Father Knows Best
Member
Not necessarily. It is illegal to possess a firearm from which the serial number has been altered, obliterated or destroyed. It is NOT illegal to possess a firearm that was legally manufactured and sold without a serial number, and serial numbers weren't legally required until relatively recently (1968?).No Ser# modern Cartg. rifle, it is now classed as Contraband. It would be illegal to transport or own. If you were ever checked by an officer of the law the gun would be taken from you. You could be charged with a felony involving firearms which is not good.
Winchester generally applied serial numbers to all of their rifles, so that's worrisome. But if this one really never had a number, then it's not illegal to possess it now.