It's Bound to Happen Sometimes
Bought a little .25 Mauser online recently. It arrived in good order and research was begun. Serial number did not correlate to the model characteristics as it was a high five digit number. The model in front of me was actually one of the first five thousand made.
Further inspection gave me the last three digits of the original number as most all internal parts are serialized and this was a matching parts weapon. By measurement of the affected areas, it was apparent that metal had been removed from the two places where the original serial number was. Larger and different style numbers were then applied and the weapon was then nickle plated.
As the nickle has worn, it appears all this happened over 60 years ago!
My calls to inquire about it have been met with the fact it happened so long ago, so don't worry about it, it may have been done after either WWI or WWII in Europe or by a returning vet. NCIC doesn't have a record of it or the last three digits as being stolen either.
In any event, I bought it originally to part out, so whatever the reason it was renumbered is lost to history.
Man, I wish these things could talk!
Further inspection gave me the last three digits of the original number as most all internal parts are serialized and this was a matching parts weapon. By measurement of the affected areas, it was apparent that metal had been removed from the two places where the original serial number was. Larger and different style numbers were then applied and the weapon was then nickle plated.
As the nickle has worn, it appears all this happened over 60 years ago!
My calls to inquire about it have been met with the fact it happened so long ago, so don't worry about it, it may have been done after either WWI or WWII in Europe or by a returning vet. NCIC doesn't have a record of it or the last three digits as being stolen either.
In any event, I bought it originally to part out, so whatever the reason it was renumbered is lost to history.
Man, I wish these things could talk!
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quote:Originally posted by p3skyking
Man, I wish these things could talk!
I've often had the same thought on old military surplus weapons, and even old muskets and model 94's with the barrels shot completely out of them. Great stories, I'm sure. I would even like to hear an old Winchester pump 22 in an old 1890 model. Wow, can you imagine the stories behind some of the WWII Garands?[^]0 -
quote:Originally posted by dheffley
quote:Originally posted by p3skyking
Man, I wish these things could talk!
I've often had the same thought on old military surplus weapons, and even old muskets and model 94's with the barrels shot completely out of them. Great stories, I'm sure. I would even like to hear an old Winchester pump 22 in an old 1890 model. Wow, can you imagine the stories behind some of the WWII Garands?[^]
Danny,
Ever run the numbers through Springfield Research? I've never gotten a hit but some have.0 -
quote:Originally posted by p3skyking
quote:Originally posted by dheffley
quote:Originally posted by p3skyking
Man, I wish these things could talk!
I've often had the same thought on old military surplus weapons, and even old muskets and model 94's with the barrels shot completely out of them. Great stories, I'm sure. I would even like to hear an old Winchester pump 22 in an old 1890 model. Wow, can you imagine the stories behind some of the WWII Garands?[^]
Danny,
Ever run the numbers through Springfield Research? I've never gotten a hit but some have.
I don't know anything about how to do it. What can you tell me?0 -
Danny,
Buddy, you are gonna love this! It's like a Disneyland for gun history!
Good luck!
www.armscollectors.com/srs.htm
Everyone else is welcome too![:D]
ADDENDUM; It looks like they have changed their site and you have to subscribe now to run your numbers. Still lots of good free data to be had though.0 -
Pretty neat site. I just found out that my g-pa's Remington Rand 1911 was manufactured in 1943. 0
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