wrc
Member
For states that ban/un-ban/re-ban various scary rifles and handguns, it may be useful to have that list of serial numbers and descriptions notarized or digitally timestamped as well.
That's where saving the picture in full resolution comes into play -- take a picture of each side of the firearm, and the top or bottom as well showing the entire gun. That way, you can enlarge the pix to the point you can read the serial number on the gun while still showing it in it's entirety. Removes all doubt that the serial # is what you say it is for that exact gun. Not infallible as there are too many photo-shop experts out there, but it sure makes it hard for the common insurance agent to dispute a claim!Agree with the above comments about the usefulness of the digital camera. It costs virtually nothing to photograph every gun, with a second photo of the serial number. I now think it might be a good idea to take a picture of my left hand on the gun. That would show my wedding ring and hopefully establish some measure of proof that I actually possessed the gun. As someone else said, that might make a difference for old single shot shotguns and 22 rifles that were made without serial numbers.
You can just copy the pictures to your computer(s), then take the memory card out of the camera when you're done and store it off-site somewhere. You can't ever have too many backups.
Hmmm....does this imply that maybe we should dust off our FILM cameras and shoot pix on film? That way you would have the original negative, adding a whole order of magnitude of difficulty to fakery.That's where saving the picture in full resolution comes into play -- take a picture of each side of the firearm, and the top or bottom as well showing the entire gun. That way, you can enlarge the pix to the point you can read the serial number on the gun while still showing it in it's entirety. Removes all doubt that the serial # is what you say it is for that exact gun. Not infallible as there are too many photo-shop experts out there, but it sure makes it hard for the common insurance agent to dispute a claim!
I agree pictures are a must, but just to clarify only shotguns and 22 rimfires were allowed to have no serial # before '68 and Winchester has always serialized all guns.Pics are recommended, because anything made before 1968 was not required to have a serial number. How else can you prove you owned a Winchester .22 rifle made in 1945?
Winchester has always serialized all guns