No Serial Number?

[DaveHH]

When Sportsters were the thing, for every K model made a Sportster was stolen, then you would bust the cases of the K, send them into HD and get a new set of Sportster cases, swap the parts and a legal bike emerges. When they were caught or like this thing, defaced, the DMV would issue you a new number and pop rivet it onto the case and frame. If you got one of these all it needed to do was pass stolen bike records and a lien sale and it was yours. Really too bad, I'll bet that SP is full of stuff. I want an SP!........ or a Quality.

[frogm1]

thanks for your replies guys....
I don't know what to think about the suggestion that the serial number has been buffed out though. The only owner of this gun was the soldier it was issued to. He brought it home and its been unused ever since, and I can't believe he would alter his weapon like that.

Also, when I first obtained the rifle, I saw the uneven blueing also, and my father, who is a pretty good gunsmith, said that is probably due to inconsistencies in the metal causing it. So there appear to be some strange things about this rifle...

I will go take some more pics and post them in a minute

[frogm1]

if you guys want pics of a certain area of the rifle, let me know

[Tired Retired]

Frog, I would always buy the gun and not the story. That refinish job tells a story of its own. If you look at the left side of the area in question, you will see two longitudanal mill marks still remain from the original manufacture process. The longitudanal mill marks also remain and are visible on the far right and left side of the area as you move down off the reblued area of the receiver. Compare that to the horizontal buff marks which run across the area. Add the change in angle of the rear slope area. It is obvious that the serial was buffed out. The letters of the "STD.PRO." have been struck/restruck post factory - the double strikes on the S and O give it away. Add to it the question of the rear sight mentioned above.

What you have here is one or two cases. First, either the person who sold it to you did not want the serial number to show and deliberately removed it. Or, and this is the direction I am leaning, at one time someone was attempting to turn that into a counterfeit presentation carbine in order to de-fraud an unknowing buyer. What they did was commit a felony.

Couple of points to reflect on... First, production carbines could not have been accepted by the government inspectors without a serial number - it is how they were counted and inventoried. There are other ways of telling if that carbine was accepted.

Second, if you really want to know, you may want to hook up with the Carbine Club. Other remaining markings on the receiver (such as inspector marks, etc) may help identify the approximate serial range of the receiver's production.

Third, I would not be standing there holding that receiver during the next BATF raid on your gun safe. It may win you an all expense paid stay at a bad hotel, especially if you have sand paper and cold blue anywhere near your house. BATF doesn't care if you didn't remove it, you are the one holding the hot potato. Like the incident above, follow the right procedure to get a serial number legally applied to it. Collector value is now completely gone, but it is stll probably a great shooter.

Just my observations - now, where is my coffee?

[INLAND44]

The above post by 'tired' states the whole case. Anything else is BS. The receiver has been 'cleaned' of the serial number and amateurishly blued, resulting in the purple hue. The carbine could not have existed in the military this way. This was obviously done after the carbine left the custody of the US, and possession is a felony as explained above. I probably would destroy the receiver and keep the parts.

[PBI]

interesting nm

[frogm1]

Thank you very much for your very detailed thoughts, I appreciate it. I am sure that the original story I was given is true, considering my aquaintance inherited it from his father, who brought it home after the war. He also has his uniform and other matching items that verify his story, and authenticate the weapon.
What is distressing however is what was done to the rifle after it came home from the war. I can't imagine why this veteran would have done this to such a fine weapon, especially considering the good condition it is in. Maybe his son that I bought it from did it years later, I just don't know.
Oh well, live and learn I guess... I can always get another, so I might as well sell this one. Thanks again guys, I appreciate it.

[Mikey51]

I got ripped about ten years back with the same thing. Buying without inspecting. Have a close look at this. It was only with the help of some guys on this forum that saved the day. It was actually a 4, close to 5 digit, so I returned most of it to a collector in the States and trashed the receiver. Now I know different, if that ridge is not there, be very suspicious. The flipper was on backwards too. Cheers, Mike. Attachment 18966Attachment 18967

[Hercules Powder]

I can always get another, so I might as well sell this one. Thanks again guys, I appreciate it.

You're kidding....with what these guys are telling about the BATF selling the gun/receiver is not an option. Take the receiver off and burn it, bury it or send it to the BAFT but don’t drag someone else into.

But, if you do sell it forward your new address to the Federal Prison you are sent to.

JMHO

[Dave-In-Maine]

In a nutshell:
1:Rear sight on backwards.
Obviously worked over to remove S/N.
Odd re-blue (purple) job.
STD. PRO. obviously stamped after the re-blue (purple) job.