Unless you buy a gun brand new, there is a risk that the weapon may have been stolen or used in a crime. The easiest way to check a gun's history is to obtain the serial number from the body of the gun and then ask a gun professional to run a stolen weapons search. Some websites also have searchable public databases of stolen registered weapons.
December 09, 2018
December 09, 2018
Locate the Serial Number
Every registered gun has a serial number associated with it. You can find this listed in the owner's manual and plainly printed on the body of the gun, usually on the handle, trigger guard, slide or receiver. Licensed firearms dealers such as gun stores and pawn shops are obligated to keep records of the firearms they sell. You could also contact the dealer and see if it has a record of the serial number. If the dealer has gone out of business, contact the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The ATF keeps the firearms sales records of licensed dealers who have gone bust.
Run a Police Search
The local police department or sheriff's office can run a gun serial number search for you using the national ATF eTrace database. Police records will indicate whether the gun was reported lost or stolen or was used in a crime. Some law enforcement departments – for example, the Florida Crime Information Center – provide a free online search tool for stolen property within the state. Visit the law enforcement website of your state to see if it offers this service.
Ask the Internet
The HotGunz Stolen Firearms Database maintains a free, searchable database of stolen firearms (see Resources). Enter the gun's serial number without spaces, dashes or other special characters in the 'Search the Stolen Gun Database' box. HotGunz is a user-submitted database, which means that gun owners self-report the information that their firearms were lost or stolen. Searching the database is quick and easy, but it isn't a substitute for an official police check.
Vintage Guns
Vintage guns may not have serial numbers printed on their bodies. Identify the gun's make and model by visiting the manufacturer's website; there may also be tips there as to where to find the serial number. For a fee, an antique gun dealer or gun shop might also be able to run a basic search on the history of the gun. Sometimes a lineage of previous owners can be composed, and you should be able to figure out the age and primary use of the gun.
What to Do With a Bad Weapon History
It is illegal for dealers to sell guns that were stolen or lost or are wanted by law enforcement. If you discover that a firearm has a suspicious history, report it to the police. As a responsible gun owner, you might also add the serial number to the HotGunz database. You should also report any gun that doesn't have a serial number printed on its body. A filed-off or worn serial number is a strong indicator of a stolen gun.
PARKER SHOTGUNS SERIAL NUMBERS AND YEAR OF PRODUCTION
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One of the frequent requests I receive is on the year their grand fathers old Parker was manufactured. To help you with this I have listed the serial number & year manufactured. For more information please call me.I do not charge for this service as this is MY HOBBY. My goal is to help people ascertain the value. I tell clients I was helped by many collectors and this is how I try to repay them for the time they spent with helping me learn about SXS.
Look Up Gun Serial Number
Year to Last Serial Number
1867-1878 to 10,000
1878 to 13,000 1879 to 16,000 1880 to 18,000 1881 to 22,700 1882 to 27,300 1883 to 34,900 1884 to 36,000 1885 to 46,450 1886 to 48,125 1887 to 56,650 1889 to 59,500 1890 to 61,350 1891 to 66,800 1892 to 71,600 1893 to 77,000 1894 to 80,300 1895 to 82,400 1896 to 85,200 1897 to 86,450 1898 to 89,350 1899 to 92,450 1900 to 97,300 1901 to 105,750 1902 to 113,100 1903 to 121,900 1904 to 129,200 1905 to 132,000 1906 to 138,300 1907 to 144,250 1908 to 148,250 1910 to 153,000 1911 to 157,050 1912 to 157,800 Trojan Introduced 1913 to 165,000 1914 to 168,200 1915 to 171,500 1916 to 173,450 1917 to 175,650 1918 to 180,250 1919 to 184,900 1920 to 190,100 1921 to 195,000 1922 to 200,500 1923 to 205,150 1924 to 207,150 1925 to 214,400 1926 to 218,050 1927 to 222,650 1928 to 228,200 1929 to 230,700 1930 to 234,200 1931 to 235,950 1932 to 236,100 1933 to 236,300 1934 to 236,650 1935 Parker Brothers taken over by Remington 1935 to 237,000 1936 to 239,900 1937 to 240,300 1938-1942 to 242,385
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Firearms VerificationFirearms Verification OverviewMarking Requirements
Serial Number
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Name of Manufacturer
Country of Origin
Model Designation (if assigned)
Caliber or Guage
Name of Importer
City & State of the Importer
Note: The importer must ensure that these marks of identification appear on each firearm. If the manufacturer did not mark them, the importer must place the required markings on the firearm within 15 days after their release from Customs and Border Protection custody. The Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives may authorize other means of firearms identification upon receipt of a letter application from the importer, submitted in duplicate, showing that such other means of identification is reasonable and will not hinder the effective administration of the regulations.
Identification of FirearmsQ: How must licensed manufacturers and licensed importers identify firearms, armor piercing ammunition?
Note: Section 478.92(c) Repealed on September 13, 2004
Q: How must firearms be identified?
ATF RulingsATF Ruling 2002-6
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) has been asked by State and local law enforcement officials to trace firearms that are marked, in part, with non-Roman letters and/or non-Arabic numbers. Specifically, ATF received a request to trace a Makarov type pistol made in Bulgaria. The original manufacturer marking was ИМ 18 355. Because the importer did not stamp the firearm with a unique identifier that could be recognized by either ATF or a State or local law enforcement official, and because the marking contained a Cyrillic character, the firearm was not properly recorded, resulting in a failed trace of the weapon.
Because markings with non-Roman characters or non-Arabic are not easily recorded or transmitted through means by importers, dealers, or distributors, many firearm traces have proved unsuccessful. In some cases, an importer attempts to translate portions of the markings into Roman letters and Arabic numbers and re-marks the weapon with the serial number ДМ7639И. The importer translated the marking as LM7639i but rather than restamp the entire number merely added the letters “L” and “i” below the original markings. This practice often results in failed traces because those required to record the markings (importers, dealers, or distributors) may record only the translated portions or both sets of markings. Moreover, law enforcement recovering a firearm with such markings may submit a trace request lacking some portion of the markings, further impeding efforts to successfully trace the firearm.
In addition, ATF has found that some traces have failed because the required markings on the firearms barrel were wholly partially obstructed from plain view by a flash suppressor or bayonet mount, resulting in the Federal Firearms Licensee creating an inaccurate record. ATF has been unable to trace hundreds of firearms as a result of nonstandard or obscured markings.
As a result of these practices, some licensed importers my not be in compliance with the marking requirements set forth in 27 CFR 178.92[a] and 27 CFR 179.102[a] because they have marked using non-Roman letters (such as Greek or Russian letters, Δ or Д) or non-Arabic numbers (e.g., XXV).
The above regulations require markings that legibly identify each item or package and require that such markings be conspicuous. ATF has consistently taken the position that “legibly” marked means using exclusively Roman letters, (A, a, B, b, C, c, and so forth) and ‘conspicuous” means that all required markings must be placed in such a manner as to be wholly unobstructed from plain view. These regulation apply to licensed manufacturers and licensed importers relative to firearms, armor piercing ammunition, and large capacity ammunition feeding devices, and to makers of National Firearms Act firearms.
Firearms, armor piercing ammunition and large capacity ammunition feeding devices which contain required markings or labels using non-Roman letters (such as Greek or Russian letters, Δ or Д) or non-Arabic letter (e.g., XXV), must be completely remarked or relabeled with a new serial number or other required markings that satisfy the legibility requirements described above. It is not sufficient to simply add an additional Roman letter or Arabic numeral to a nonconforming marking; a new and unique marking using Roman letters and Arabic numerals is required. When feasible, the new markings should be placed directly above the non-compliant markings.
Similarly, firearms and large capacity ammunition feeding devices which contain required markings obstructed in whole or in part from plain view must be remarked with required markings that satisfy the conspicuousness requirements described above. For example, required markings may not be placed on a portion of the barrel where the markings would be wholly or partially obstructed from view by another part of the firearm, such as a flash suppressor or bayonet mount.
In certain unavoidable circumstances owing mainly to firearms of unusual design or other limiting factor(s) which would limit the ability of the manufacturer or importer to comply with the above legibility and conspicuousness requirements, alternate means of identification may be authorized as described in 27 CFR 178.92(a)(3)(i), (ii), or (iii)[a] and 27 CFR 178.92(c)(3)(iii)[a].
Held, a Makarov type pistol imported from Bulgaria utilizing Cyrillic letters or non-Arabic numbers is not marked in accordance with 27 CFR 178.92[a] and 27 CFR 179.102[a].
Held further, an imported firearm with any part of the required marking partially or wholly obstructed from plain view is not marked in accordance with section 27 CFR 178.92[a] and 27 CFR 179.102[a].
Date signed: November 5, 2002
New provisions are under Parts 478 and 479, not 178 and 179.
ATF Ruling 75-28![]()
The Bureau has determined that in some cases, the serial number placed on a firearm by a foreign manufacturer is adequate to provide the identification number by 27 CFR § 178.92[b]. See also 27 CFR § 178.22(a)[b].
Held, where a serial number has been placed on the frame or receiver of a firearm by a foreign manufacturer in the manner contemplated by 27 CFR § 178.92[b], and such serial number does not duplicate a number previously adopted or assigned by the import to any other firearm, the importer may adopt the serial number of the foreign manufacturer.
Provided, the importer shall in all cases place his name and address (city and state or recognized abbreviation thereof), and any other marks necessary to comply with the identification requirements of 27 CFR § 178.92[b], on such imported firearms.
New provisions are under Parts 478 and 479, not 178 and 179.
Industry CircularsDuplication of Serial Numbers by Licensed Importers
ATF has noted cases where some licensed importers have adopted the same serial number for more than one firearm. These instances of duplication have generally occurred when firearms are received from more than one source.
Title 27 CFR § 178.92[c] requires that the serial number affixed to a firearm must not duplicate the number affixed to any other firearm that you import into the United States. Those of you who import destructive devices are under the same requirement due to the inclusion of destructive devices in the definition of firearm as used in 27 CFR § 178.11[c]. ATF Ruling 75-28 also reminds you of the other identifying marks required by 27 CFR § 178.92[c]. In addition to a unique serial number, each firearm must be marked to show the model (if any); the caliber or gauge; the name of the manufacturer and importer, or recognizable abbreviations; the country of manufacture; and the city and State (or recognized abbreviations) in which your licensed premises are located.
Note: All cited references to regulation and statutes in the foregoing ATF rulings and industry circular use identifiers and section indicators in effect at the time the rulings and industry circular were approved. On January 24, 2003, ATF was part of a reorganization of government which placed it under the Department of Justice (DOJ). This transition resulted in certain changes within the numbering system and identification of ATF’s regulations now issued and referenced under the authority of DOJ.
Bahut pyar karte hain remake song. New provisions are under Part 478, not 178.
Last Reviewed September 22, 2016
Running a gun serial number search is essential if you’re looking to buy a used gun from an individual or a dealer. While it is illegal for dealers to sell guns that have been lost, stolen or used in a crime and wanted by the police, it can happen. Private-party sales of stolen guns are also uncommon, but can occur. Running a gun serial number search before you buy will make sure you get a gun that you can legally own and register in your name.
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Christopher Godwin is a freelance writer from Los Angeles. He spent his formative years as a chef and bartender crafting signature dishes and cocktails as the head of an upscale catering firm. He has since ventured into sharing original creations and expertise with the public. Godwin has published poetry, fiction and nonfiction in publications like 'Spork Magazine,' 'Cold Mountain Review' and 'From Abalone To Zest.'
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