Do You Give Out Your Serial Number?

[Treo]

I had to call Ruger today to get an instruction manual & the lady on the phone asked for my serial number.
I know she only wanted it so she could send the right manual but it made me think, is the serial number of your weapon(s) something you give out?

I'm not sure what could be done W/ the information or even who would want it but I was reluctant even to give it to Ruger because all but two of my guns were purchased as FTF private sales & paid for in cash. there's no record that I even own them & I don't want to start a paper trail.

Anyway that's my question is the serial number of your weapon something that you keep confidential ?

 

[40SW]

There should have been no reason to ask for it.
What model/caliber was it ?, just curious.
Most firearms manufacturers are so concerned about liability, they would be more than eager to mail you an instruction manual. Most even have it on their website in PDF/Adobe format for easy printout.
The only thing I can think of is that she may have thought that you had an older pre transfer bar revolver, even so, makes no sense.

 

[csmkersh]

If it's a call I placed and to someone like Ruger, S&W, et al, yes, I'd provide the SN, or at least the first 4 numbers.
​

 

[40SW]

But as it pertains to a generic instruction manual, what would be the reason to provide a serial number, Unless there are multiple generations of the same make/model variants? , but in most cases, that is not applicable. The caller can simply say that for example.

1. S&W: First generation Sigma in 9mm.
or
2. Ruger. First generation Bobcat, pre transfer bar.

why is the serial number necessary?

 

[savetheclaypigeons]

what can someone thruthfully do with the serial on your gun? Honestly. It's the most practical way to ID a gun. Not every customer is gun literate. If you ID a gun over the phone, a serial number is how its going to be done. If there is a mix up at a shop, the serial number is what is going to sort out who's who's. Serial numbers are a good thing, not bad.

 

[hso]

It costs money to send these things out and I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't ask just to make sure that you actually owned the applicable firearm instead of just collecting firearms manuals.

 

[Treo]

The weapon in question is a pre 1982 Mini- 14 . it has a different sight (and hence different adjustments ) that the "Ranch Rifle". As I said I'm sure that's why she wanted the serial number, so she could get the right manual I gave her the prefix.

QUOTE: "what can someone thruthfully do with the serial on your gun?"

Verify that you're the owner of record right before they pull a Ray Nagin on you.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

If you go to the manual section Ruger's web site and click on the different firearm types, you'll notice that several of the manuals have revisions basesd on serial number ranges.

What if you have to send it back to them for warranty work? Are you going to grind off the serial number number so they can't get it then?

I really don't see a problem with given a serial number to the manufacturer. At the same time, if someone here just randomly sent me a PM asking for it, I probably wouldn't give it to them unless they looked really honest.

Edited to Add:

The weapon in question is a pre 1982 Mini- 14

There's your answer. There are 4 different manuals for Mini-14. The correct one can be determined by the serial number.
http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/PS-InstructionManuals-RI.html

Verify that you're the owner of record right before they pull a Ray Nagin on you.

That's just plain silly. Ruger is going to pull a Ray Nagin? If Ruger was going to sell you out, wouldn't they just give out the address of everyone who requested a manual? That way they would get people using those nasty private transfers too. If you were seriously worried about that, why didn't you just download the manual through a computer at a public library in a different city, just so they couldn't pull a Ray Nagin on you. If you're going to be paranoid about it, go all the way.

 

[Treo]

Do You People Ever Actually Read The Post You're Replying To?

How many different ways do I have to say

I AM AWARE OF WHY RUGER WANTED MY SERIAL NUMBER?

QUOTE:"I know she only wanted it so she could send the right manual but it made me think"

QUOTE: "As I said I'm sure that's why she wanted the serial number, so she could get the right manual"

I know why Ruger wanted the serial number.

NOW THAT THAT'S BEEN ESTABLISHED

The situation itself just made me think about all the numbers atached to my life that I DON'T give out, I was just wondering if this should be one of them

I never said I was concerned about Ruger giving up my serial number.
Some one asked how ANYONE could use the information. That's what I was responding to.
I'm getting really tired of reading threads on this board where the OP clearly states, say " I want a good home defense HANDGUN. I CAN'T USE A SHOT GUN BECAUSE I ONLY HAVE ONE HAND"

And the OP gets half a page of
" I'd advise you to get a shotgun"

 

[Deanimator]

When asking questions in public venues where serial number is relevant, I'll do something like "S24555nn". That's pretty much SOP for a lot of people. When dealing with S&W, Glock, etc. on a particular gun, you need to give them the serial number because it determines what parts and procedures are needed for particular repairs, recalls, upgrades, etc.

 

[savetheclaypigeons]

fine. Back on topic. If your looking for self defense ammo I'd look at some #9 birdshot. Really the best out there....

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

I never said I was concerned about Ruger giving up my serial number.

Did you read your first post where you said, "but I was reluctant even to give it to Ruger"? Why would you be reluctant if you weren't concerned. Far bit it for us to try to assist you by explaining you had no need to be reluctant.

If you are going to throw a hissy-fit about the thread not going the way you wanted, you may with to try to remain consistent from post to post within a thread.

Also, I highly recommend learning to use the quote function. It's a nice standard way to make the threads easier to read. You may find this thread of help in that regard.

 

[scrat]

Ouch but agreed. When you post on a public forum. then the way you post your going to get answers some you may like some you dont. You can either ignore the ones you like or make comments that will surely just ruffle feathers.


I dont have a problem giving out a serial number. At least to the dealer or maker. Kinda like when buying a car part. if i go to the dealer and they ask me for the VIN number i give it to them without question or thinking. Why because i want the correct part. I am not Reluctant to give it out. OPEN FORUM PUBLIC

 

[OMGWTFBBQ]

They already know 1.) Where you live(mailing addy/phone #) 2.) Your name(if you gave it out) and 3.) What firearm you own. Seems to me like giving them the serial # to confirm it's the right manual will do no potential harm beyond that which has already been done.

 

[WayneConrad]

Is it imaginable that a gun manufacturer has a business incentive to participate in an extralegal registration scheme?

Would there a better way to not just ruin your own firearm manufacturing business, but to sully the reputation of all firearm manufacturers, than to do such a thing?

It's good to be cautious, but think it through.

 

[MaterDei]

I'd advise you to get a shotgun.

 

[Brad Johnson]

So next time just download the manual from their web site.

Brad

 

[kamagong]

Why not? If you are contacting the company then you know it is legit. What do you think they are going to do with it?

 

[Conqueror]

I am liberal with my serial number. Just because, at one point in time, I owned rifle 58886930 does not mean I still own it. Anyone coming to my door to collect guns will be told, "what guns?"

 

[moooose102]

well, to ruger, i wouldn't be to concerned. but any govenment agency, NO WAY! your private insurance company (if you have it insured) would probably be ok also. it must be nice to be able to purchase a pistol without haveing the govt get involved! in michigan, first you have to get a permit, then bring it back in to the cop shop and register it. i have a buddy form ohio who calls michigan "a gustopo state". if you move to mi. from another state, you have to register your handguns within 30 or 60 days. when they pass the law that says we are going to have to hand over our hand guns, i am packing it up and moving south!

 

[Hawk]

I have no problems with posting or giving out full S/Ns.

I haven't been able to come up with a plausible circumstance where knowledge of a serial number would bite me on the cheeks. This may simply be a failure of imagination on my part.

 

[Treo]

I'm not pissed be cause the conversation isn't going my way. I asked a question it's being answered I'm learning that my serial number isn't like my PIN or my SSN ( for those too young to remember my card actually says "Not for identification purposes " on it).

What bugs me is that I said TWICE that I knew why the lady wanted my SN & I still had people, including Jorg who quoted HALF of one of the paragraphs where I stated that I knew why they needed the SN, informing me that Ruger only wanted the number so they could send the right manual.

 

[Eyesac]

I wrote all my serial numbers on paper w/ invisible ink, and then I wrap them in tinfoil and I put them in my shoes, and then I wrap my shoes in tinfoil to match my hat...