Serial # question

**RaisedByWolves** · January 9th, 2009, 04:28 PM

I recently reieved a milled receiver for a RPK I would like to build. It is a milled receiver and while I really like the look of the cutout on the side, mine was done less than smooth. I would like to smooth this out a bit before I blue it but this is also where the serial # is.

My question is, Would it be OK to remove the serial #, refinish the cutout, then re estabish the origonal numers?

Thoughts?

**Xringshooter** · January 9th, 2009, 07:10 PM

My thoughts, take them any way you want.

IIRC, as soon as you remove the serial number you have committed a felony. The following is from ATF P 5300.4 - Federal Firearms Regulations Reference Guide:

§ 478.34 Removed, obliterated, or altered
serial number.
No person shall knowingly transport,
ship, or receive in interstate or foreign
commerce any firearm which has had the
importer's or manufacturer's serial number
removed, obliterated, or altered, or 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
(my highlighting)

If you take the s/n off you now possess a firearm that does not comply with the law. If you do take the chance that you won't be caught, make sure the serial number you put back on meets the requirements of 479.102.

**gold cup abuser** · January 9th, 2009, 09:33 PM

better solution is what some of the comblock countires did:

parkerize the weapon then have it either gunkote/duracoat black or spray it black with some hight temp enging paint and then bake when done.

This should solve most of your milling mark issues without putting you in a Federal PMITA prison..........

**RaisedByWolves** · January 9th, 2009, 11:07 PM

"No person shall knowingly transport,
ship, or receive in interstate or foreign
commerce any firearm which has had the
importer's or manufacturer's serial number
removed, obliterated, or altered"

Since I wont be transporting, shipping or receiving?

or 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

And has at any time, been shipped or transported?Im not looking to do anything criminal or keep it without numbers, I just want to make it look nicer and return it to original.

Would I have to talk to the manufacturer?

**bdevil73** · January 9th, 2009, 11:11 PM

Originally Posted by Xringshooter

My thoughts, take them any way you want.

IIRC, as soon as you remove the serial number you have committed a felony. The following is from ATF P 5300.4 - Federal Firearms Regulations Reference Guide:

§ 478.34 Removed, obliterated, or altered
serial number.
No person shall knowingly transport,
ship, or receive in interstate or foreign
commerce any firearm which has had the
importer's or manufacturer's serial number
removed, obliterated, or altered, or 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
(my highlighting)

If you take the s/n off you now possess a firearm that does not comply with the law. If you do take the chance that you won't be caught, make sure the serial number you put back on meets the requirements of 479.102.

Originally Posted by RaisedByWolves

"No person shall knowingly transport,
ship, or receive in interstate or foreign
commerce any firearm which has had the
importer's or manufacturer's serial number
removed, obliterated, or altered"

Since I wont be transporting, shipping or receiving?

The highlighted portion of Xringshooter's reply is the part that would apply to your situation. You would be in possession of a firearm that had the serial number removed or altered.

**Xringshooter** · January 9th, 2009, 11:25 PM

Kind of a follow up. If YOU built the receiver from scratch (you are the manufacturer) then you don't HAVE to have a serial number on it as long as it is for your use only.

However, since you bought it from someone else, it then has been shipped or
transported in interstate or foreign commerce and you cannot remove, obliterate, or alter the serial number.