Missing S/N - Any recourse?
A frind of mine has a 1894 Winchester, .30 WCF, octogon barrel, mechanically in great condition, but finish is not great. Been in his family for 90 years. The problem is, the serialnumber has been ground off. He says it must have been that way when his grandfather had it. He wants to auction it off, but I told him he couldn't with the serial number removed. Is it just parts now? Does the ATF have any recourse for gun's like this? Any help is appreciated.
Measure twice, cut once.
Empty the clip!
Measure twice, cut once.
Empty the clip!
0
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In rare cases the BATF permits renumbering a gun, but usually that's done when refinishing obliterates a serial #. They evaluate any request on a case-by-case basis, but the default for denial is, at a minimum, confiscation & destruction of the gun.
Your friend should be aware of the fact that mere possession of a firearm with an altered serial # is a felony, regardless of whose grandfather did it.
If such a gun fell into my possession, I would strip the parts & destroy the receiver.
Neal0 -
Its unfortunate, but nmyers is correct..
Captain Kirk, Tech Staff<P><BR>0 -
possesion of any firearm with no serial number a felony. does that take into account guns made before serial numbers were REQUIRED? so all antique guns are illegal to own? i must be comfused. what am i missing here?
SGT USMC
The greatest happiness is to see your enemy scattered before you, to see his village in ashes, and to gather to your bed his wives and daughters.-Genghis Khan 12260 -
Youre missing the Fact that there Was a Serial Number...and it has been ground off! ....Thats a No No....!
If it was produced and there was No Serial Number Given...then thats another issue....
Captain Kirk, Tech Staff0 -
Thanks guys. Guess we'll strip it and sell the parts. Can't find a receiver around.
Measure twice, cut once.
Empty the clip!0 -
Wait, are you certain it was ground off? May be old enough to never have had a SN. At least give Winchester a call before you scrap it.
90yrs would put it at 1913. What year were serial numbers 1st mandated?
Why would this guy sell a family treasure like that?
Regards,
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You can try to lift the serial number using chemical, but what chemical I do not know. Saw it on the The Discovery chennal where a murder took place and found the weapon and had no serial number, but police lifted out of the metal using chemical and a process. Really neat.
spec.4
Don't fear the night, fear what hunts at night. ME!!0 -
I believe that serial numbers became required on all firearms in 1968.
aguncollector@prodigy.net0 -
Try to bring the serial # out.
Go to your welding supply ask for "Dye Penetrant".
Come in to cans a red dye that spary on. You let that dry the spray the white deleloper on it. and then wipe it off. May bring it out. DP is used to fine hairline cracks in wels the eye can't catch0 -
Serial numbers were not required until somewhere between '64 and '68. But, if a firearm had a serial number, it had to remain. Winchester has always serialized their guns, so what year it was made does not apply. It had one from the factory, now it's gone, it's illegal! Parts!
Measure twice, cut once.
Empty the clip!0 -
This will not help with the illegal receiver but you could pull
the stock and see if it is stamped with the number-presuming the stock is original to the gun.0
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