handejector
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I had a pair of grips and a barrel just like those stolen out of my truck at the mall last week.
GIVE EM BACK, OR I'M CALLIN THE COPS!
why do people block out the serial number of a gun online?
- Thread starter Stopsign32v
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I had a pair of grips and a barrel just like those stolen out of my truck at the mall last week.
GIVE EM BACK, OR I'M CALLIN THE COPS!
You do/did give advice to your kids about important stuff, right?
I think that's my picnic table from the cabin . . .
Ed Fowler
Member
When I see a serial # blocked out on one at auction, I automatically quit considering it. Figure they don't trust me, I won't trust them.
Lesson from my grandmother.
Lesson from my grandmother.
OK you are a Navy guy so maybe "boatload" was a exaggeration. My boats(s) were not as big as yours.
My boat sank with all my guns, all the insurance forms where a killer !
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I do it strictly because it won't matter in terms of viewers looking at the particular firearm, but can not help to those who might want to cause problems. In other words a safety / confidentiality matter. Same reason that people routinely block their home addresses on correspondences, hide their vehicles license plate number in photos, Social Security numbers, etc. These days you can NOT be too cautious!
If someone or some group has it in their head to do some harm or cause problems ultimately I doubt it would matter however I would not want to assist them in any way, shape or form!
If someone or some group has it in their head to do some harm or cause problems ultimately I doubt it would matter however I would not want to assist them in any way, shape or form!
Last edited:
M E Morrison
Member
OK you are a Navy guy so maybe "boatload" was a exaggeration. My boats(s) were not as big as yours.
My boat sank with all my guns, all the insurance forms where a killer !
AHHH, now that makes sense!
SW MP15
Member
Final Thought? I feel it's better to be safe today, than to be sorry tomorrow!
Now I've got to get back to wondering around the park! I still have Pokemon to catch!
Now if I can only find my net! That is how you play Pokemon Go isn't it? Or am I doing that all wrong too?
Now I've got to get back to wondering around the park! I still have Pokemon to catch!
Now if I can only find my net! That is how you play Pokemon Go isn't it? Or am I doing that all wrong too?
It gets taken way too far.
If you've got a receipt showing you purchased the weapon, or the shop you bought it from has the paperwork, you don't have much to worry about even if someone files a false report that it was stolen. You can prove ownership - they can't. A police report means nothing in that regard, other than raising a suspicion that they've filed a false report.
The folks most likely to do this kind of thing are folks with criminal records and they have a credibility problem to start with. It's also something that carries a significant degree of risk, particularly if there's a prior pattern of similar reports, as once the report is proven to be false, the individual is going to get charged with not just filing a false report but also the intended theft of a firearm. ATF won't make a distinction between stealing the firearm via robbery, burglary or deception, it's going to view it as stealing a firearm and it'll be the same federal offense.
----
It gets taken too far in other ways as well.
A while back I saw a P.08 Luger listed on GB and the last digit on every single part number was blanked out.
For those that are not aware, the P.08s were given serials from 1-10,000 and the series then repeated with a suffix letter 1-10,000 a, 1-10,000 b, 1-10,000 c, etc.
P.08s also had most of the externally visible small parts numbered with the last 2 digits of the serial and having non matching parts will reduce the value of a Luger by about half.
Thus listing a P.08 with the last digit covered is asking for buyers to assume it's a non matching pistol.
Instead, the seller could have just covered the suffix letter, as then a viewer has no good way to tell whether the suffix is an "a" a "b",...all the way out to "z".
As an aside, if you buy a P.08 or a P.38 be sure the FFL logged it in and out with the suffix number so it's on record as being your unique P08, rather than just a 4 digit serial that could be one of many Lugers with the same 4 digit serial.
If you've got a receipt showing you purchased the weapon, or the shop you bought it from has the paperwork, you don't have much to worry about even if someone files a false report that it was stolen. You can prove ownership - they can't. A police report means nothing in that regard, other than raising a suspicion that they've filed a false report.
The folks most likely to do this kind of thing are folks with criminal records and they have a credibility problem to start with. It's also something that carries a significant degree of risk, particularly if there's a prior pattern of similar reports, as once the report is proven to be false, the individual is going to get charged with not just filing a false report but also the intended theft of a firearm. ATF won't make a distinction between stealing the firearm via robbery, burglary or deception, it's going to view it as stealing a firearm and it'll be the same federal offense.
----
It gets taken too far in other ways as well.
A while back I saw a P.08 Luger listed on GB and the last digit on every single part number was blanked out.
For those that are not aware, the P.08s were given serials from 1-10,000 and the series then repeated with a suffix letter 1-10,000 a, 1-10,000 b, 1-10,000 c, etc.
P.08s also had most of the externally visible small parts numbered with the last 2 digits of the serial and having non matching parts will reduce the value of a Luger by about half.
Thus listing a P.08 with the last digit covered is asking for buyers to assume it's a non matching pistol.
Instead, the seller could have just covered the suffix letter, as then a viewer has no good way to tell whether the suffix is an "a" a "b",...all the way out to "z".
As an aside, if you buy a P.08 or a P.38 be sure the FFL logged it in and out with the suffix number so it's on record as being your unique P08, rather than just a 4 digit serial that could be one of many Lugers with the same 4 digit serial.
handejector
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and then, the seller will get LOTS of emails wanting to know the letter.
You're forgetting how......... uh....... "curious"
collectors can be. They'll want the suffix so they can interpolate what month of 1916, maybe even what week.........maybe even Tuesday or Wednesday........morning or afternoon.......Seriously, you'll have a guy that already has DWM1916's with an a and another with c suffix, but he might consider buying a DWM1916 with a b suffix to fit between them.
My point is that collectors want to know ALL about a gun.
What if I own an S&W with #S12345, and your auction shows the same model with #S1234X
!!!!!!Is it consecutive to mine!!??!!??
Because it is stolen.
OK then, what is the consensus of the more savvy folks on the forum? Those that do a lot of buying selling on auctions and such.
Is it worth it or not to blank out part of the serial number or not??
Aside from the "serious" collectors that Lee mentioned where a digit or letter make a difference.
Google Earth blocks the license plates of cars
Is it worth it or not to blank out part of the serial number or not??
Aside from the "serious" collectors that Lee mentioned where a digit or letter make a difference.
Google Earth blocks the license plates of cars
I'm just a joker of a seller [emoji14],but I might use Xs for the last few digits if I write it out.I just leave it visible in photos
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
The best path between carelessness and paranoia when dealing with any open area of the internet is to follow the simple principle: put only that information out that's needed.
The whole false theft report thing is an urban legend, and the idea of some sinister government agents patrolling gun forums to record serial numbers of decades-old guns is a paranoid fantasy.
But just like your real name, your licence plate, your drivers license number, your phone number, your guns' serials aren't exactly classified information, but there is no need to put them in reach of every computer with internet accces from Kazachstan to Nigeria, unless there is a good reason.
So if one of my revolver's complete serial is essential to make a point in a discussion thread, I'll provide it; if it still works with x-ing out the last few digits, I'll do that. I'll do the x-ing thing on auctions, and provide the full serial upon request.
Common sense is the name of the game.
The whole false theft report thing is an urban legend, and the idea of some sinister government agents patrolling gun forums to record serial numbers of decades-old guns is a paranoid fantasy.
But just like your real name, your licence plate, your drivers license number, your phone number, your guns' serials aren't exactly classified information, but there is no need to put them in reach of every computer with internet accces from Kazachstan to Nigeria, unless there is a good reason.
So if one of my revolver's complete serial is essential to make a point in a discussion thread, I'll provide it; if it still works with x-ing out the last few digits, I'll do that. I'll do the x-ing thing on auctions, and provide the full serial upon request.
Common sense is the name of the game.
vonn
US Veteran
Wow! It is a good thing we don't discuss politics here!
ChattanoogaPhil
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Are you saying this is a "topic" has been asked before????
Say it ain't so...
Everyone knows Internet discussion forums are limited to original thoughts.
OH NO.... someone posted the same question TWO years ago.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/388845-why-cover-serial-numbers.html?highlight=cover+serial
From now on... holster shot only!
Do I hear three? Three years ago, anyone?
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If you think about it objectively............ I doubt there are too many topics here or on any other website in existence for any length of time that are genuinely new and original. That is why I don't jump in and participate in as many repetitive questions as I use to - I mean how many times can we answer the same questions?
The other side of the coin is that there are constantly new comers and newbies that do not know the questions they are seeking answers to have been answered 1000+ times already so we should try and have as much patience as possible.
I am quite sure we all did similar things when we were starting out.
The other side of the coin is that there are constantly new comers and newbies that do not know the questions they are seeking answers to have been answered 1000+ times already so we should try and have as much patience as possible.
I am quite sure we all did similar things when we were starting out.
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