Serial Numbers On Weapons

[Bender]

How can I remove them from guns creating the least amount of damage to the weapon. Also, do pellet guns and paint ball guns have serial numbers?

[Irukanji]

Dont forget the rifling.

[Bender]

Originally Posted by ilovesawedoffpump

a file/grinder? pistols only usually have them on the frame under the barrel. some have them on the barrel (like glocks have them on the chamber) but dont necessarily match (so they dont really mean anything)

if its stolen why bother? and if its not, there is always a chance of them being able to get them anyway.

and paint ball guns and pellet guns? unless you have to fill out paperwork to get them even if they did that wouldnt really help much. same with buying a gun from someone else. but they can still give your description to the cops.

Thanks. So there only one set of serial numbers that police use to link a weapon to a crime. Like on vehicles there are multiple serial numbers hidden. I won't have to worry about multiples will I?

[313]

Originally Posted by Pandoras Assassin

Thanks. So there only one set of serial numbers that police use to link a weapon to a crime. Like on vehicles there are multiple serial numbers hidden. I won't have to worry about multiples will I?

ok if you file that ONE serial off, theyre going to be instantly suspicous...duh...

[Bender]

Originally Posted by 313

ok if you file that ONE serial off, theyre going to be instantly suspicous...duh...

Who's gonna be suspicious? I never stated what I was going to do with anything.

[313]

Originally Posted by Pandoras Assassin

Who's gonna be suspicious? I never stated what I was going to do with anything.

idk im just thinking....like if i stole a gun, file off the serial...thats suspicious...right? why would one need to file off an identification number of a firearm if they arent doing something illegal with that firearm?

[Bender]

Originally Posted by 313

idk im just thinking....like if i stole a gun, file off the serial...thats suspicious...right? why would one need to file off an identification number of a firearm if they arent doing something illegal with that firearm?

If you were caught with the weapon and it was traced back to a robbery. Or you sold the gun, only to find out that it was used in a murder. They run the numbers. I don't know. I didn't really see any good reason to keep a serial number on a weapon if its not 100% legal.

[313]

Originally Posted by Pandoras Assassin

If you were caught with the weapon and it was traced back to a robbery. Or you sold the gun, only to find out that it was used in a murder. They run the numbers. I don't know. I didn't really see any good reason to keep a serial number on a weapon if its not 100% legal.

yea idk...

[313]

so would it be a red flag if you bought a gun that had the serial filed off right? or could i still buy it if i was planning to resell?

[ZX9R]

What is the purpose of filing off the serial number?


The firearm is stolen in the first place right?

There is one charge there.


Filed off (defaced) serial number = additional charge.

[nm43388]

Originally Posted by ZX9R

What is the purpose of filing off the serial number?


The firearm is stolen in the first place right?

There is one charge there.


Filed off (defaced) serial number = additional charge.

Yes sir you are correct unless you plan on ditching the gun in the lake then its not really worth filing. Especially since its a federal offense

[Metafire]

Originally Posted by wolfy_9005

Dont forget the rifling.

I don't think there's much you can do about the rifling. It's not like you can bore out the barrel to get rid of it. No use having a gun that you can't hit your target with. 'Cept for one of those helicopter-mounted miniguns that shoot depleted uranium. That would be fun regardless.

[CrazyMotherFucker]

isn't their some kind of acid the CSI people can pour over the filed off serial numbers and then have the numbers reappear or "raised"?

[Refacull]

Originally Posted by ghostxthief

isn't their some kind of acid the CSI people can pour over the filed off serial numbers and then have the numbers reappear or "raised"?

Depending on how well the person who filed the serial number off, yes and no. If they just file it so that you can't see the numbers anymore, there is a chance that metal shavings or burs fill up the numbers. They make the numbers "deep" for a reason. Filing away 3 inches of metal and 1/8th inch deep is going to take a looong time.

If you don't get what I'm saying when I say shavings or burs, then take a file along the edge of some metal a few times. And see the little pieces of scrap metal still attached but pointing all different ways.

So these burs can be removed by a really low molar level so it doesn't remove the serial, but can remove the already weakened burs.


Yes it is possible. They they do do it. No do not think that anything on CSI or Law and Order is real. There are few cities/counties that even call their unit that goes to the field "CSI" or "Crime Scene Investigation." I mean that part is obvious isn't it? If they are part of the police and going to a place someone got murdered...you think they are going to a picnic or to investigate the crime scene? They usually just call themselves by their specialty, Tech Squad, ID Lab, Ballistics, Homicide Detective...etc. Stop watching prime time to learn how to commit crimes and get away with it.

[CrazyMotherFucker]

Originally Posted by Refacull

Depending on how well the person who filed the serial number off, yes and no. If they just file it so that you can't see the numbers anymore, there is a chance that metal shavings or burs fill up the numbers. They make the numbers "deep" for a reason. Filing away 3 inches of metal and 1/8th inch deep is going to take a looong time.

If you don't get what I'm saying when I say shavings or burs, then take a file along the edge of some metal a few times. And see the little pieces of scrap metal still attached but pointing all different ways.

So these burs can be removed by a really low molar level so it doesn't remove the serial, but can remove the already weakened burs.


Yes it is possible. They they do do it. No do not think that anything on CSI or Law and Order is real. There are few cities/counties that even call their unit that goes to the field "CSI" or "Crime Scene Investigation." I mean that part is obvious isn't it? If they are part of the police and going to a place someone got murdered...you think they are going to a picnic or to investigate the crime scene? They usually just call themselves by their specialty, Tech Squad, ID Lab, Ballistics, Homicide Detective...etc. Stop watching prime time to learn how to commit crimes and get away with it.

I don't even watch those csi shows. I did use to watch forensics documentaries several years ago

[BadShovelhead]

Defacing the serial number is less than useless. It's beyond pointless. People only do it because it's been repeated. It's a fail meme.

[Vega]

Originally Posted by Metafire

I don't think there's much you can do about the rifling. It's not like you can bore out the barrel to get rid of it. No use having a gun that you can't hit your target with. 'Cept for one of those helicopter-mounted miniguns that shoot depleted uranium. That would be fun regardless.

You could buy a new barrel and throw away the old one.

[Metafire]

Originally Posted by Vega

You could buy a new barrel and throw away the old one.

Ah, for some reason, that didn't even cross my mind. If anything though, OP, just purchase a gun from your friendly neighbourhood arms dealer.

[123123123]

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[jolt890]

Originally Posted by ZX9R

What is the purpose of filing off the serial number?


The firearm is stolen in the first place right?

There is one charge there.


Filed off (defaced) serial number = additional charge.

Which will likely be dropped in a jury trial if you have the sense to say that you got it from someone else and it was already like that.

But probably would make you less likely to get off on the other charge(s.)

[Method of Madness]

Supposedly if you grind a number off a gun they can use chemicals to burn the metal and recreate the serial numbers.

You are best off chemically burning them off first.

Rifling can also be a factor. Once used the barrel should be destroyed. Or use the gun without a barrel and replace the firing pin

[WildZero]

how the acid-raising of serial numbers works is this: when the numbers are stamped into the metal, the metal around the numbers is slightly compressed. when the numbers are filed off, investigators will put an acid on the metal that is just acidic enough to melt away some of the metal but leave the "compressed" metal intact, since it is slightly higher density. thus the number outlines are "raised." they usually only get a partial number from this but its often good enough to trace.

the proper way to get rid of serial numbers on metal is to stamp your own over the existing number using a mallet and a set of stamps. stamp several random numbers or letters over each character, this will obscure the original number as well as compress the metal even further, making any acid tests useless.

but seriously though, this is more trouble than its worth, and if you get caught with a gun with a marred serial you're looking at charges, obviously. probably not prison time or anything but it's still a hassle and now you're in the system and have got eyes on you. just remove the barrel after you've used it, file it down with a rat-tail file on the inside, and toss it (then replace it of course). do the same with the firing pin and extractor if you left shell casings behind. often the markings on shell casings are even better than the rifling marks on bullets because bullets so often get beat up to hell/destroyed when they hit their targets. ideally you should collect shell casings and file down/destroy those as well. if you've ever seen the movie Mr. Brooks, he wore a freezer bag over his hand while holding the gun to collect spent casings when he murdered his victims.