Why post incomplete serial numbers?

[Aussie Bruce]

I notice that members have the habit of substituting Xs for the last two or three serial numbers of the guns they own.
I can understand that for security reasons thay may not wish the world to know what guns they have, but they have already done that by posting the details so what benefit is there in hiding the full serial number? Just curious

 

[CajunBass]

This question comes up often. There are any number of reasons to not do it ranging from concern that the government is keeping records of S/N's they find at random to some will report my gun stolen to the police, to simply, it's nobody elses business. You should be able to find threads on the subject with a search.

Personally I don't worry about it. I don't post them more because it's not, shall we say, "socially acceptable?" Since the majority of people don't, I don't. Also, there is no real reason to in most cases. For most research all that's needed are the first three or four numbers.

 

[zelda]

l think its against the law to alter serial numbers

 

[NFrameFred]

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1961-1980/268572-why-post-incomplete-serial-numbers.html

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/264369-why-hide-sn-number-gun.html

Needs To Know

This gets asked once every couple of weeks it seems lately - no harm since newbies are curious; but the answers range from the practical to the mocking. Depends on your view point.

I'll get the popcorn . . .

 

[NFrameFred]

l think its against the law to alter serial numbers

He's talking about in pictures . . .

 

[CajunBass]

l think its against the law to alter serial numbers

It is. On the gun itself. The OP is talking about in posts in the forum.

 

[load748]

That's not what the op's post says ....

 

[VaRecon]

Cajun said it all. The last two digits aren't needed to identify.
So I keep them to myself.
I don't think anyone would use the information if I did provide it.
But this way, no one knows which gun is mine and no one needs to.

And NFrameFred, your signature always makes me chuckle.

 

[Old Corp]

Golly - I was wondering why everybody else's guns s/n's ended in 'X' and none of mine did. ;-)

 

[gdauth]

The answer is simple, those guns are X-rated or porno guns.

 

[mkk41]

Most of the interest here is in the DoB or vintage , so the prefix and first few digits are all that is necessary in most cases.

Never know what database those numbers , gun description , posters info , etc might end up in , or get hacked out of?

 

[larryofcc]

They are "Beer Guns". Mexican "Beer Guns". Ever heard of "Dos Equis". Frankly, I think some people are just paranoid. I just scroll to the next post. Maybe they have something to hide. My opinion. Big Larry

 

[Aussie Bruce]

Many thanks for all your replies. All our guns are registered to us over here (in Oz) so there is not much point in being paranoid about what the authorities might find out. We don't have to like it though.

 

[Checkman]

The answer is simple, those guns are X-rated or porno guns.

Now that is funny.

 

[sceva]

Comes up regularly. In my case; I look at it this way. Anything posted on the internet is pretty much there forever for any Tom, Dick, or Harry to find. I figure that what I own is my business and I can choose who I do or do not want to share info with.

 

[Rogue686]

I do it out of habit. Is anyone ever going to steal them off the internet or use them in a way to cause trouble for me? Extremely unlikely, nearly impossible.

That said, I only give the first three letters/digits for identification purposes by year....in my book, it's not really anyone else's business but me and my firearms inventory of what the complete serial number is...

.02 FRNs

-Rogue

 

[MP22]

I think it is silly to post serial numbers on the internet in any form or fashion.

 

[sophie]

I got a bunch of those XXX CTG"s. By the way what does that mean?

_________
James