Restamping serial number on receiver...legal?

M

mattfra

New member
I just refinished an East German Makarov for a friend using GunKote. The serial number is really hard to read due to it being originally stamped lightly.

Would it be legal to "restamp" the serial number on a another part of the gun to kind of "confirm it" in case it ever came into question? Would that be considered defacing/altering a serial number in legal terms?

Any ideas?

Thanks.
 
As I recall (Don't hold me to this), a gunsmith is allowed to re-stamp a serial number when an alteration to a gun makes the original stamping hard to see, OR obliterates it entirely.

As far as I know, there is no reason the SAME number can't be stamped on another place on the same gun, since the original stamping isn't altered.

In your case, as long as the original mark is intact, even if hard to see, you can stamp the same number as many times as you want, where you want, since you have NOT "defaced or altered" the original number.
 
Contact the ATF. I don't tnink they would object if the #s were stamped on another part of the frame. It's obliterating the marks that gets them upset (but if you wanted to do so, you write first, ask permission and explain why as well as telling them your intent to restamp with the same #s and wait for response).
 
Make sure the new stamp is done before touching the old one !!Otherwise there should be no problem ,gunsmiths do it .
 
Restamping serial number...

Thanks for the replies fellas. I did remove some of the finish over the serial number by lightly rubbing with 000 steel wool dampened with acetone. The serial # shows up a little better. I think I'll remove a little more and then carefully mask over the serial number and respray that side of the frame.
I sure would feel better with something more legible like under the trigger guard or someplace inconspicuous. I may just contact the ATFE too.

Anyhow, thanks again!!
 
Stamp number

The BATF say you can restamp the number. But you CAN NOT stamp over the orgainaly numbers you have put them in another spot on the gun. I had to do this with some of the depts shotguns.
 
Restamping serial number...

Ok, thanks Easy Money. I've been looking at a "low rent" stamp set like for $11 @ Wholesale Tool in Charlotte which has letters and numerals. The steel on that Mak is hard. Would these cheapos leave their mark?
 
Leave it alone. As long as the factory numbers show up there is no need to do anything. If you deface a reciever you are in for Big Fed Trouble. I had to destroy a 1911 WWI lower end because the serial number had been ground off. Why does this bother you? I am just trying to understand the new mind set in 2005, not looking for a flame. I will tell you this. I have an FFL and would NEVER re-stamp any reciever.
 
Nonetheless, Dave, the old ATTD did issue a Revenue Ruling on that. I can't find it now, but a letter should get a new one or a copy of the old one.

The reason was that gunsmiths often have to polish a receiver to remove rust and that either the polish or the rust itself could go deep enough to partially or wholly remove a serial number. The ruling said that a gunsmith who obliterated a number in the process of refinishing could either restore the old serial number or apply to them for a new number to be assigned. IIRC, nothing was said about where the number was to be put, or that it couldn't be over the old one.

I know of nothing in subsequent laws that would change that. I assume the ruling is still in effect since it was a formal Revenue Ruling, not just a letter on an individual case.

Jim
 
Restamping......

Ok, let me clarify why I pursued this in the first place. First of all it's my friend's Makarov. It's his lawful carry gun. He is just concerned if the S/N were ever looked at by law enforcement it would take too much effort to find. He was looking to have the S/N legible. It's an East German Mak and it looks like they used a nail to scribe the S/N so it wasn't deep to begin with.
If it's not a big deal to restamp legally I will. I just didn't to give any impression whatsoever of trying to defraud/manipulate/deceive/deface etc.....
 
Depending on when the makarov was imported it should have the importers stamp somwhere on the receiver. Give them a call and maybe (never tried myself, so a big maybe) they will tell you what you're allowed to do and maybe (big maybe) stamp it for your friend for free (except for shipping). But BATF is the only word I would trust.
 
I am sure Jim Is Right. There just certain things that I do not want any part of. I am not a "Worry Wort." Why does he not take it to his deopartment armorer and have it done of it bothers him?
 
As I recall (Don't hold me to this), a gunsmith is allowed to re-stamp a serial number when an alteration to a gun makes the original stamping hard to see, OR obliterates it entirely.
Click to expand...

This is exactly what happens every time a Browning High Power gets its frontstrap checkered.
 
I don't do Hi Powers. I have never been able to figure out how to hand checker them due to the configuation of the front strap which prevents the use of a standard checkering file. Perhaps some of the more experienced experts can explain to me how dey do dat? All the guys I know stipple them around the serial number.
 
Don't ask me, Dave. Someone else drives the files, I just drive the Log Book. The fact that they are far more frequently stippled than checkered does seem to indicate that A) It must be a colossal pain in the buttocks, and B) There's the added hassle of moving the S/N. (Although I've also seen complete stippling coverage with the S/N moved elsewhere on the frame as well.)
 
I am sure you are right, Tamara. I know that you can EDM a Hi Power Front Strap or perhaps even machine checker it. Don Williams is one of the best Hi Power guys I know and I will get the straight dope from him next time I am out there. I freely admit that I know very little about these 9mm/.40 S&W type guns. Bill Bidwell wanted to teach me how to do them a very long time ago and I passed. I still haven't figured out everything I want to know about 1911's! I have to say that he showed me one a couple of weeks ago and it was one of the best feeling pistols I have ever held. I can see why folks like them a lot. I almost got the Hi Power Bug! I think maybe I missed something along the line here, but it's too late now to teach this Old Dawg New tricks! I am a 45 Acp 1911 man and see no reason to change at this late stage in life.
 
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