Thread: Getting rid of Rifle Serial numbers.

I've been noticing on TradeMe listings, an increasing covering up of rifle serial numbers.

ie: https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketpl...ing/4773112197

What is the reason for doing this?
Has it got something to do with the new Firearm Registration Law?
Or is it just the 'Tin foil hat brigade' worrying the registration data base could be hacked and traced back to a home address?

I really have no idea...

I’d say protecting against criminals doctoring firearms used for crime to someone’s else’s serialised and registered firearm.
Which is kind of pointless in the long run.

or maybe to avoid traceability back to the owner when the information in the register is stolen/ inadvertantly emailed to 5 million people / left in an abandoned building etc etc etc

Over 140 views and a couple of different replies for possible reasons.
That seems to tell me no one really knows why some sellers are covering up serial numbers (probably including the sellers themselves).
I highly doubt they have some new and unknown 'firearm registration reason' and are just doing it out of possible safety paranoia.

Therefore I take the covering up of serial numbers as nothing to be concerned about when I advertise my next firearm

At one time it was a US forums and auction site thing because the serial number could be used by insurance scammers . . . .

‘Registration’, undone by any mill bastard file.

It's something people have seen US people doing on the internet in their photos. If you asked any of them in NZ why they did it you probably wouldnt get a coherent answer.

Back in the old days I posted pics of my AR15s on a US forum and got told to cover up my serial numbers. Something about grey guns or big brother is watching.
I reminded them I wasn't in the USA, so the ATF wasn't my concern.

same reason some people cover the number plate on a car when they sell it I guess, and because they can.

Originally Posted by blip

same reason some people cover the number plate on a car when they sell it I guess, and because they can.

Indeeed, but one of the first things I do when I buy a car is spend a few dollars and replace the rego plates.....just in case any previous owner has a spare key still......Pity you cant do that for a firearm...

It could be to avoid registration. I have seen a few listings where people want pick up only to avoid having to register the firearm due to shipping. Pretty illegal, but not surprising.

The only thing criminal on that rifle is the attachment of that cheek riser!

I'm not sure why firearms need serial numbers.

Do enough shooting and you'll see rifles with mis-matched serial numbers on bolts. Remington made a major error and started putting QR codes on the receiver, supposedly for assembly line QC but it seems to have had no effect in this regard as every R700 with a QR code has no engagement of the primary extraction cams, as a rule.



Not to mention the bedding surface being ruined...

In the UK, you are made to put serial numbers on barrels now... another stupid and pointless requirement.

I see the interest in 'home build' (think mecanno for rifle 80% AR15 receivers is on the rise in the USA. And for good reason. Combine this with 3D printers becoming more readily available and effective (look up 'PSR' who does evaluations of designs readily available to print online) and you'll see that the trend of 'kitchen/shed/attic gunsmiths' is starting to look more like a movement.

Ideas cannot be regulated.

Originally Posted by caberslash

I'm not sure why firearms need serial numbers.

Do enough shooting and you'll see rifles with mis-matched serial numbers on bolts. Remington made a major error and started putting QR codes on the receiver, supposedly for assembly line QC but it seems to have had no effect in this regard as every R700 with a QR code has no engagement of the primary extraction cams, as a rule.

Attachment 253242

Not to mention the bedding surface being ruined...

In the UK, you are made to put serial numbers on barrels now... another stupid and pointless requirement.

I see the interest in 'home build' (think mecanno for rifle 80% AR15 receivers is on the rise in the USA. And for good reason. Combine this with 3D printers becoming more readily available and effective (look up 'PSR' who does evaluations of designs readily available to print online) and you'll see that the trend of 'kitchen/shed/attic gunsmiths' is starting to look more like a movement.

Ideas cannot be regulated.

Perhaps the QR code is used to identify the rifles that failed to get engagement of the primary extraction cams but were sold anyway.......

Originally Posted by timattalon

Perhaps the QR code is used to identify the rifles that failed to get engagement of the primary extraction cams but were sold anyway.......

No, it's been noted by the guy who did most of the heavy lifting for the Remington Custom Shop before they went broke (essentially, a lot of work was farmed out and then final assembly done in house) - Chad Dickson, notes that Remington changed the bolt handle forging and method for attaching handles.

I suspect they changed jigs as well, since the Remington handles were just silver soldered on. But if you know what to look for, nearly every 'RR' Remington (I've handled over a dozen, none had any P.E) will miss the primary extraction cams between the bolt and receiver.