New purchase, wHat is this ???

[slotsavegas]

I purchased my first new handgun in several years. My SW40VE came with a small envelope that appears to contain a spent case. I know this is a newby question, but what is this exactly, and what is it for. Can I throw it away or do I need to keep it. Should I open it, or leave it sealed ?
Thanks,
Barry

 

[slotsavegas]

I purchased my first new handgun in several years. My SW40VE came with a small envelope that appears to contain a spent case. I know this is a newby question, but what is this exactly, and what is it for. Can I throw it away or do I need to keep it. Should I open it, or leave it sealed ?
Thanks,
Barry

 

[OKFC05]

If you would post your state it would help with these questions.
In Maryland, for example, the case is kept by the state in an expensive, ineffective library of fired cartridges.

In OK we just load them and fire them again....

 

[slotsavegas]

State is Texas.

 

[netspec]

Exactly!! I should forward this post to the MD General Assembly!

 

[sdrct]

Required in some states to be kept on file and match up to shells left behind at crime scenes.

 

[netspec]

That system is a big waste of time and money.

 

[s&wchad]

Welcome to the forum.

As already mentioned, some States require the manufacturer to supply a fired case with every new gun sold there. If you lived in one of those states, you'd never see the envelope, so do what you‘d like with it. I keep everything that came with the gun, just because. The concept behind the program is that chambers and firing pins leave unique markings that can be used to solve crimes when cases are recovered at crime scenes. It's really just a Brady Bunch wet dream, as barrels and firing pins can easily be altered or replaced. It's an inconvenience to the manufactures and sucks up money that could be used for something constructive (but some groups are really good at that). It’s useless as a crime fighting tool.

I like getting them with a gun. The date on the envelope should be about as close as you can get to a date of manufacture. It also means the gun worked at least once!

The one's I've opened have Blaser aluminum cases inside. I don't know if it's because they're cheap or because the aluminum shows the marks better.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Originally posted by slotsavegas:
I purchased my first new handgun in several years. My SW40VE came with a small envelope that appears to contain a spent case. I know this is a newby question, but what is this exactly, and what is it for. Can I throw it away or do I need to keep it. Should I open it, or leave it sealed ?
Thanks,
Barry

Certain laws require it. Leave it sealed in the envelope.

 

[FirebirdV8]

If your state requires it or not, keeping it with all of your original papers, cleaning brush and box helps keep you guns value up for collectors. As mentioned it does prove it worked at least once.