I was wondering why some posters obscure the serial number of their weapons within the post. This seems odd to me. Please fill me in. Thanks.

It's mainly to prevent someone else claiming your gun is one that was stolen from them. If they can produce a S/N and phoney bill of sale/receipt, then they can bring into question your rightful ownership. Better to leave off a few numbers of the S/N and avoid the possible hassle in the future. Just my 1/50th of a dollar.

Bomberman,
I hope I don't offend you and you've given the "right" explanation but I think it is a silly internet myth. I've challenged people before to produce one example of such a thing happening and no one has ever offered even a rumor. Many dealers and all the big auction houses post thousands of guns with complete serial numbers. I've surveyed them and not one has ever had a problem. For someone to generate a phony bill of sale and claim ownership would also require a falsified police report and law enforcement takes a dim view of such shenanigans.

Posting full serial numbers of collectible guns leads to better answers and advances the knowledge base about when changes in features took place.

Regards,
Kevin Williams

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Kevin Williams SWCA1649 HF208

kwill1911,
No offense taken...it's all good. Maybe it's being overly paranoid to think such things might happen but I'd rather err on the side of caution than having to prove ownership of a family heirloom.

BTW...what prompted you to survey many of the big auction houses about this topic. I go to auctions all the time and I've never even thought to ask about the listing of S/Ns. Just curious.

Paranoia. Nobody has ever tried it and the cops aren't that stupid to fall for such a ruse. Trying it would involve several felonies.

Colt Government Model 70G30498. I have been inviting people to call the police and claim it as their own for many years. So far no takers.

I'm something of an amateur researcher/author/historian and maintain databases of guns that interest me--mainly U.S. military handguns. This data has helped tie down details, track fake or refinished guns and stay current on pricing. This topic comes up pretty regularly so at one of the big gun shows I just asked the principals from Rock Island, Little John's, Kull & Supica, et al. if they had ever had a problem. No one had.

Regards,
Kevin Williams

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Kevin Williams SWCA1649 HF208

Hey, just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean there's no one out to get me. Besides I like being an inigma, at least online, don't you? ...or is SaxonPig your real name?

/c (incognito)

I agree that it is a myth that a crook would try to claim ownership of a gun based upon a serial number obtained on the internet. Such people try to avoid the law rather than involve them in their dishonesty. Falsely claiming ownership of a gun would probably involve several layers of police agencies on the local and federal level.

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John. SWCA #1586

My real name is no secret.

I don't give out my serial numbers because I don't think it's anyone's dadgum business. I'm kinda funny that way. If I buy a set of grips or a magazine from someone, it goes to a PO box not my street address. No sense in willingly giving my name, address, and list of guns owned to someone I don't know. Such info would be like gold in some crackhead's hands. My goal is to be able to Google my name and not get any legitimate hits. I don't consider myself paranoid, just private. Have to go now and add another layer of tinfoil to my hat.....

I have written several articles for a couple gun mags and have always posted full numbers. I have also been on so many forums I cannot count them all and I always, in addition to pics, post the complete serial numbers. I have never had a problem. I don't think the Gun Police sits on their duffs all day thinking of ways to get you from a full serial number. The minute I see an XX on a post, I stop reading it. It is just pure paranoia to think someone is out to get your number and claim you stole the gun. If you bought the gun on the up and up, it is probably registered to you and you have a bill of sale. I agree with the others, full numbers are great for research at times, and in a long stretch, the possibility of finding that rare consecutive gun like I did a few years back. A US M97 trenchgun the consecutive to the one in my collection. No XXX's for me thank you. Big Larry

Why worry about either obscuring or not obscuring numbers? It shouldn't be a huge deal to other forum members either way. The knowledgeable member can deduce all he needs from the beginning set of numerals in a serial number. No use being affronted if the full number is obscured by two or three X's at the end. No use in being critical of the guy willing to share the complete number. Seeing the serial number, represented either partially or completely adds much to forum posts about specific models being discussed but there's no use dithering about what portion of the serial number a poster chooses to reveal.


It is a bit amusing, when reading in a forum or on an internet auction, to see the uninitiated obscure the beginning numerals rather than the ending numerals. Now that can leave the reader in the dark about origins of a gun.

I've always wondered just what anyone was supposed to be able to do with a gun serial number. X-ing out numbers never made sense to me.

I am happy, years ago when I asked this same question on a forum I got no responses.
I have sold many guns online on Gunbroker and have never obscured a serial number.
Yet so many do, at least now I understand why some do it.
I could never see what one could do with the number, I still don't really but at least I can now see what people are worrying about.

I just as soon not publish the serial numbers of my guns into cyber space. Wikileakes, executive orders, hackers, all come to mind.

Good luck.

Charlie

There was a thread kinda like this a while back that started when someone asked the average number of guns owned by forum members, or some such.

I think all the replies went like: "alas, mine were all lost in a boating accident (earthquake, tsunami, etc.), but I have a few old photos that I still like to share"

It may well be paranoia, but I suspect at least a few of us live in jurisdictions where the word "gun" is enough to provoke a cavity search.

Hey, if 7 year olds get expelled for drawing a gun, it's not too far fetched.

/c (remaining incognito)

Thanks for the replies from all. I thought perhaps that the forum moderators may have obscured the serial numbers. Silly me. I'm not paranoid, but I believe in giving as little ammo to my enemies as possible.

kwill1911, You've jogged my slow mind. Hypothetically, if the gun had been used in the commission of a crime and the police new about that serial #, they could subpoena information from the forum?

Rugskipper, I like your idea of no Google returns searching with your name. I thought I had a unique name but someone else has my name and the same middle name initial.

Because it no one's bussiness but mine what the S/N's of my guns are. It's a need to know situation and if someone legitimately needs to know they will get the info.

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Sceva
OGCA SWCA NRA

I only added x's to a serial number because as a newbie reading these posts I thought it was the proper procedure on the forum.
Steve

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Birds like shiny new toys too.

I don't do it for one simple reason. With our government becoming more and more corrupt and willing these days to do whatever they want, pass whatever laws they see fit to make their agenda easier, I can see no reason to give them a helping hand anywhere. Especially when it comes to checking on what I do or don't own.

Who knows how many new "gun forum czars" the annointed one has put into place to do nothing more than monitor forums and document what they see on them since taking office?

Maybe none, but if he has or ever does, I don't plan to make it any easier for them to do their jobs. If they have to go through the different states records divisions to get the same info, it will certainly cost a lot more and take a lot longer, and that's a good thing IMO.

I have never been worried about someone claiming I stole their gun. They would need to be able to prove it, and with so many states requiring registration of handguns by the current and legitimate owner in one form or another, it would be nothing more than a trip to jail for anyone claiming such nonsense.

I almosx nevex obscuxx my serixx numbxxx. It ix kindx sillx if yox ask mx.

I have enjoyed this discussion. Many valid points and good ideas. It is a personal decision how much information comes out on our firearms. I personally don't get caught up in serial numbers,since many databases track 38/44's etc. I guess i would not be totally honest if I did not admit to enjoying an occasional purchase without a papertrail. Having been in law enforcement for over 37 years, I cannot dispute the change in attitude and philosophy of some of our federal agencies,especially those who regulate firearms and FFL's. Although, I personally do not agree with some gun laws, I believe they should be enforced if they are on the books.

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J. Mark McCarver

I share the same sentiments as you...well said.

I agree with you for the most part, but this administration is really pushing to alter this country, and neither obama, his staff, secretary of state, nor any of the judges he has appointed so far are on our side. Enforcing laws just because they are "on the books" is not necessarily a good thing, since some of what they have already passed in this administration many of us feel is unconstitutional.

Clinton has always been against us, and has been steadily trying to sign a treaty with the UN to have our gun laws ruled and set by the UN, and we all know what their agenda is.

Never worried about the straw dog of someone claiming the gun stolen if they had the serial number, but like many other things that used to just be taught under 'general politeness & manners', its personal information and no one else's business what the serial numbers of my guns are, my salary, how much I spend on groceries, booze, bibles, condoms or anything else. If it doesn't bother you, publish your own all over the place for all I care. Folks do a lot of things I think are silly or ill-advised but you know what ? As long as it doesn't affect me directly it's their business . . . .

For participation purposes on the forum and such I think unless it's a special case for a special reason, identifying a piece by the serial/series within a 100 units should satisfy most any curiosity or question someone might conceivably have, with the exception of someone trying to hook up consecutive specimens.

Do you remember the internet hoax (maybe) that went around after Barry O took office. Requirement to list all your guns on your 1040 tax form. It was pretty chilling.


Charlie

I do not, actually.

As far as government goons watching the forum and taking down names and serial numbers, I have been on the list for years. They know who I am already.

I posted this photo on the 1911 forum a couple of months back. I whited out the SN using iPhoto. (Might have been photoshop, I don't remember.) I represented the gun as a 1911A1 GI Colt. Someone corrected me, said that even though it has a Colt slide, the SN indicated it is actually an Ithaca. Seems as if he used the same program I used to "whiteout" the SN to remove the whiteout. Ain't technology grand?

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Georgia On My Mind

Government already knows who owns what. Nothing is a secret anymore.

It is my choice to no publish my entire serial number on common shooters. It is nobodies business in my opinion.

Now on a collector piece that is different. It is important to have the entire number to pinpoint info on the gun.

John

So does everybody think that it's a bad idea to take my steel letter and number stamps and whack a pair of big "X" over the last two digits on the S/N's on my guns?

They're your guns...do what you want.

I always thought it was ironic when, on the gun auction sites, they would "X" out a few numbers in their description of the gun, then right underneath the description they'd have closeup pics of the details..INCLUDING the entire serial number! That right there is funny.

Roger

Redlevel,
The guy that un-whiteouted your serial number has way too much spare time on his hands.

Wingmaster

I don't think forensics are quite that good. (yet!). They usually need to have the gun first before getting the serial.


(Of course there are those that would like to make it a law that the gun's serial number would have to be imprinted on the shell case and bullet by the gun that fired it.)

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

People don't put their complete serial number just in case that great deal they got on their new handgun just happens to really be stolen. Make all the excuses you want, but this is why they don't publish them.

Got any facts, figures, technical data, or any other tangible evidence to back that statement up?

Ditto what Gun 4 Fun says.
Any one who would be dumb enough to post a possible stolen gun on the internet would be too dumb to block out the serial numbers.

As mentioned above people and dealers post the s/# online all the time. For me it's my gun and I keep that information to myself. There's no reason to put that information online for everyone's viewing pleasure. For those out there that have their name and location on your profile People Search | White Pages | Find People | FREE! it's not very hard for someone to see where you live and a picture of your house (for free). I'm not paranoid but I see there is at least a dozen new members to this forum every other day. On your profile page theses two spots on the lower right side that show how many page views and the last few users that have viewed your profile. So apparently other people like looking at previous posts to get as much information as possible. Feel free to post online it's only permanent.

I don't need any facts and figures. You can make all the silly excuses you want, like it's no one business, or I don't want the Govt. to know etc.
The fact is no one wants to get stuck with a reported stolen gun, so to prevent this lets put in some xxx's.

The internet dealers probably checked all the numbers before they bought the gun and know it's clear, so they are not worried about it.

There are thousands of stolen guns out there, hence let's not publish the complete number. Why else would anyone care. It is just something that has been in practice for years.

That is simply your opinion based on nothing but your own paranoia. You are fairly new here, and my guess is with inflamatory remarks like that, you won't be here long.


Kinda brassy of you to think that everyone here is a dishonest thug in posession of stolen property.

Roger, I always thought that was hilarious as well.

I can see why people would want to keep their serial numbers sacred and since theguns belong to them then that's cool. It doesn't bother me to do so and I haven't ever heard anyone share a story where they got burned, but it doesn't mean it hasn't happened. I kind of think that if the government wanted to take my guns from me then having kept my serial numbers secret probably wouldn't make a difference anyway.

And if I was in possession of a stolen gun then I would be more then happy to return it to it's rightful owner. Why? Because it's the right thing to do and it's what I would want someone to do for me if someone had stolen any of my precious pistols.

I don't think anyone here is as you put it "a thug". What I really think is that there a bunch of really serious collectors here, as well as some really knowledgable people.

The fact that people won't post their serial number is due to either their paranoia of maybe having a gun that was reported stolen 20 years ago, and has changed hands 15 times since. (I did not say they knowingly bought a stolen gun), but when the gun is 20-80 years old, who knows unless it has been checked, or they are just following everyone elses lead.

Some of the posts to the OP question are silly. People here are posting continually about all the new guns they just purchased, full descriptions, and photos. Then they say they don't want people to know the serial number, because it's none of their business. If that was true why would they even post the gun on the net for everyone to see. I could read a number of past posts, and know who has a house full of guns, I don't need or really care what the serial number is.

I could post the serial numbers of my guns as I have either bought them new, or already checked them.

Lets not confuse the OP with a bunch of off the wall statements concerning serial numbers.

Who cares if you have serial #c143234 or #c143658, unless there is a problem with one of them.

I live in california. Every gun I have bought has gone thru legal FFL channels and I waited 10 days before pickup. I still think its a privacy issue mine not yours. If GLL wants my serial for his outdoorsman database that's my business with him nots the rest of the world. I trust jerry and have had much offline correspondence and we even met one to trade a gun. But again its my business not yours and that should be a satisfactory answer for anybody asking. Guns I inherited thru family have been in the family since new and I have provenance on them going back decades and can produce any number of witnesses who will say my 1880 parker was over my grandparents fireplace the last 70 years and now its mine and the 60 years prior to that it was my great grandfathers until my grandma inherited. Any questions ?

I've never even considered the possibility that my guns might be stolen. Since I've bought through legitimate channels I already know they aren't the slightest bit warm. But their serial numbers still aren't anyone's business unless I make it so. I've contributed to a couple of members' databases and that's fine, but I'm not putting ANY personal info into cyberspace for any Tom, Dick, or Crackhead to see. BTW I won't be found in the White pages either. The point is, I show my guns here for the greater good, or camaraderie, or whatever. But you'll never put them together with a name or address or even run a check on them unless I say so. That's my right, I choose to exercise it, and it ain't cause they're stolen!

That's all I'm sayin'. (Though he said it a lot better than I did/could)