Hide the serial number?

[Fast Frank]

I've notice that most everybody goes to considerable lengths to obscure the serial numbers when they post pics of their guns.

Some folks photoshop the pic, some put tape over the numbers, and I saw one somewhere that had a bullet sitting just right to cover it up.

I've wondered several times why people do that.

Can anybody enlighten me?

What could possibly happen if some bad guy somewhere were to discover the serial number of one of my guns?

I filled out all the federal paperwork when I bought all my guns, and still have receipts for most of them, so there's no way that anybody could claim them as stolen property or anything like that.

The physical security here at the house is sufficient to prevent the locals from stealing my guns, and I'm even less worried about some Bozo that lives a thousand miles away.





Does anybody really believe that posting this pic is going to cause some thief somewhere to start salivating over the idea of risking his life to steal a rifle that can be bought new at any place that sells guns for $130.00?

Seriously... The government already knows I have it.

Why would I care if every person in the entire United States wrote down that serial number and memorized it?

How could that hurt me?

 

[Gord]

AFAIK it's primarily so that someone can't call the local PD and report it stolen to cause you grief. Or something.

We gunnies are a paranoid bunch, that much is evident

 

[Fast Frank]

Yeah, but the first thing they are going to ask for is a police report or some sort of proof that the guns were stolen...

And nobody hates me enough to go through all that trouble! I'm a likable guy!

And I can provide proof of purchase on that rifle...

So, it would be more hassle to do that than it would be to have it done to you.

 

[R.W.Dale]

it's primarily so that someone can't call the local PD and report it stolen to cause you grief.

Cause criminals going to the police dpt to file false stolen property claims in an effort to get the police to steal for them is an ever increasing problem

 

[Geno]

Well, to those who think that a crook would never dare go to the police to register a firearm, or report one stolen, let me share this. This week, the Detroit police were so shocked that they had to make a video of a fool-crook with 5 outstanding warrants. This fool crook made a fake MCPL (looked real too), bought a pistol with it, then went to the Detroit police to register it!

That is where they caught him! Yeah...criminals do go to the police! Sometimes they get caught!

 

[Gord]

Cause criminals going to the police dpt to file false stolen property claims in an effort to get the police to steal for them is an ever increasing problem

You know, I'm just repeating what I've heard as the primary reason given - if you have something to add, feel free, if not, why be a bozo?

I find the whole thing pretty ridiculous, along with posting pictures of one's collection/safe/whatever to be an "invitation to burglary" and so forth. If you're easy enough to find based on an internet post, you're easy enough to find for any local guy who wants to knock you off and steal your guns.

For all the cries of "manliness" (see the "doozy of an article" thread) some of y'all sure are skeered of some strange stuff...

 

[R.W.Dale]

You know, I'm just repeating what I've heard as the primary reason given - if you have something to add, feel free, if not, why be a bozo?

I find the whole thing pretty ridiculous, along with posting pictures of one's collection/safe/whatever to be an "invitation to burglary" and so forth. If you're easy enough to find based on an internet post, you're easy enough to find for any local guy who wants to knock you off and steal your guns.

For all the cries of "manliness" (see the "doozy of an article" thread) some of y'all sure are skeered of some strange stuff...

OH NO! I'm agreeing with you as I've heard the same tripe. I just wanted to point out how retarded it is. What's even dumber is blurrifing all the license plates on cars that appear on tv shows. What the heck is that all about.

 

[XavierBreath]

Frank,
It doesn't take "considerable lengths" to obscure or change the serial numbers in a digital photo. All it takes is a photo editor. Most of the time, a photo will be edited anyway prior to use on the internet. While it is in the program, it is easy enough to change or obscure the serial number. Check out your own serial number in the photo above, after about 10 seconds in a photo editor.

It's just a bit of insurance against potential problems. There is no requirement that you do this, but many people do. If someone uses your serial number to report your gun as stolen to harrass you, then you must still produce the documentation, you must still waste your time on their games. The problem is, you will not likely know it has happened until you try to legally sell the gun. Suddenly you have lost the sale and have a bunch of unnecessary BS to clean up.

One man's paranoia is another man's caution. Some people lock their doors at night. Others do not. They might think turning a key in a deadbolt is too much trouble. It's all about choice.

Your serial number is now 9447703

 

[CDignition]

What is a "Potential Problem"?. Is it the same problem you can have with using a trust for NFA Items?? (IE : None that anyone can think of).

 

[Blackbeard]

We gunnies are a paranoid bunch, that much is evident

It's not paranoia if they really are out to get you.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

This "considerable effort" took approximiately 3 seconds using a freeware program and is easy enough to do while cropping the picture to size anyway.

While I'm not worried about most bozos anyway, it certainly isn't much trouble to do.

 

[CDignition]

IT is even easier if you take the pic of the other side of the rifle,lol

 

[fixyurgun]

Jorg, now You have to worry about LEs coming after you for having a gun without ser #s. (just kiddin)

 

[Novus Collectus]

I don't see a problem with the serial number in the pic, but I can see your fingerprint and some thief might duplicate it, put it on his own finger and use it if he gets arrested so they think it is you who did not show up for his court date.

BUt seriously, I always wondered this too and the idea that someone might report it stolen can't be the only reason because it seems kinda silly to me....but then again, as far as I know it is an actual problem.
I always thought it had more to do with someone removing a serial number on a gun used in a crime or one stolen and putting the one they see online on it in its place. That seems kinda silly to me too, but ya never know what fool thing some criminal might do.

 

[asknight]

Well one point you guys never think about is what of the rifles out there with the serial numbers already filed off? They need a serial number that has not been reported stolen and you guys are making their job easy for them. All they have to do is stamp it to their weapon and they're clear of the felony of obscuring a serial number and if the weapon's serial number is ever checked in NCIC, it will be reported as a clear serial.

 

[CDignition]

All they have to do is stamp it to their weapon and they're clear of the felony of obscuring a serial number and if the weapon's serial number is ever checked in NCIC, it will be reported as a clear serial.

They aren't clear of anything. You can tell a number has been fooled with, a mill mark, or some other evidence of tampering .This will get them even more charges.

 

[asknight]

CDignition, not very many street patrol officers (who will be the ones to encounter this weapon) are skilled metallurgists and know what each manufacturer and model's stamped serials are supposed to be like, size and font wise.

Looking at some of the factory serial numbers on some weapons, I would swear they were applied by a monkey with a hammer and stamp set with each digit independently set from each other and none on the same plane. Mil-surps are very commonly stamped this way.

 

[wrc]

Why would I care if every person in the entire United States wrote down that serial number and memorized it?

How could that hurt me?

Who knows what the future holds? Now that you have it out there, it can't be taken back. If someone a few years down the road finds a use for collecting valid serial numbers, yours can be compromised.

 

[hexidismal]

To be honest I'm not entirely sure WHY I do it in my pictures, but seeing as it's very simple to do I figure why take any possible risk at all.

 

[Sistema1927]

Just to prove that the gun is yours, make sure that your Social Security card is fully visible in the next picture that you post.

 

[CDignition]

No, but Crime Detectives can...the weapon WILL be in the LEO hands, thats almost a certainty.

Were not talking guys here that wanted a gun legally, then stole one, and then obliterated the SN. then stole someones on the Internet to replace it with, then refinish the gun to look new, just so they could have one for lawful purposes.. (thats a run on sentence if I ever saw one).

They wont even bother..they will just grind off the # and shoot their victim...

CDignition, not very many street patrol officers (who will be the ones to encounter this weapon) are skilled metallurgists and know what each manufacturer and model's stamped serials are supposed to be like, size and font wise.