My pistol was tampered with...

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Looks like my option B is looking better and better. Toss the thing in a forge and beat it into a plowshare, shell out $500 bucks and get a nice new gun.

Despite my advice, this is exactly what I would do. I don't want to mess with lawyers and I don't want to mess with the feds.

You can pretend it is something you ex owns as you beat the thing into a nice little billet.

Just a bad situation for you man...sorry you are dealing with this.
 
I don't think you have anything to worry about. The serial number is partially defaced, but enough numbers remain to match up with the paperwork you have. You also have a proveable story, and if it was your intent to remove the serial number it would by this point all be gone.

You haven't mentioned the model number of the pistol. If Ruger still has frames available that are unnumbered they can legally stamp your old number on one of them, and destroy the original. But it is more likely they'd provide you with a new frame - with a new number. Is your "ex" in hot water? I doubt it as long as Ruger ends up with the original frame. Unless criminal intent is shown, the BATF&E is unlikely to get involved in a domestic dispute.
 
If the serial numbers have been "tampered with" and you can prove she did it, she is in line for a vacation in Club Fed.
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Oh, by the way, it is illegal for you to possess it now, too.
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The above two statements are correct. If you are in possession of a firearm that the serial number has been altered or removed, you are subject to prosecution under Federal Law and possibly local laws.
 
You can take her to small claims court to recover the value of the property that she destroyed. You could also press charges of vandalism too.

You could take the long way around the barn and get ATF permission to get it stamped.

Or you could cut your losses and get rid of the frame. Keep the rest of the gun for replacement parts of the next Ruger .45 you buy soon.
 
Im not that worried, it was reported.
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As long as you reported it to a law enforcement agency, I wouldn't worry about getting a lawyer involved. Contact Ruger to see what they'll do for you. If they won't do something, I'd take the pistol, along with a copy of the police report and proof of the original serial number, to a gunsmith, to see what can be done to restore the gun.
 
What model was it?

You may be able to sell the remaining good parts and put that money towards a new pistol. Then you'd only be out part of the value of the gun.
 
Get rid of the original gun, get a new one like it, take a picture of the gun and send it and a note to your ex saying, "Look what Ruger gave me free when I told them what you did and what a pain in the @%$ you were" That will make her mad, and you'll have a new gun.
 
serial no

theres more balony here than carter has pills:
as long as you reported it your ok.just send it to ruger and stop the putsin.
let them take care of it.I had a 1911 gov gun withe electric pencil numbers.
and it was checked out by ATF at gunsmith.and was cleared.just send it in and stop fiddling.:rolleyes::uhoh:
 
I have no idea why you guys are freaking out so much, hes reported it and probably called ruger by now, I would hope the batf has better things to do than worry about this guys pistol.
 
welldoya,
He is military. He can get representation through the Staff Judge Advocates office in certain matters. This might be one of them. Talk to them first, see if they recommend seeing a civilian lawyer.
 
1. Make out a criminal report for criminal damage to property, vandalism or whatever state laws cover this.

2. Call Ruger and find out how much to fix and refinish.

3. Send her the bill and demand payment. If she doesn't, small claims.
 
worst case scenario you can also let the police take possession of the frame and they can dispose of it, I wouldnt do that though with the other options laid out here already.
 
I'd second many of the prior postings.

1. A paid for lawyer is going to cost too much
2. If you are active duty military, the JAG legal assistance office will work for you for free as your liason to the ATF and Ruger
3. Contact the ATF through the JAG, explaining the situation and (maybe after you are comfortable with the situation) provide them with a pictures, the police report, and the original receipt with serial and get written permission to restore the serial number
4. Send it to a gunsmith to restore the serial number.

This should all take nothing more than a couple of trips to the JAG office (don't bring your gun in), a short letter or two explaining the situation, a few photocopies, and few pictures, and a trip to a gunsmith and a nominal fee to get it restored. And then the gun has a cool story.

Don't trash the gun. It survived your ex!

Don't bother pursuing the ex... that's just going to create more problems than it will fix, including possibly a restraining order that will deprive you of all your guns forever! Sending her a picture of a gun may be interpreted as a threat by a sympathetic judge and warrant a restraining order, which strips you of your gun rights.
 
I read in another thread somewhere that Glock will replace a frame for $47. Maybe Ruger will do the same? Big deal if you get a new serial number.
 
I'm guessing you guys that are recommending he call a lawyer have either never dealt with lawyers or are lawyers yourselves. A lawyer's fees would exceed the value of that gun real quick.
I would call Ruger and explain the situation. If that doesn't fix the problem, I would destroy it before I paid a lawyer.
Or maybe find somebody that could stamp the serial number back in the gun.
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I'm a lawyer and I have a real hate/love relationship with people who take bogus legal advice and then **tch at me when they need me to fix their self-inflicted problems.

Yup, cheap by you last week can earn me thousands of dollars later on.

Cost of the firearm ain't squat compared to what you could (yeah, not guaranteed) wind up paying to defend against whatever charges could come around later. Depending on the state, it may very well be illegal to destroy a handgun frame without appropriately reporting it.

The first step of reporting the crime against the property is always recommended, and *might* be enough in this circumstance. However, this is an opinion and not legal advice because I haven't seen the s/n, I haven't interviewed the crime victim to ascertain the facts, I haven't researched the local and federal law (but know that, IIRC, it's only gunsmiths, manufacturers, and others authorized under the federal scheme to take possession of other peoples' firearms overnight for repair, etc., who can change s/n locations, re-stamp, etc.), and nobody's paying me for my knowledge and expertise in this matter.

Sometimes attorneys sell not from fear, but for peace of mind and *reliability* of the answer obtained.

A $50-$150 consult may be all that's needed, but not with just any lawyer. Find someone who knows firearms law from the criminal defense perspective.

Calling ATF often gets very reliable advice, but they are *not* your friends, and anything you say can and will be used against you.
 
LRaccuracy said:
The above two statements are correct. If you are in possession of a firearm that the serial number has been altered or removed, you are subject to prosecution under Federal Law and possibly local laws.
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Well, not exactly. Once the true and correct serial number is reapplied, it is neither 'altered' (a fasle number) or 'removed' (absent) from the firearm.

Get it fixed and it won't be an issue.

I have a couple (two) old shotguns that never had serial numbers on them. Or, perhaps I filed the numbers smooth off. Statement one is true, but I could never prove statement two as false.

In other words, have a gunsmith put the number elsewhere on the frame. My XD has the serial on the frame, barrel, and slide. Does the Ruger only have it on the frame?
 
If it were me I would call Ruger. I have seen more than one instance posted where frames were damaged by people shooting double charged loads. The manufacturer usually has them send the gun in & replaces the frame for a nominal cost. I believe they put a different serial number on the new frame & give a letter explaining the serial number change. At least this is what I have seen posted in the past. I think that was with a Springfield XD but I would definitely call Ruger.
 
A suggestion: Call the outfit you bought it from, see if they can get the original serial number from their bound book. Electric pencil that under a grip. Then, send the thing to Ruger, with a copy of the correspondence regarding the original serial number, and get it fixed.

Remember - every time you TOUCH the area with the serial number, you're wearing away metal, so in theory you are altering it. I think common sense should prevail here.
 
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