Filed off serial numbers on a 1911

[jmoore]

Nope- the Navy has seized F4F Wildcats and such that were recovered from the bottom of Lake Michigan without permission. The folks that found a rare TBD sunken in the ocean probably still haven't revealed it's location for just such reasons.

I have seen more than one 1911 rendered down for parts and the frame destroyed when brough for sale to a gunshop. Law enforcement is usually handy and they make the call on the weapon's disposition.

[arado]

Too many Browning action pistols out there to worry about one. I use my TT33 as primary holster carry. 30 cal. gary

[Warren]

I do not think there is a country around where a pistol/revolver with a removed/tampered/ serial number is legal!!! Nor can one legally possess a firearm with an altered or obliterated serial number or ID number. Correct me if I am wrong here.
I think I would take it as a nice boat anchor and go from there....

[fjruple]

A forensic chap told me that if the original number had been pressed or rolled in place and then it's been filed/ground off, the original number can usually be identified by the impressed striations left behind when subject to forensic testing (don't ask me how............)

However, if the number has been CUT - as in engraved, then it is usually lost for ever by filing/grinding.

We have an ex IRA Thompson gun No 480 that has had the number ground out. Forensically it was raised to read 482........ the remaining striations of the 0 being misread for a 2. But not bad!

Peter--

A little unknown secret about the Colt manufactured Thompsons is there is a secret serial number under the foregrip mount on the frame. Many of the early Colt Thompsons that were used from American "busniessmen" during prohibition were traced this way.

--fjruple

[browningautorifle]

Also a number under the rear pistol grip there's a number. So there's actually four. That is, my 1928 had four.

[Sarge]

In Germany today the slide is the numbered/controlled part, not the frame. A lot of the post war surpluss P.38 & P1 pistols that have come into the US have had to have a frame nr stamped on them to meet US law.
Thus a GI 45 with the frame nr removed would be legal in Germany. The owner would just have to stamp a number of his choosing on the slide.
Sarge

[arado]

There are no US marked 1911's in private hands that are not stolen except those captured by German or Chinese troops. Wonder if the Army kept a record?

[browningautorifle]

I'll bet those guns are listed as "lost".

[Chuckindenver]

heres the grey area of serial numbers.
law states, that a gunsmith may remove, and replace the same number if being done for restoration, or repair, he can not, change the number..
so...there are ways of raising the ghost so to speak, iv had luck with my digital camera, and playing with it on the computer.. unless its realy ground out..you can sometimes bring the ghost back up, heat will raise it, as will charging it with an electrical currant, and with the use of metal file dust, it attaches to the numbered areas,
most big city crime labs use this to bring back serial numbers....will they do it for you???not likely unless you have good friends in high places..
a good engraver can restore the numbers with the correct size and font...but that aint cheap...
i no longer offer this service, after a guy asked me to {fix} a few questionable examples...
the ATF new law as of Jan 2011, that no body other then a manufacture may engrave or alter the original makers markings on any firearm, changed a lot of things...
by law you may no longer restore the USP markings, Serial number, makers marks ect.....

[Johnny Peppers]

There are no US marked 1911's in private hands that are not stolen except those captured by German or Chinese troops. Wonder if the Army kept a record?

The DCM sold huge numbers of 1911 and 1911A1 pistols to NRA members in the 1960's. Then there are the pistols brought back to U.S. dealers when the British sold off the pistols Lend-Leased to them in WWII. Lots of legal 1911 and 1911A1 pistols in private hands.