Is it illegal to remove import markings?

[Alpo]

I was looking for some info on 1937s. I found one at the Cabelas in Glendale, and in the blurb it said the import markings had been removed, which was why the price was so low (900 bucks is LOW??)

I thought I had read,somewhere (ATF FAQs, probably) that importer markings could not be removed (which annoys me, because of that moron at CAI with his electro-pencil).

Is my rememberer wrong - it is NOT illegal to remove them? Or is Cabelas selling an illegal gun?

Anyone know?

 

[Alk8944]

I would think not, depending on when the markings were removed. Here is a link to the ATF Import Regulations, why don't you read it and let us know what you find out! eCFR ? Code of Federal Regulations

 

[alwslate]

I don't see how it could be illegal in general. Many milsurp rifles are
import marked near the muzzle and are removed if the gun is
sporterized and the barrel is shortened.

 

[k22fan]

I like alwslate’s logic but I do not know that BATFE bureaucrats wrote the regulations using the same logic. Surplus rifles started coming into the country again in 1986 with the import stamps on their barrels near the muzzle. It wasn't until years later that the stamp’s location was required to be on the receiver. There is also the question of how your state law is written. Washington’s RCW 9.41.140 reads “No person may change, alter, remove, or obliterate the name of the maker, model, manufacturer's number, or other mark of identification on any firearm.” (Emphasis added.) It’s an interesting technicality I never considered before.

 

[JSR III]

I don't personally think that the importers marks would be considered "or other marks of identification". Things like manufacturer, serial number, caliber to me are identification marks and removing them makes it difficult to determine the identity of the particular firearm. Knowing whether the gun was imported by Fred Smith or Joe Blow does not really alter the guns original identity.

Understand that this is merely MY opinion and I have not researched this through Federal or State laws.

 

[Faulkner]

Being a collector of USGI M1 carbines, it is a rather common practice to rebarrel M1 carbines during a restoration process. Since most import marks on on the barrel, this would obviously remove the markings.

 

[yaktamer]

Tag on the mattress is a whole different story.

 

[Rastoff]

It is illegal to remove any identification marks like the serial number. I don't see how import markings would be an issue.

 

[kozmic]

On pillows? Definitely (with severe punishment, BTW)...In this case? To my knowledge, no one really asks where something is made for the legality of it.

Obviously, it may have an impact on resale. If that's an issue for you.

 

[LVSteve]

Import markings are a requirement of BATFE, not an advertising tool like the number plate frame from the car dealer. Mess with them at you peril, I say.

As for rebarelling M1 carbines or shortening (butchering) milsurps and losing the import mark, maybe that is why BATFE now insist that all such marks be on the receiver of the firearm.

 

[2152hq]

You can read the BATFE guidelines on firearms markings(ser#, Make,Model, Cal, Importer, Importer Adress,,ect)
https://www.atf.gov/content/firearms/firearms-industry/guides/firearms-verification-overview

All down to the size ,methods & placement of markings.
They do say that the import markings,just like the ser# are to be "placed in a manner not susceptible of being readily obliterated, altered, or removed."

They are there for a stating point for a gun trace on the import actually. So I'd imagine they'd like them to stay,,but that's just my guess.

Personally,,I'd call the BATFE Technology Division (304) 616-4300 to get a real answer if they bother you.
Their email is [email protected]


Pillow Tags,,I don't know. I'd leave them alone. That's gettin' into the dark side of things.

 

[k22fan]

[...] They are there for a stating point for a gun trace on the import actually. So I'd imagine they'd like them to stay,,but that's just my guess. [...]

They'd like them to stay is not the same as they can prosecute you for replacing a barrel that has the import stamp.

A more careful reading of Washington's law makes it clear we are O.K. under state law if we replace old barrels with new ones that do not have the name of the gun's original manufacturer or do not make the gun otherwise illegal. That kicks it back to whether it is illegal under federal law which I doubt.

I'll let someone else research this further. I'm going to check to be sure my bleach did not fade the tag on my pillow case.

 

[dant]

they are there for the gun coming back into the country, and who the importer is...they are removed all the time in restoring or rebarreling, what ever, so my guess would be it is NOT "illegal", but on the flip side of the coin, is it "immoral" if you are doing it to perpetrate a "fraud", and thusly if the buyer feels he got "screwed" can they comeback and sue you for such, thus go after you for "fraud"? yes, this can and does happen............
No 'import markings' makes any of these guns MORE valuable.....

caveat emptor baby.....

 

[walnutred]

And once no one cared if you buffed the serial number off the butt of a Victory.

 

[Arik]

They realized the error of putting importer info on the barrel and this is why it's now on the receiver. You can't take it off