Why, oh why do they do this??

[Harter66]

"if that ------- could talk" .......

Seems I've heard that of guns , airplanes , cars , ......heck I had a bubba'd S&W 1917 stamped "not English made " , I'd have settled for knowing if it was "not English made" in 1918-19 or 1938-1941 having left S&W in April 1918 it could have been either or both .

This A5 can talk in a manor of speaking . A person doesn't have to be famous to have a colorful story. Besides it's only worth what a buyer will pay .

[murf205]

Very true Harter. I have tried to track down the guy that scratched his name and SS# on my Marlin but to no avail. His name was/is W.B. Collins or at least that is what is on the gun. Yhere is probably a zillion of them in the USA but only 1 with that SS#.

[Patrick L]

Identity theft wasn't a thing until about 20 or so years ago. I personally used to (back in the 80s) put my ss# on things. A name is a clear attempt at identification, but what the heck is this random number???

Of course, today is today and I had to go remove them all!

I agree, an owner does this to protect their property, not the property's value, of which most people just don't care.

[Delkal]

OP. So how much did your son pay for the shotgun? Did he get it for a steal since someones name is on it? While I would pass / low ball someone if they electropenciled their name on the metal or carved their initials in the stock having someones else's name professionally engraved on a working gun like this doesn't really bother me.

But on a WWII Luger it would bother me.

[elmacgyver0]

Back in the day, Iowa's driver's license number was your social security number.
You need to be a bit long in the tooth to remember that.

[Delkal]

Identity theft wasn't a thing until about 20 or so years ago. I personally used to (back in the 80s) put my ss# on things. A name is a clear attempt at identification, but what the heck is this random number???

Of course, today is today and I had to go remove them all!

Don't bother. Everyone who had a credit card had their name, address and SS number stolen years ago in the Experidian hack. And there have been dozens more breaches affecting many many more millions since. I read if you know where to look on the dark web you can get anyone's SS number for $5. So why would they pick you if they saw your number scratched on something?

[murf205]

OP. So how much did your son pay for the shotgun? Did he get it for a steal since someones name is on it? While I would pass / low ball someone if they electropenciled their name on the metal or carved their initials in the stock having someones else's name professionally engraved on a working gun like this doesn't really bother me.

But on a WWII Luger it would bother me.

I didn't ask him how much he paid for it but knowing him, he probably paid too much. He doesn't negotiate when he really wants something. Must have more money than his dad!

[murf205]

Don't bother. Everyone who had a credit card had their name, address and SS number stolen years ago in the Experidian hack. And there have been dozens more breaches affecting many many more millions since. I read if you know where to look on the dark web you can get anyone's SS number for $5. So why would they pick you if they saw your number scratched on something?

Very true. I wonder how many ss#'s have been misused by medical facilities? The first thing they want is your insurance cards and ss# when you are admitted or check into the office for a visit. Sort of like these pricks spam calling me and knowing my name and address before they ever get started with their spill.

[Hogtamer]

]
This one’s worth a million bucks to us. My Dad left to his 5 month old great grandson with instructions to my son that he give it to him when he’s old enough. Daddy died 3 months later. BAR 30/06 that took many a fine deer.

[Adam Helmer]

As a teenager, I met an old mountain resident with many guns. Our family cabin was nearby and he was friendly and a gun collector. Jack's Mountain had many copperhead snakes and the neighbor lent me, a 14 year old, a Trapdoor long gun bored 20 gauge and a handful of shells for my safe trek back up the two-track to our cabin.

We spent a week at our cabin and the trapdoor 20 gauge was a joy. It had a corporal's name scratched in the stock. I returned the gun and we went home. Later when I worked on my Master's History degree, I discovered 2, 20 gauge trapdoors per company were issued to frontier forts for foraging. I wish I owned that old gun and would treasure the name scratched into the stock.

Adam

[Ithaca Gunner]

Some times a name, unit even crudely scratched into a Civil War riflemusket can lead to some valuable information for the one who possess the gun. A few years ago a fellow on the Colt Forum had a P-53 Enfield riflemusket with name and Virginia regiment scratched into the wood. Turned out he was a fatal casualty at Gettysburg, mortally wounded and died at Camp Letterman hospital. I was able to find his temporary grave number, and his grave at Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond where he was intered. He was a 1st Sgt. newly promoted to 3rd. Lt. (it was a real Confederate rank) that spring. This was an exceptional case, having both name and unit marked on the weapon, AND being a casualty at Gettysburg as I have two Confederate death rosters and a complete set of volumes of both Union and Confederate casualty lists that include, killed, mortally wounded, wounded, missing, captured, and deserted from Gettysburg battle. Actually there are some missing, those wounded removed from Gettysburg by train to Harrisburg who later died and are buried in Harrisburg Cemetery, 11 Confederate and 34 Union men along with possibly more removed to other locations.

[Adam Helmer]

Ithaca Gunner,

Sir, many thanks for the interesting history lesson.

Adam

[FLINTNFIRE]

Putting a name on a firearm may detract from its value or add depends on person or historical significance , but as nice at that is put on it probably does not take away much , I kind of find it intriguing when there is a name or initials on a weapon .

Oh the stories some could tell , as a thought when the old men and women tell stories , it is time to sit back pay attention and remember they will not be with us forever so hear the tales while the person is able to tell it .

[Ithaca Gunner]

Ithaca Gunner,

Sir, many thanks for the interesting history lesson.

Adam

I enjoy doing the research and should add, a mark of ''ownership'' was somewhat common in the Confederate army, even if it were slight. U.S. army it was a big NO-NO! Severe punishment could be doled out for defacing a gov't weapon. Of course the men could purchase the weapon upon muster out in 1865 for about 1/3 the cost new to the gov't and do as they pleased with them.

[W.R.Buchanan]

Murf: one other thing that comes to mind is who engraved their name on the gun. If it is Tom Selleck or Theodore Roosevelt, it probably increases the Value?

Randy

[beemer]

Something tastefully done doesn't bother me but using a pocket knife to scratch their initials in 2 inch tall letters on the side of an new 1894 Marlin makes me sort of nauseous.

[Gtek]

I picked up a Glenfield Model 30 many, many moons ago for real cheap. As a guess I would say a very energized young man one day thought he was going to release his artistic side, with a vibratory etching tool. Let's just say the deer in the field in front of the trees may have missed the mark a little!

[Texas by God]

Every time a great shot is made with that A5 20 gauge, say “Thanks Doc!”


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[John Taylor]

Would like to know the stories behind some markings. My father traded some mechanic work for an old Marlin 1893. It had been found in a miners cabin and the barrel and mag tube had damage so it was sent to Marlin. Marlin put a carbine barrel on it with a short mag and new forearm. No marking on the frame but there were three notches in the stock. We alway wondered at what the three notches represented, three Indians, three claim jumpers, three bears.... When it was handed down to me I found an octagon barrel, mag tube and forearm to put it back to the way it should look.
Being a gunsmith I see all kinds of markings come through the shop. I alway wondered why someone would put there SSN on a gun. I have seen stocks that had names scratched into them, some not to pretty. I have an H&R handy gun that is in great shape other than the wood where someone scratched initials in it.

[gc45]

My Grandfather had his name engraved, quite professionally, on his smith. Today it is stll a valuable piece regardless although more if hadn't done it. His generation felt it good to so this but then their firearms were not so collectable back then..