serial numbers covered?

Yes, it is for security purposes. It is so easy to counterfit a bill of sale with a make, model and serial number and then claim it was stolen. I don't think that would happen here on THR but there are some less than honest folk out there.

Just so much easier to list all but the last 2 or 3 numbers and and replace them with XXX

Can we use the search?

This is a "top 5" topic here on THR (and on most other gun forums)

This topic spawns a new thread regularly . . .

And, there is an increasing number of web-savvy pranksters who think it is "fun" to report a gun as stolen, complete with S/N, using a bogus name, of course. Once the S/N is entered in a police database, it causes lots of problems for the owner.

Hmmmmm.... I posted a picture of a gun of mine on here and then realized that I left the serial number in it.... I went and replaced the picture with it blocked out, but I didn't know why I was concerned, just that I was.... glad I did....

nalioth said:

This is a "top 5" topic here on THR

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I haven't seen this subject yet since I started here.... not saying it isn't out there, or even a lot, just pointing out that someone who comes here a few times a week for a year or two and browses around a little might not see one (since I haven't).... Get off the search thing man.... some of us try searches and end up with so many hits we couldn't possibly gain anything from it... if it's not OK to ask a question I'm sure the mods will let us know...

nalioth said:

This topic spawns a new thread regularly . . .

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So true.

And, there is an increasing number of web-savvy pranksters who think it is "fun" to report a gun as stolen, complete with S/N, using a bogus name, of course. Once the S/N is entered in a police database, it causes lots of problems for the owner.

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The likelihood of this happening is pretty slim.

Wouldn't filing a false police report cause a lot of problems for the prankster as well?

And, there is an increasing number of web-savvy pranksters who think it is "fun" to report a gun as stolen, complete with S/N, using a bogus name, of course. Once the S/N is entered in a police database, it causes lots of problems for the owner.

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Please cite one instance of this ever happening.

Please cite one instance of this ever happening.

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How about citing proof that it has NEVER happened.

How about citing proof that it has NEVER happened.

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Sorry, it doesn't work that way. If I say "My grandpappy captured a wookie in Okinawa during Doubleya-Doubleya-Two" it's on me to provide proof, since I'm the one asserting the statement to be true. Burden of proof, and all that.

Enough of this OT backing and forthing.

Just call it a privacy issue and don't worry about who might do what to whom, whether it's a thief, prankster or some snoopy official person.

Basically, it's nobody's business which specific gun anybody owns. So, why give out the information? No law requires it, insofar as day-to-day doings...

Giving the first few numbers in a for-sale ad can give info about the year of manufacture; helpful to a prospective buyer.

Once upon a time:

A guy from TX named "Trusting" posted a photo of his pistol on the net;

A guy from GA named "Crook" sees the photo and notices the full SR number;

Crook gets an idea and reports the pictured gun to the police as stolen;

The police ask Crook "when was it stolen?";

Crook does some fancy stepping and says "I'm not sure. Just noticed it wasn't there.";

Police ask "how long have you had it?" "do you have any proof of purchase";

Crook thinks quick and answers "no, I lost it";

Police repeats "how long have you owned it?";

Crook stammers " I'm not sure - a couple of years maybe";

Police asks "do you have any idea who might have taken it?";

Crook says "yes, I saw a photo of it on the net";

Police says, "wow, that's lucky", while casting a glance at his fellow officer there;

And it goes south from here......................

I think the fears of having someone report YOUR gun as stolen simply because they saw the serial number on the internet are a bit overblown. If it does happen I'm sure it is extremely rare, though I still haven't seen a single documented instance of this crime on any gun forum (someone care to source some material here?).

Criminals don't like to interact with cops. While criminals may lie to the police when they are contacted by the police, they generally won't go out of their way to find the police to sell them a fictitious story. As such, I don't believe this happens very often. Even then, it wouldn't be too hard for me to prove where/when I purchased any of my guns.

Wouldn't filing a false police report cause a lot of problems for the prankster as well?

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Yes. If someone is making a police report to me, I have the duty to confirm that person's identity (in other words, such a report is not taken by phone). If I later determine that the entire report was fraudulent, I see no reason not to pursue charges agains the person who made a fictitious report.

Art Eatman said:

Basically, it's nobody's business which specific gun anybody owns.

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That's a fair enough statement on this issue, and I can't argue with that logic.