I have had many people tell me that they never kept serial number records at that time. I don't agree with that. Why else did they put serial numbers on weapons? I have a picture of the revolver on my computer, but don't know how to post it.
johnh80233
That was a bit before my time but I think keeping track of serial numbers in the military now is more strict, BUT, its not accurate.
When I got to Vietnam, I was handed a M16A1, the serial number was recorded, and I was told I'd better have the same rifle to turn in when my tour was over.
So I hung on to it. When I was the New Guy, with my unit, they took my rifle and gave me the M-60.
I carried it a while, then it was given to another New Guy, I took his rifle. We go somewhere where its hot and they decide I should have the gun. So I traded the '16 for the M-60 (which was a different guy then I traded before). This occurred several times during my tour. I don't recall ever getting the same '16, or the same M-60.
There was no keeping track of serial numbers then, just as long as you didn't get caught taking one home, they didn't care what your serial number was.
I don't see it reasonable to track a firearm during war time, in 1869 nor 1968.
The only exception, if someone carved their name in the stock of the rifle. Which did occur.
Serial numbers notwithstanding, there have been firearms traced from battle to battle in the Mountain West.
There is this young lady (a daughter of a one of our County Commissioners who I used as a tech. advisor in my self defense classes.
When she was obtaining her Masters in Forensic Firearm Investigation in stead of doing a thesis, she did a field project where she would examine spent bullets recovered from different battlefields in the mountain west.
Buy examine the bullets she could determine if the same rifle was used in more then one fight. One she traced through 4 battles, the last one being the Little Big Horn.
That would prove the same rifle was used, but there was no way to tell who used it. Nor what happened to that rifle as none of the firearms she tested matched the bullets.