Serial Number, Tracking a Rifle Down

[BillyJack3]

So I'm thinking this is even more difficult than finding a needle in an acre wide hay stack but I thought I'd ask any way.

If I have a serial number for say a Springfield 1903 that was issued to a Marine in WWII, is there a place to run it and see who owns or where the rifle might be today?

I wanted to understand this before I jump through hoops to find the serial number in the first place. Thanks.

 

[kraigwy]

I think your best bet would be to ask this question in the CMP Forums.

http://forums.thecmp.org/forumdisplay.php?f=79

Several databases have been built regarding US Military Surplus rifles plus the CMP has sold thousands of 1903/1903a3s over the years and they may have records if you're gun was sold through the DCM/CMP.

How ever a lot of records were lost or destroyed when DCM became CMP in 1996.

Chance are if your rifle was used in WWII its a 1903A3 instead of a 1903.

The serial number would tell you that.

 

[mehavey]

I recommend you post your question here:

http://www.jouster.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?9-M1903-1903A3-A4-Springfield&

John B and company have the best `03 histories (especially Marine/1903 histories) of any group I know.

 

[mrawesome22]

I sure hope not.

Talk about invasion of privacy

Sent from a highly hacked Android device using Tapatalk 2.

 

[az_imuth]

The CMP will check their sales records for a small fee. If the records are available then I believe you will be informed of the date of sale and rifle grade (service, rack, drill rifle, etc.). They will not release any information about the purchaser.

Here is the info from the FAQ page at CMP:

Will the CMP research a serial number to see if it had ever been sold by the DCM or CMP?
We will perform the research. Research often involves going through boxes of old records. Our files are only complete from 1996 to the present. We do have some earlier files, but know they are incomplete. We require a letter request with payment and we will respond by letter stating if we found anything, and if so – when we sold it and what model it was we actually sold. We will not identify original purchaser. Allow 2-3 weeks per serial number.
We regret not being able to perform this service for free. We receive dozens of requests each week and it can take up to one hour just to find that we do not have any record of a serial number being researched. Charge is $25.00 per serial number, prepaid, whether we find anything or not.
If interested, send letter to CMP, ATTN: Serial Number Research, 1401 Commerce Blvd., Anniston, AL 36207.

 

[Chris_B]

It has been accomplished. Don't give up hope