Type 99 without Serial number

[Sentryduty]

The powers that be have a process that can detect the compressed, displaced, whatever, steel under the stamped numbers. I forget if it was X-ray or chemical or what.

My father was welder by trade, and said they had done marking recovery just like that during his courses. He said to remove all trace of a stamped serial or marking a person would have to go surprisingly deep into the metal. I will have to ask him what process they used. I recall it may have been a chemical, I wonder if it was magnaflux or some other option?

[Flying10uk]

Remember, many if not all of the post WW2 Yugo refurbished K98s had the original serial numbers removed as part of the refurbishment. This rifle could be something similar but, personally I would be ultra careful before buying it. I would want a plausible emanation from the owner for a start and I would also want to have the rifle closely examined by an independent expert.

[WarPig1976]

I would want a plausible emanation from the owner for a start and I would also want to have the rifle closely examined by an independent expert.

Scrubbed Jap weapons aren't a "thing" are they?. It's simply not worth the trouble even if the vet who brought it home did the scrubbing. Others can be found easily with no worry of Federal time.

[Aragorn243]

The Japanese didn't refurb their rifles or scrub serial numbers.

[fjruple]

Warpig1976--

I have seen two methods for the recovery of serial numbers or markings. The first is a chemical process, the area where the serial was is polished to a mirror finish. An chemical acid is applied which brings up the serial number and quite readable. The second process is little more involved. The defaced area is milled flat and a very thin sliver of the area is milled off (about the thickness of thin paper) The thin sliver of metal is then cover in a blue ink. The metal is then examined under a microscope. The sliver can also be view in different type of light for better refection. The sliver can also be x-ray and then examined under a microscope. I have seen pretty deep serial numbers recovered. The last process is the most time consuming and expensive.

Cheers

--fjruple