trace a guns ownership by serial numbers
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- Senior Levergunner
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trace a guns ownership by serial numbers
My friend swapped a pistol for a shotgun about 30 years ago. Then it got sold off , now he wants it back , but it had been sold again ., is there any free way to check on location of pistol, I think he still has the original box with serial numbers. He wants to find the current owner and make an offer if possible. Thanks.
Rossi 92 .357 lever , and a cz pcr 9mm
Henry .22 lever, Remington speedmaster 552 .22 lr
Marlin Glenfield .22 boltaction
gforce 12ga semi
Taylor's Tactical 1911 A1 FS in .45acp
winchester 1873 44.40
Marlin 336W .30.30
beeman sportsman rs2 dual caliber pellet rifle
henry .22 magnum pumpaction/octagon barrel
stag 5.56 m4 with reddot
Henry .22 lever, Remington speedmaster 552 .22 lr
Marlin Glenfield .22 boltaction
gforce 12ga semi
Taylor's Tactical 1911 A1 FS in .45acp
winchester 1873 44.40
Marlin 336W .30.30
beeman sportsman rs2 dual caliber pellet rifle
henry .22 magnum pumpaction/octagon barrel
stag 5.56 m4 with reddot
Re: trace a guns ownership by serial numbers
Deleted.
Last edited by Ray on Fri Apr 08, 2022 4:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
m.A.g.a. !
Re: trace a guns ownership by serial numbers
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AFAIK, only the FBI can track a firearm's path through various sales, starting at the manufacturer (like the FBI got to me, once upon a time), but the buck stops where the record meets the road - private transfers (thankfully) remain un-recorded in most (but not all) jurisdictions.
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AFAIK, only the FBI can track a firearm's path through various sales, starting at the manufacturer (like the FBI got to me, once upon a time), but the buck stops where the record meets the road - private transfers (thankfully) remain un-recorded in most (but not all) jurisdictions.
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Last edited by Pete44ru on Thu Oct 19, 2017 9:37 am, edited 1 time in total.
- marlinman93
- Advanced Levergunner
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Re: trace a guns ownership by serial numbers
Geez! I sure hope it's not possible!!!!
Pre WWI Marlins and Singleshot rifles!
http://members.tripod.com/~OregonArmsCollectors/
http://members.tripod.com/~OregonArmsCollectors/
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- Senior Levergunner
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Re: trace a guns ownership by serial numbers
Thanks for the replies guys. I didnt think so, but wasn't 100 % sure.
Rossi 92 .357 lever , and a cz pcr 9mm
Henry .22 lever, Remington speedmaster 552 .22 lr
Marlin Glenfield .22 boltaction
gforce 12ga semi
Taylor's Tactical 1911 A1 FS in .45acp
winchester 1873 44.40
Marlin 336W .30.30
beeman sportsman rs2 dual caliber pellet rifle
henry .22 magnum pumpaction/octagon barrel
stag 5.56 m4 with reddot
Henry .22 lever, Remington speedmaster 552 .22 lr
Marlin Glenfield .22 boltaction
gforce 12ga semi
Taylor's Tactical 1911 A1 FS in .45acp
winchester 1873 44.40
Marlin 336W .30.30
beeman sportsman rs2 dual caliber pellet rifle
henry .22 magnum pumpaction/octagon barrel
stag 5.56 m4 with reddot
- Sixgun
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Re: trace a guns ownership by serial numbers
I know for a 100% fact that IF a gun was sold and then resold through a FFL and the FFL dealer did everything correct .....and by correct I mean he has kept his records as long as he was in business and then turned those records in to the ATF after going out of business...then YES....it can be traced.
It's very tedious process and one that only L.E. can legally enforce and get access to these records. Unless a serious crime has been committed, it rarely is done.
Guns are manufactured ...then sent to distributors.....then to gunshops.......then to the buyer........then to another buyer....on and on....and as long as a FFL dealer did the selling, records are kept and these records, by law, can never be "thrown out".
Once a gun...usually a long gun, is sold through private parties, it gets "lost", unless each previous owner remembers who they sold it to. That's why some states demand that each handgun gets sold through the proper paperwork, no matter how many times it is sold. Some states even demand that long guns go through the same process, like communist states like N. J.-----6
It's very tedious process and one that only L.E. can legally enforce and get access to these records. Unless a serious crime has been committed, it rarely is done.
Guns are manufactured ...then sent to distributors.....then to gunshops.......then to the buyer........then to another buyer....on and on....and as long as a FFL dealer did the selling, records are kept and these records, by law, can never be "thrown out".
Once a gun...usually a long gun, is sold through private parties, it gets "lost", unless each previous owner remembers who they sold it to. That's why some states demand that each handgun gets sold through the proper paperwork, no matter how many times it is sold. Some states even demand that long guns go through the same process, like communist states like N. J.-----6
Re: trace a guns ownership by serial numbers
Abbie Sciuto can find any gun ever made, who owns it and the late owner's brother in law who stole it 17 years ago...
Mike
Vocatus atque non vocatus, Deus aderit...
I've learned how to stand on my own two knees...
Vocatus atque non vocatus, Deus aderit...
I've learned how to stand on my own two knees...
Re: trace a guns ownership by serial numbers
I havent been able to find the specific info on the bound books, but 4473 forms only have to be retained for 20 years, at which point they can be destroyed.
Edit: actually, I was looking right at the "A&D record book info and it didnt register. Importers and manufacturers have to keep permanent records of acquisitions and things manufactured, but can dispose of disposition records after 20 years also, as FFL dealers also can dispose of A&D record books after 20 years.
Page 78 had the info
https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/atf-n ... 2/download
Edit: actually, I was looking right at the "A&D record book info and it didnt register. Importers and manufacturers have to keep permanent records of acquisitions and things manufactured, but can dispose of disposition records after 20 years also, as FFL dealers also can dispose of A&D record books after 20 years.
Page 78 had the info
https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/atf-n ... 2/download
"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat." -Theodore Roosevelt-
Isnt it amazing how many people post without reading the thread?
Isnt it amazing how many people post without reading the thread?
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Re: trace a guns ownership by serial numbers
When I originally got an FFL ( over 25 years ago now) you only had to retain the 4473's for 7 years, just like Income Tax info. But somewhere around the Clinton years it changed to 20 years.Malamute wrote: ↑Thu Oct 19, 2017 12:27 pm I havent been able to find the specific info on the bound books, but 4473 forms only have to be retained for 20 years, at which point they can be destroyed.
Edit: actually, I was looking right at the "A&D record book info and it didnt register. Importers and manufacturers have to keep permanent records of acquisitions and things manufactured, but can dispose of disposition records after 20 years also, as FFL dealers also can dispose of A&D record books after 20 years.
Page 78 had the info
https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/atf-n ... 2/download
What many folks don't realize is the 4473's stay with the FFL. As mentioned above to track they must contact the makers then follow the chain to the FFL that retailed it.
As for retiring FFL's turning in their 4473's, it is my understanding those go to an ATF central warehouse. But, the laws (thanks to the NRA) so far have prevented them from recording the info to a data base. They file them to the FFL's info. If a trace is required they have to open those paper files and search them by hand.
Steve Young aka Nate Kiowa Jones Sass# 6765
Steve's Guns aka "Rossi 92 Specialists"
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Steve's Guns aka "Rossi 92 Specialists"
205 Antler lane
Lampasas, Texas 76550
http://www.stevesgunz.com
Email; steve@stevesgunz.com
Tel: 512-564-1015
- Ysabel Kid
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Re: trace a guns ownership by serial numbers
At least that is what they have told us for years. Do any of us really trust that Big Brother is not keeping a list?Nate Kiowa Jones wrote: ↑Thu Oct 19, 2017 2:48 pmWhen I originally got an FFL ( over 25 years ago now) you only had to retain the 4473's for 7 years, just like Income Tax info. But somewhere around the Clinton years it changed to 20 years.Malamute wrote: ↑Thu Oct 19, 2017 12:27 pm I havent been able to find the specific info on the bound books, but 4473 forms only have to be retained for 20 years, at which point they can be destroyed.
Edit: actually, I was looking right at the "A&D record book info and it didnt register. Importers and manufacturers have to keep permanent records of acquisitions and things manufactured, but can dispose of disposition records after 20 years also, as FFL dealers also can dispose of A&D record books after 20 years.
Page 78 had the info
https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/atf-n ... 2/download
What many folks don't realize is the 4473's stay with the FFL. As mentioned above to track they must contact the makers then follow the chain to the FFL that retailed it.
As for retiring FFL's turning in their 4473's, it is my understanding those go to an ATF central warehouse. But, the laws (thanks to the NRA) so far have prevented them from recording the info to a data base. They file them to the FFL's info. If a trace is required they have to open those paper files and search them by hand.
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- Advanced Levergunner
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Re: trace a guns ownership by serial numbers
A big 10-4 on what marlinman 93 said, Vall I agree 200% on that!!!!!!!!!
JerryB II Corinthians 3:17, Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
JOSHUA 24:15
JOSHUA 24:15