[bikemutt]

I picked up a S&W 586 6" revolver recently online and decided to check it out in more detail. I noticed what appears to be a social security number engraved with a crude marking tool on the frame area normally covered by the grips.

I was wondering if this was, or is, a common practice? The number is in the format nnn-nn-nnnn.

[Awsomepossum]

its common to some degree, people ingrave in case their guns get stolen

[X-Rap]

I've seen some nice guns butchered up by some Fudd who thought the serial number wasn't enough.
Wouldn't hurt to check up on who the number belongs to though, having that carved into the frame might be valuable provenance if the previous owner was somebody.

[chicharrones]

I haven't seen social security numbers, but I've seen drivers license numbers. I've seen that on tools as well in the past and up through part of the 1990s. Not so much anymore.

Maybe because guns and tools were a larger percentage of person's income in the old days?

[SaxonPig]

I've seen numerous guns with names, SSNs and DLs scratched or engraved on them. Sometimes on the frame in plain sight. I hope there's a special place in Hell for these idiots.

[Bullet Bob]

Police departments used to recommend that practice (ssn's, drivers license numbers, etc.) At least it's under the grips. Some people did it on nice Leica rangefinder cameras, among other things.

You can go to socialsecurity.gov, there is a link that you can go to and check on dead folks. Put in your number, and if the person who did it is deceased, you'll have the name. Both cool and a little creepy.

[del4]

I've seen numerous guns with names, SSNs and DLs scratched or engraved on them. Sometimes on the frame in plain sight. I hope there's a special place in Hell for these idiots.

Damn dude, lighten up.

Some people look at guns strictly as tools. They are more worried about their property being returned than resale value or identity theft .

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[chicharrones]

Some people look at guns strictly as tools. They are more worried about their property being returned than resale value or identity theft .

Very true indeed. If we go by most of the photos I see on gun forums, those pristine examples are owned by collectors and shooters that take great care in protecting their beauties. I'm guilty of that myself.

I'm also guilty of having my drivers license engraved on some of my first firearms. It was a different time just a few decades ago and my guns got used outside a lot and were used amongst friends a lot. We would swap guns for entire weekends for hunting and they would be hundreds of miles away. They were/are MY guns and I was never going to get rid of them no matter how bad or good they were. Not counting concealed carry, it wasn't as much of a "hobby" to me as it is now.

Now, I don't let a gun out of my sight or hardly out of my range bag and I'm afraid of getting a little scratch or a tad of rust on some in my poor little collection. :)

[Prince Yamato]

I've seen it on pre-68 guns. I was told that a lot of old folks weren't sure what they requirements of GCA '68 were going to be. Some, fearing registration, thought it wise to engrave their info on their guns.

[Safetychain]

Every gun that I have, purchased or gifted, was intended to be shot. I have many guns, long and pistol, and I have no intention of ever selling one. They are my toys and tools. Although I have kept them at least in as good a condition as when they were obtained, I doubt that any could be sold for anything more than I paid for them, especially considering inflation. I research and try out what I really want, put aside the funds and buy. I don't buy junk so my guns will last beyond my lifetime and why sell a great toy/tool. I haven't ever put my ID on any of my guns but surely wouldn't fret about doing so. For those that do, I discovered a printed labeling strip with ID in the stock screw recess under the butt-plate of an old 12 gauge purchased as a boat gun many years ago.