Wonky 03A4 Stock? Potential Forgery?

[Johnny Peppers]

Whether the law has any interest in the illegal gun is not the problem. It is still illegal to possess so why would you want it, and like going 40 in a 35 MPH zone, you probably won't get stopped, but if the police want to they can.

(k) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to transport, ship, or receive, in interstate or foreign commerce, any fire- arm which has had the importer's or manufacturer's serial number removed, obliterated, or altered, or to possess or receive any firearm which has had the importer's or manufacturer's serial number removed, obliterated, or altered and has, at any time, been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce.

[WarPig1976]

But who's to say it's illegal.? The fact of the matter is there is no way for a government agent to run THAT s/n and be able to determine THAT rifles s/n has been altered.
I could strike the s/n on any Milsurp I own and replace the s/n, who's going to prove A, I did it, B, that's not the actual s/n?

I'd be more worried if said rifle had no s/n but again unless it's used in a crime, in the US anyway, nobody is going to look.

[Johnny Peppers]

Has anyone on the forum declared it authentic and original? It goes back to one question. Why would anyone want to own a fake, especially at an original price?

[Badger]

Has anyone on the forum declared it authentic and original? It goes back to one question. Why would anyone want to own a fake, especially at an original price?

Well, I'm not an expert in 1903's, by any stretch of the imagination ...

Having said that and reviewing contributors to this thread, it appears that several members of our Advisory Panel who are highly knowledgeable on this genre, have reviewed the auction and what's been presented in its pics, concluding it's their opinion that the piece is not authentic. I didn't see any of that group supporting a claim that it's original and authentic.

So, the question that should be asked is, did the buyer avail himself of the huge amount of Internet research and serious 1903 collectors opinions, before he spent that much in his "bid to win" efforts for that auction?

I can't speak for him, but if I was a 1903 collector, personally I would have checked with a number of sites to obtain feedback, as well as did some basic homework on whatever publications I could find about 1903's, before going down that rabbit hole. If he did, where and to whom did he speak with that got him so lathered up, that he had to have the piece?

Further, how do you think he's going to feel if he came here and read this thread, after sending his money and receiving the item?

Just my two cents ..

Regards,
Doug

[WarPig1976]

Now that's a stamp!!
Please don't get me wrong I'm with you Johnny, it's fake and has been altered,, my one yr old can see that. I'm just beating the dead horse that there ain't much for the buyer to do NOW.

[Badger]

Now that's a stamp!!

Part of a new site program under development ..

Regards,
Doug

[Craig Eberhardt]

You didn't meet my ex wife's divorce lawyer!!! I swear to the all mighty she had horns on her head and when she smiled I saw FANGS.!!
Kept my firearms and the dog though....

As I say not all lawyers are bloodsuckers...sounds like you got a good deal anyway!

[Crashyoung]

Marriage is grand, Divorce is $100 grand. Plus child support, medical insurance, etc.
Some day, I may be out of that debt, but I know better...
But, I love my kids and grand kids!

[Randy A]

But who's to say it's illegal.? The fact of the matter is there is no way for a government agent to run THAT s/n and be able to determine THAT rifles s/n has been altered.
I could strike the s/n on any Milsurp I own and replace the s/n, who's going to prove A, I did it, B, that's not the actual s/n?

I'd be more worried if said rifle had no s/n but again unless it's used in a crime, in the US anyway, nobody is going to look.

Serial numbers in this case are totally irrelevant. The fact that the rifles original serial number has been ground off is where the violation lies. A simple inspection of the rifle (in this case) is enough to charge them. And yes, there are a couple ways to recover the original serial number that had been ground off too, these processes have been around for years.

[WarPig1976]

Charging someone and proving BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT he did it are two separate issues. In the context of this conversation, What government agency is going to spend their limited resources to investigate a fake Military surplus O3A4 sold for $3300 on the internet that hasn't been involved in a crime? So now BATFE is a verifier of collectible military surplus rifles? Let the buyer complain to BATFE,,,he'll be out $3300 and a rifle if they even care. Here's an example,, I buy a Mosin Nagant. The rifle has a partially ground s/n, a struck s/n and a third intact s/n. I think it's "fake" and want my money back...

The bottom line here is the buyer did not take PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY and do due diligence before the purchase.