S/N's ... to show, or not??

Another thread has led me to post this ... mainly to get a feel for the level of my own ''paranoia''?? :)

I have over time found a lot of people like me, have chosen to not show a specific firearm's whole S/N (in a pic) ... often expressing it as maybe 185-xxxx etc. The reason I prefer not to? hard to say .... and arinvolvo has mentioned he finds no problem with it.

I admit is difficult to find an easy way that nefarious use could be made of the info but, for my own peace of mind, just think it's better left not showing, - in full anyways. maybe it's that feeling that one could be inviting ''registration'' ... matching a gun to owner .... even if that owner is all legal.

Your thoughts?

No preference. Doesn't bother me.

I've always wondered about this; what possible damage could someone do with a serial number? I tend to guard my privacy pretty closely, but this doesn’t bother me and I’ve never obscured the serial number in pictures I’ve posted.

I’d be interested in others thoughts as well.

I obscure them in photos and don't give out the full numbers.

It takes very little time to do and the internet is a very permanent place. It's the same reason I don't actually put my hometown in my "location", just the general area so people know where I'm coming from. I guess it's all my naive thinking that I have some sort of privacy :(

-Pytron

This was a discussion the P95 and I decided to bring to the masses....and I am still not sure.

it seems that the only one that could do something or would want to do something with my serial is the government, and I registered my handgun, so they already have it.

I dont know...but pytron is right, it doesnt take long to do, and if it offers a little extra security...then by all means...please do it.

That is, of course, the same reason I wear a tin foil hat. Doesnt take long to make, and viola....Total peace of mind for the wearer.

I admit is difficult to find an easy way that nefarious use could be made of the info

I'm torn here:confused:

I could explain exactly why should not post your whole serial#, and the scam thats run with them that can backfire on you in the end...but then I'm telling the whole world exactly how to do it.

I'll just say Blueduck suggest you don't post whole # and photoshop your pics. Not likely you would fall victim but there is a small chance of a problem...

The federal government already has serial numbers.

Anyone ever purchase a used gun from a non-dealer?

I know I have. Quite a few.

Why give someone the outside possibility of claiming that it's stolen.

I thought the reason to avoid showing serials was that somebody could then report the weapon as stolen. Of course their accusations wouldn't hold water, but it still might be a hassle if you have to explain yourself. And the probability of any of this happening is remote, but I understand people's reasonings.

Ditto, Pipsqueak. I'd rather not take a chance on anyone claiming that the gun in the picture that I posted was stolen (especially from him/her!). Also - what happens if you trade that gun to someone else in a private deal, and the person you traded it to does the same with it, and it ends up being used in a criminal action? There are no paper trails showing who had it last - but you've posted a picture showing it was in your possession. Might take some explaining... which I'd rather avoid!

Anyone ever purchase a used gun from a non-dealer?

I know I have. Quite a few.

Why give someone the outside possibility of claiming that it's stolen. I'm surprised it took 7 replies before someone mentioned this. ;)



"I trust in the Lord. Everyone else pays with cash."

Actually my photography does a pretty good job of obscuring the numbers

Thx guys for comments ...... well my ''play it safe'' maybe ain't too paranoid. Each to his own of course.

Probably main deal for me is the ''privacy'' thing .. why give anything away unnecessarily.

Actually my photography does a pretty good job of obscuring the numbers ROFLMAO!!!

The only thing I would be worried about is someone reporting the gun as stolen. You get pulled over four years later, they run the gun, and you spend the night with some 'splaining to do.

-SquirrelNuts

The federal government already has serial numbers.
they do, but others don't. like SquirrelNuts said...

I have a legal receipt for every gun I've posted pictures of. I don't see what harm could come from this knowledge. If someone reported on of my guns as stolen and in my possession, that other person is probably going to be in a world of hurt, not me.

On the other hand, if you don't want to give out or display such information, there's no need to justify it here.

it's better to take precaution than having police putting you in their custody. it wastes my time and their time. the original poster is asking whether or not he should post his serials. some people do, some people don't, you don't have to be defensive when some chose not to show their numbers.

same reason people dont want to list their phone numbers in the phone book, they don't want to be bothered.

On the other hand, if you don't want to give out or display such information, there's no need to justify it here. :rolleyes:

No way, no need for anyone to have them, so why open that posibility up? i had bought all my guns from local people i know, none through a dealer, but there was this tragic boating accident and they were all lost, on a lake whose name i can't recall.

Being a privacy stickler, I take the serial numbers off when possible. It might do no good but it takes ten seconds or so.

As I am so fond of saying, "In God we trust, everyone else is on probation."

I post mine sometimes, remove it other times. But I'm finding the better the picture quality, the less I like messing around with photoshoping it out.

And I live in NJ, so my lawful purchase of said item is copiously documented out several individuals collective wazoos. They were also all new gun purchases. I'd probably be more reluctant about it with a used purchase.

were of rifles I purchased from the CMP. So if anyone claims the guns were stolen, how can they explain the CMP paperwork issuing the gun to me. My camera is not good enough to take a clear photo of the SN.....chris3

I don't post because other's don't post. I personally could care less, I have receipts, plus they would have to have receipts in order to claim it was stolen. Plus they would have to claim it was stolen prior to my having it. You can't see a picture of my gun on the Internet then go file a claim that I stole it when it is a known fact I have had it for over 5 years and you just reported it missing yesterday.

Anyway, to simplify life, I just don't post the numbers.

There is no gun registration here in Louisiana, so it doesn't bother me one bit.

The federal government already has serial numbers.

Because what firearms I have were all inherited, I can say with confidence that the feds have no current record tying those serial numbers to me.


Excuse me, please, I have to go shoo away another black helicopter.

guess its just habbit for me. like not putting your license plate or drivers license on the net. someone you might not want to have the info now has full access to it. id say with some connections you can get the address of the owner of a gun though the serial and track them down. i like keeping such things as my home addy private as possible....why....i like coming home and being alone.