Serial number dating

[Jim]

When were serial numbers on firearms mandated? I bought a 22 rifle today that has no serial number. So, it had to be made before what year?

[oneokie]

IIRC, the GCA 68.

[Olevern]

What did you add to the collection, Jim? Inquiring minds want to know.

[Mooseman]

Nolan is correct...1968 ! Lots of pre 68 guns had no serial numbers , Remington .22 rifles, Savage combo's etc.

[429421Cowboy]

Last time i bought a .22 with no serial number some men in black suits came and had a chat with me... Just kidding!

I have seen a couple of my great-grandfather's .22 rifles from before 1968 and they had serial numbers, but a friend's (model) 1906 (i think) .22 single shot boy's rifle has no serial number, and as a point of fact, about 4 total moving parts. It makes sense to me that back then they really wouldn't have bothered to stamp such rifles and keep track of them.
If i remember correctly, a few years back, a custom gunmaker was going to produce a run of .22's with no serial numbers to push the state's rights issue here in Montana for some reason, i never heard how it turned out.

Anyways! Enjoy your new purchase in good health Jim!

[cajun shooter]

It was actually quite common in the late 1800's and early 1900's that this was common practice with firearms of lesser cost not quality that came with no numbers.
Your Colt 1873, S&W models 1,2,3 came with numbers just as the 1873 Winchesters did so the practice was common. The guns made before 1968 had numbers as I'm like Elmer Keith on that; HELL I WAS THERE. I purchased 22 rifles and pistols and revolvers starting in 1962 and they all had numbers.
The weapons produced for the Civil War, WW1, WW2 and Korea all had serial numbers.
The laws of 1968 were to do with the stoppage of being able to purchase firearms via the USPS without any background checks or even ID on who was buying the gun.
The biggest reason for guns without serial numbers was that the big companies would make guns for all the local hardware stores who sold guns at that time period of the early 1900's. Savage, Remington and others would make guns for your local stores and stamp their name on the barrels. It appeared the store had it's own brand of shotgun or rifles.
The practice was stopped by the 1968 laws but it was well in the past by that time.
Your rifle was most likely built in the early 1900's or possibly even earlier.

[Jim]

What did you add to the collection, Jim? Inquiring minds want to know.

A pristine Remington 514 single shot bolt action 22. It will be added to the list of firearms that will go to the grands. However, you DO understand that I have to run all available ammo types through it to find what it shoots best. Then, I have to dial in the sights to make sure it's hittin' where it's aimin'. And, of course, it has to be initiated.

I got a lotta 'coon killin' to do! :bigsmyl2: [smilie=w: :redneck:

http://floydpics.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dscn1237-e1350044608107.jpg

[Sasquatch-1]

A pristine Remington 514 single shot bolt action 22. It will be added to the list of firearms that will go to the grands. However, you DO understand that I have to run all available ammo types through it to find what it shoots best. Then, I have to dial in the sights to make sure it's hittin' where it's aimin'. And, of course, it has to be initiated.

I got a lotta 'coon killin' to do! :bigsmyl2: [smilie=w: :redneck:

My 514 has a serial number. I think it was bought around 1962, 63. I also have a colt pocket pistol that was made in 1927. Found that out by the serial number.:bigsmyl2:

[Jim]

WHERE is the S/N on your rifle?

[Sasquatch-1]

WHERE is the S/N on your rifle?

I will have to dig it out of the safe and check. Can't remember of hand.

[badgeredd]

Jim,

Don't know if this could be of any help, but.....

http://www.remingtonsociety.com/rsa/questions/barrelcodes
http://armscollectors.com/sn/remdates.php
http://www.rc-trucks.org/remington-firearms-serial-numbers.htm


Edd

[Sasquatch-1]

WHERE is the S/N on your rifle?

You are absolutely correct. After checking my 514 there is no serial number. I was getting it confused with the mile long patent number on the barrel.

[Freightman]

I have a M55 automatic single shot Winchester 22 that has no SN. I know it seems to be a miss named firearm, but it is a single shot and it does fire from an open bolt and ejects the case through the bottom. go figure

[Charley]

Even some of the bigger companies didn't serial lower priced firearms. Was a common practice. Many others of us were "there", too. His Remington 514 wasn't made in the "early 1900s or earlier". Remington themselves have the production date on their website as 1948-1971. GCA '68 mandated serial numbers on firearms. Before that it was up to the manufacturer to serial or not.

Here's a Noble model 20, produced from 1953 thru 1971...no serial.