Import markings... or lack thereof

[Bob Womack]

I've always understood that weapons imported into the U.S. had to have import marks containing the name, city, and state of the importing company on the frame, receiver, barrel or slide. What is the legal status of a firearm from another country that lacks such a mark? Is the legal onus on the importer or the owner?

Bob

Information

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[rcathey]

Pretty sure that came into effect in 1968. Anything imported before that didn’t need it.

Also, I don’t think there’s any law that prevents someone from removing an import mark.

[matthanne1]

and caliber. Onus appears to be on the importer to comply if they wish to avoid fines and keep their import license. Some exceptions to marking, such as in and individual who brings one in, acquired while assigned on duty overseas does not need to get it marked. If it is already in commerce here, no need to run back and get it marked. Removing markings- While you may be able to remove the markings, beware removing any marking that is part of the weapon serial number (even if the old serial number is present, a new one may have been assigned for various reasons, such as Cyrillic or Arabic/Farsi characters). Besides, removing import markings leaves telltale changes. Once done, it can't be 'undone'.

[Bob Womack]

Thanks, guys!

Bob

[old tanker]

I've always understood that weapons imported into the U.S. had to have import marks containing the name, city, and state of the importing company on the frame, receiver, barrel or slide. What is the legal status of a firearm from another country that lacks such a mark? Is the legal onus on the importer or the owner?

Bob

Here's what the ATF says on their website. There were NO marking requirements before 1968 and the last change was in 2002.

Marking Requirements

[jond41403]

So is the only change that has been made is they added the .003 depth of the import mark?

[old tanker]

That was not the only change. After 2002 the importer had to serialize the firearm. Even if the original manufacturer's serial was legible, the importer assigned number was now the "official" number. See how Century Arms remarked this recently imported Star BM to conspicuously comply with all the requirements.

Despite the fact you can read "D6354" on the slide and frame, done by Star when the pistol was originally made, "SBM113917" the number assigned by the importer will be the number on the books. This change came about after some firearms were misidentified because either the serial number characters were not in the standard US alphabet. or some random number, like assembly number or part number was mistaken for the serial number.

[Daan Kemp]

Lovely carry gun, the Star BM.

[capt14k]

They only have to be reserialized if the original serial has non Western letters or numbers or if the manufacturer used the same serial on ones already imported. Century does a lot that they don't need to do. Including their giant billboard import marks.

[Singer B]

I kind of look at the import mark as just another stamping showing the history of the gun. We know that those that are stamped came in after 1968 and those without a stamp found their way here some other way. Maybe it was the trophy of a brave service member, maybe it came in through a private collector, maybe it was snuck in to the country? While they can detract from the firearm's appearance, so do dings, dents and diminishing bluing. Just IMHO.