Serial # on receipt is different than the serial # on my gun!!

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alpine0000

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Burke, VA
Well, just as the title says...

I'm new on this board, and I dont know as much about guns or gun laws as many of you do. So I seek the help of you guys.

Problem is - I bought a H&K USP compact .45 in 2001 brand new from a local sporting goods store here in northern VA. The sporting good store (called Galyans) is now out of business. Last night I was going through my gun files and I retrieved the receipt because I wanted to see how much I paid for the gun 5 years ago. I have no idea why, but since I had the gun right next to me I decided to compare the serial numbers between the receipt and the actual gun. THEY DONT MATCH!!! This gun has never left my possesion, not to be cleaned or borrowed or anything. So I know it couldnt have been switched. I am 100% positive that this is the same actual gun I left the store with when I purchased it.

My only possible reasoning for this serial number mismatch that could make sense to me is because of the 3 day waiting period that was in affect in 2001 here when I bought it. They pull a gun, write up the receipt, you pay for it, then come back and 3 days, and they go in the back and get your gun for you to have. I can only think that they pulled a different gun when I came back in 3 days.

My question is this: does it matter? is the bogus serial number on my receipt registered to me? and my gun in my possesion not registered to me? if i get searched by law enforcement and they check the serial number on my gun, will it not be registered to me and i get in trouble? if the serial number on my receipt for the gun i dont have gets used in a crime, and they retrieve the gun, will it be traced back to me? i have a few different worries about this as you can see.

Also, do I need to report this to any authorities, or maybe to the county or state?

are there any gun dealers, law enforcement, lawyers, or people with extensive knowledge about the VA gun laws that can help me and answer my questions? :confused:

thank you in advance for any help!
 
You can check with local law enforcement and they can run the serial number, also you filled out paper work in triplicate right? If the serial number on their matches the serial on the weapon you should be just fine. Good eye though, just always check your reciept before you leave the store.
 
You're fine, you're in VA. There is no registration in VA. BTW...I just went over to that particular disimproved Gaylan's (Dick's) to look at shotguns. It's nice to see another Gunnie from Northern VA.
 
SCS, now why would you suggest bothering with the police? He doesn't have a problem, there is no registration, the gun isn't stolen, that would simply be a waste of both parties time. Also, what's this triplicate thing you're talking about? A 4473 and in his case a short VA form, both singles that are kept by the dealer? Not sure what you mean.
 
Your kidding me?! Right? Seriously no registration? NO blood or urine samples, no retinal scanning? No skin tissue? No first born? *** OMG I need to get away from this state.
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HAHAHA...well, ignoring the defacto 4473 registration and the NICS check...

Although back at that time Fairfax may have been registering, but now that has gone [supposedly] away.
 
yea, i dont recall filling out any paperwork in triplicate. although, once again, i purchased it 5 years ago, and this was my last handgun purchase (i know, shameful).

Thanks for the fast reply VRM. Even though there is no registration, they can still go backwards by serial number if a crime is commited and find the original purchaser. this kind of worries me (although i know the odds of a crime being commited with that particular gun may be very low, i still would like to get things straight).

And yes SCS, Virginia is a very easy state to purchase handguns, and get a conceiled carry permit - so long as you have no felonies. :)

so, VRM, you wouldnt worry at all about it?

and, btw, yes, i am quite disappointed at Dicks now, they no longer sell handguns, just rifles and shotguns. i was there the other day only to find out that they dont even sell handgun ammo anymore. :what:

im planning on purchasing another handgun sometime in the next month or so. i guess ill take my business elsewhere! hehe.
 
Hey Alpine!
Another NoVA guy here as well.
Seriously, in Virginia you really don't need to worry about that serial # snafu. Record your actual serial number on the same slip with a copy of what you wrote here and stick that sucker back in your filing cabinet.

As for Ammo... yeah, forget Dicks or WallyWorld in the NoVA area. You can go to Gilberts (Lorton), Shooters Paradise (Woodbridge), Dawsons (Woodbridge). But mostly I'd say save your pennies and go to the gun shows, ESPECIALLY the ones in Fredricksburg and Chantilly (the next Chantilly one is Jan 5'th-7'th. http://www.cegunshows.com
 
thanks Ze Spectre! I didnt know about the gun show in chantilly. i went a few years back at the expo center. im assuming its in the same place? i will definately have to make an appearance there this year!
 
SoCalShooter:

Your kidding me?! Right? Seriously no registration? NO blood or urine samples, no retinal scanning? No skin tissue? No first born? *** OMG I need to get away from this state.
Click to expand...

Va. is a long, long way to go... Gas is expensive. :uhoh:

Arizona is just a jump and a hop away....

NO Permits
NO Registration (It's against the law).
NO Waiting period
NO Approved List
NO Ban on Evil Rifles and Shotguns
NO Magazine Restrictions
NO Cartridge Restrictions

Concealed Weapons Permits - Easy to obtain
Open Carry of Handguns - Allowed
Ownership of Full-Auto Guns - Allowed

Freedom is near - Just cross the line. ;) :) :)
 
Depending on what the DEALER'S bound book and other records say, you may or may not have the firearm he (or the ATF) THINKS you've got; in any case, HE'S the one that would likely get reamed for this when/if he gets audited.
 
Depending on what the DEALER'S bound book and other records say, you may or may not have the firearm he (or the ATF) THINKS you've got; in any case, HE'S the one that would likely get reamed for this when/if he gets audited.
Click to expand...

Audited? Not in Virginia. Or at least not that I've ever heard of. Don't see how that could happen anyway. FTF sales and trades here have a way of busting up paper trails.
 
One of the problems may be that the SN on the box is not the same as the SN on the gun .That does happen and the dealer should always look at the gun not just the box .It is the responsibility of the dealer to keep accurate records ,but you should check too !
 
One of the problems may be that the SN on the box is not the same as the SN on the gun .That does happen and the dealer should always look at the gun not just the box .It is the responsibility of the dealer to keep accurate records ,but you should check too !
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problem is the box doesnt have a SN on it. if the hard plastic case did have one i mustve taken the sticker off. if i did that then that was pretty dumb on my part, but so be it.
 
Audited? Not in Virginia. Or at least not that I've ever heard of. Don't see how that could happen anyway. FTF sales and trades here have a way of busting up paper trails.
Click to expand...

The trouble is, ATF has got an absolute right to look at an FFL holder's records and bound book; if something comes up involving this dealer (or with the firearm that the OP is REPORTED to have bought and received; say it's stolen and/or recovered at some point in the future) then things will very quickly narrow down to the question of "Why does your bound book say that X received this firearm when Y in fact received it?", and since that happened at the first retail sale, there isn't really a paper trail to bust up: Factory-Wholesaler-FFL-First Buyer.
 
Sometimes guns get switched from their original boxes at the retail level. This is especially true of the common stuff. My guess is that the sales person took the SN from the box and the gun didn't match. Smart FFL dealers always check the gun and not the box; can't mess up that way. Either way, no big deal from your point of view.
 
Here is my only concern.

What if BATFE is already investigating that FFL for violations, and has a few holes in their spreadsheet they are trying to fill? Maybe I'm giving them too much credit, but it's probably not a good idea to have your face on a piece of a missing puzzle piece. If there was some kind of switch done to do an illegal transfer, that means you were an unwitting participant. If I were doing the investigation, this is EXACTLY the kind of paperwork glitch I would try to uncover.
 
Paranoia will destroy ya.

I could not find a reciept for a gun I bought a month ago let alone 5 years ago. What law say's reciepts must be kept?

If you’re that worried destroy the gun or turn it in to authorities. :what:

Don't worry about it.
 
Paranoia will destroy ya.

I could not find a reciept for a gun I bought a month ago let alone 5 years ago. What law say's reciepts must be kept?

If you’re that worried destroy the gun or turn it in to authorities.
Click to expand...

im not worried about the actual receipt, per say. im worried about the records that officials hold. i could burn my receipt and not care. i just want the records in va to indicate the correct sale in case any crime is ever commited. (well, i was worried, which is why i posted this thread). but most people say not to worry about it, so i guess i shouldnt :cool:
 
No Registration

Nevada also has no registration (outside of Clark County).

The paperwork filed at the store is retained for 4,000 years, but that is their gig, not yours.

About the only downside I can think of for this is warranty.

Some stores provide the warranty interface (it breaks, you take it to the store where you bought it, they handle all the messy shipping ans stuff). If they screw up the paperwork, that could be a problem.

Of course, once the store goes out of business, then you're done with that anyway, and now you're dealing direct with the manufacturer, and they won't care.

Your state government doesnt care, your locals don't care, the store is gone.

You're fine.

Record your serial number, make, model and keep it with your other insurance records, so you have it in case you need to use your NRA coverage.
 
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