not need a serial until 1934. . Guns that have their serial number made unreadable through NORMAL wear are legal and can have the serial number restored. Many military 1911 & 1911A1 during rebuild had some or all of the serial number lost to refinishing and then they were re-stamped .
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  • tsr1965
    quote:Originally posted by slumlord44
    I seem to recall that as long as a gun had a serial # it could not be defaced or removed reguardless of age. Problem with antique is that serial # determines date of manufacture and may be needed to determine if it is an antique or not.


    Question is, when did this come into effect? Before or after 1934? untill 1934, they didn't even have to have a serial number.

    Best
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  • v35
    In 1892 SAA s/n's started at 144,000. At that time the transverse cylinder pin catch was introduced on the 1873 (1877 for the Lightning).
    This is the so called BP frame which it really isn't because SAA's weren't warranted by Colt to be safe for smokeless until 1900 at S/N 182,000. In 1898, six years after the transverse catch came out on the 1873, Colt issued precautions against using smokeless powder so shooting these revolvers having S/Ns below 182,000 with smokeless is at your own risk.
    If you don't have the transverse catch, the gun was made before 1892.
    The frame number should be the complete s/n.
    There may be an assembly number on the gate that is different and irrelevant.
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