Jesse H
Member
Every gun I come across in commission of a crime gets run. And no surprise they're often reported stolen.
Who puts their name on their guns.
- Thread starter SamT1
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Every gun I come across in commission of a crime gets run. And no surprise they're often reported stolen.
No. But I have one shotgun, a Remington Model 11, which has my father's initials scratched onto the trigger guard. It bothers me a bit when I clean/fondle it, but it reminds me of him and who he was, so it balances out as a good thing.
MedWheeler
Member
The 1966-manufacture Charter Arms Undercover 38 I inherited from my dad is so scratched. I'm not certain it's someone's initials; it could be a law enforcement case marking. The markings consist of 2-3 initials I cannot recall right now (the gun's locked up at the moment) and "Nov 71." The initials are inside the recoil shield, and the date is inside the bottom strap. My dad did not buy this gun new; it was most likely acquired by him in the middle 1980s or so.
No, I would not personally so mark any of my guns. If I chose to do so, it would be because I would have doubt in the accuracy of a law enforcement identification. For example, I report a FEG pistol stolen, but an officer who comes across it runs it as an Interarms pistol. That would not return a "hit."
If I did mark one, it would more likely be with my driver's license number, not with my name. But, I can't think of any of my guns I'd want to so mark.
No, I would not personally so mark any of my guns. If I chose to do so, it would be because I would have doubt in the accuracy of a law enforcement identification. For example, I report a FEG pistol stolen, but an officer who comes across it runs it as an Interarms pistol. That would not return a "hit."
If I did mark one, it would more likely be with my driver's license number, not with my name. But, I can't think of any of my guns I'd want to so mark.
As a professional engraver, I've engraved names on hundreds of guns over the last 40 years, and caliber designations on hundreds of custom rifles. The key word here is "professional". Why scratch your name on a gun when you can pay an engraver $20 or less to do a nice job? I would always refuse to engrave on a collectible firearm. Most of the guns I engraved were new Ruger revolvers, 1911s or kids' rifles or shotguns.
entropy
Member
My Dad dremeled a MN Crime ID number on some of his guns back in the late 70's, then wondered why nobody wanted to buy them. 
I could see sticking a piece of paper under grips, that makes sense.
I could see sticking a piece of paper under grips, that makes sense.
Armored farmer
Member
This on bears my name, and a famous inscription.
I wish someone near me would do stuff for that kinda money. I’d like to get my boys names engraved on theirs. I’ve been quoted $150 to simply put a name on a gun.
I do think the hen scratch adds to the devaluing of the gun to a thief whereas a nicely engraved name may not even be noticed by a buyer.
Yea that’s about the only shot at getting them back, but I’d bet over 90% are put back in circulation for cash money or even pawned once the dust has cleared.
Here’s how I mark my truck guns. Keep in mind they are not an investment or a collectible. They are simply a tool. I don’t mark anything that I’m not willing to beat up in the truck. I’d mark the scope too, but I don’t want the vibration to jack it up inside.
That's because most engravers are scared of guns, thinking they may "go off" or something, thanks to our balanced media. I was known as an engraver and a gun enthusiast. (I retired and sold my equipment a year ago.)
BTW, it takes about 10 minutes to engrave a name on a gun.
il.bill
Member
My father electro-penciled his name (which is also mine) carefully on the receiver of my first gun, a new .22 caliber Benjamin Pellet Gun that I received as a birthday present. It used to bother me when I handled that pellet gun, but now I find it quite endearing. That Benjamin still shoots better than I do. He died on New Year's Day in 1979 and I miss him every day - he also had a good looking signature!
theotherwaldo
Member
I have one Colt's 1860 revolver replica that someone had engraved with their name and nickname on the last inch or so of the barrel.
I got it cheap.
It's going to get shortened.
I got it cheap.
It's going to get shortened.
BSA1
member
Since there is no easy way to hide your crude writing what are your plans with that gun after you quit being a active shooter?
Destroy the upper and lower receivers?
Try to find a buyer named Sam Turner?
Let your family figure out a way to dispose of them?
Best option is to become a famous outlaw like Jesse James and have your mother and/or wife sell them to the curious for a outrageous price.
Without a notarized statement and Bill of Sale I would not even get my fingerprints on it. With a notarized statement and Bill of Sale your gun is worth about .10 cents on the dollar. A LGS does ceracoating for $50.00 a part so it is going to cost a least $100.00. Since the only way to remove your name is by sanding the parts will have noticeable grooves / lower areas on them. For me it is only good for some of the used parts.
Refinishing and rebluing any other long guns and handguns you have carved up will be several hundred dollars and even then your family will not recoup their value if you had not choose to permanently deface them.
But you have accomplished your goal of no one else wanting your guns.
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chicharrones
needs more ammo
All of my trap guns, save ones are variations on the 870. Probably one third of our club shoots 870s. I have a new label maker that makes a transparent tape with graytone letters. All my guns have my last name at the bottom of the forearm.
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Yes sir mission accomplished! BTW it’s way too deep for cerracoat to cover it. I did that on purpose. My suppressors are all done too. Crap I should probably add my social so some other Turner folk don’t come steal my guns.
I shoot this one daily and this one will be dead in a few years (rebarrel). Hopefully the next barrel will do better than .67 moa this one does. Might some internet snobs value it then? I hope not, don’t want this one stolen! Certainly don’t want anyone but me and my boys to enjoy it, well maybe my dad and some friends. Oh yea all those pigs and coyotes I shoot should probably know they don’t need to die since this gun is only worth $100.
Oh gosh that 8” gong I was hitting yesterday at 800 yards. (I’m up to 12 hits / 20 shots) better tell it not to ring. Since I ruined a $1000 gun.
See I’m that weirdo who bought a gun to shoot it. Bought a good scope because I need it. Bought a suppressor so I wouldn’t go deaf and could kill more varmints. I guess most folks buy them to impress people?
Scooter22
Member
Never. It'll knock the value way down if visible. I have a several 300.00+ .22s in excellent shape I got for 100-125 because of visible name or SSN. Didn't bother me. I wanted shooters. I just cold blued the chicken scratch.
Armored farmer
Member
Also... I put my initials and date on all guns I manufacture. (7 so far) as required if it ever leaves my possession ( marked in a way particular to the manufacturer)
After all, I never complain that mr colt or mr Winchester wrote his name on my guns... and it hasn’t hurt their value a bit!
After all, I never complain that mr colt or mr Winchester wrote his name on my guns... and it hasn’t hurt their value a bit!
Carl N. Brown
Member
I was attracted to a East European surplus SKS precisely because it had trench art carved into the stock by some bored soldier on the watch line. There had to be a story behind those carvings. But I was dredging the gunshow for ammunition for the next military match season and passed it up.
OP: I engraved my initial on the receivers of a Marlin 336 and a S&W 916 because I intended to keep them forever. Had to sell the 336 ina pinch and decades later gifted the 916 to my son. Other guns of mine will have those glossy coated Christmas return mail labels with my name and address hidden under the buttplate, inside the stock.
OP: I engraved my initial on the receivers of a Marlin 336 and a S&W 916 because I intended to keep them forever. Had to sell the 336 ina pinch and decades later gifted the 916 to my son. Other guns of mine will have those glossy coated Christmas return mail labels with my name and address hidden under the buttplate, inside the stock.
cc-hangfire
Member
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- Apr 28, 2014
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I’m not a criminal, and I’ve picked up several good buys (ie: cheap) on gunbroker that were low valued because a prior owner had engraved them. Quality guns will last several generations; we don’t.
Like any other private property you own, feel free to modify it to your heart’s content. The serial number is sufficient for identification & it’s protected by federal law. Crimininals won’t care about markings, and it will reduce resell value for you or your heirs.
Chevelle SS
Member
I have one, an old Spanish 38 with a name on both side plates. I also bought a Winchester 37 one time that in the stock screw hole under the butt-plate had a piece of paper with the owners name and address on it.
I was doing an appraisal for a guy one time for his father's estate. There was a beautiful M70 varmint and a 98% Win 88. Dad had vibro tool engraved his name and SSN on the bottom of the barreling ahead of the fore end. Hated to tell him what that had done to the value.
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