NARAand serial numbers

[Snowman1510]

Out of curiosity, would NARA (National Archives and Records Administration) carry any information on weapons serial numbers? Or anything pertaining to surplussed military surplus rifles? Or would that only be the SRS? Thanks

Information

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[RT Ellis]

The NARA stores, catalogs and makes available to researchers an incredible amount of documents related to the business of the government. Any information regarding serial numbers of firearms is coincidental to those records. For example I came across a letter sent from a civilian that had acquired a U.S. Carbine Model 1896, and was making an inquiry regarding obtaining some ammunition or something. This letter reported the serial number and was sent to the Chief of Ordnance. The carbine had been reported stolen by a deserter, and the Ordnance Department took steps to have the carbine returned.

Much of the information on serial numbers were derived from the documents that in some way reported the arms by serial number, usually during some event, such as transfer of the weapon to or from a unit, or some other event that record of the serial number was necessary. For example I came across a letter from an arsenal reporting the transfer of a number of rifle model 1898 that had been gauged for accuracy to the Marine Corps for use by a rife team.

To answer your question: is there a single master list deposited with the NARA, or anyplace else, that lists all military firearms by serial number, to which the answer is no. The serial number was used for personal accountability in the unit and not for the purpose of tracking the weapons generally.

[Snowman1510]

Thanks for the reply!