No registration numbers. Now what??

[Mtbkski]

Buddy of mine was telling me about a pistol he got from an old man for doing some work for him. It was some kind of a police service pistol. From what he described, probaly a parade weapon.

It is silver, with pearl handgrips. It shows a ton of holster wear. He has been unable to find a serial # on it anywhere. He does know the make of pistol, I think it was Smith and Wesson but I'm not sure.

He was wondering where he could find some info on it? When it was made? Is it worth anything? Any secret place to look for a serial #? He doesn't want to get in trouble owning it. Is there anything he needs to do to legally own it?

[Pa. Patriot]

If it's a title one firearm it needs to be transfered through an FFL in order to comply with the law on transfers (§6111)
The FFL will know where to find the ser# and record the # (or lack of) appropriately oon the paperwork.

As long as the serial wasn't removed (which would be obvious more than likely) which is bad juju (§6117)

[never_retreat]

If its an s and w, open the cyl and look to the left of the cyl on the frame that is now not hidden by the crane. Hope that helps. thats the only way i can think of describing it. Didn't they put them under the grips at one time? If is very old it may never have had a sn. I don't know when they started numbering.

[knight0334]

If its an s and w, open the cyl and look to the left of the cyl on the frame that is now not hidden by the crane. Hope that helps. thats the only way i can think of describing it. Didn't they put them under the grips at one time? If is very old it may never have had a sn. I don't know when they started numbering.

Yep, they did that too.

All S&W I've seen ever from back in the 1800's had serial numbers. Either open on receiver, under the grips, or you have to swing out the cylinder to see them.

[crazy charlie]

Tell us for sure who made it and we'll most likely find a serial number.
I have a Hopkins & Allen and a Iver Johnson made in the 1800's and if you look hard enough they got numbers hidden somewhere.

[tes151]

If it's a title one firearm it needs to be transfered through an FFL in order to comply with the law on transfers (§6111)
The FFL will know where to find the ser# and record the # (or lack of) appropriately oon the paperwork.

As long as the serial wasn't removed (which would be obvious more than likely) which is bad juju (§6117)

I realize thats the law, but I still think any time you can have a firearm that the police/government don't know about, thats a good thing.

[Pa. Patriot]

I realize thats the law, but I still think any time you can have a firearm that the police/government don't know about, thats a good thing.

I agree, but only when done legally.

[Statkowski]

As the firearm's recipient, your friend is free and clear. Under the UFA, it this the giver/seller of the firearm that has the responsibility to effect the transfer through an FFL. That's what the law says. If the old man is now deceased, there's nobody left to prosecute - the "crime" died with him.

[vetter3006]

If it's a title one firearm it needs to be transfered through an FFL in order to comply with the law on transfers (§6111)
The FFL will know where to find the ser# and record the # (or lack of) appropriately oon the paperwork.

As long as the serial wasn't removed (which would be obvious more than likely) which is bad juju (§6117)

I have to second this statment by PA Patriot. Follow this and you'll have no worries about taking this firearm to any range or if you are licensed to carry.

[PA Rifleman]

I realize thats the law, but I still think any time you can have a firearm that the police/government don't know about, thats a good thing.

I agree, but only when done legally.

Without a recorded transaction, there wouldn't be any way to establish when the gun was transferred. This would make any prosecution very difficult since ex post facto would apply before the enactment of the applicable law. There are plenty of legitimate circumstances why a person would be in possession of a ghost gun.

http://www.pafoa.org/forum/general-2...html#post20266

Tell us for sure who made it and we'll most likely find a serial number.
I have a Hopkins & Allen and a Iver Johnson made in the 1800's and if you look hard enough they got numbers hidden somewhere.

In which case the whole topic becomes moot, since guns made before January 1, 1899 aren't "firearms" in the eyes of the law no matter now they're configured or what they shoot (smokeless or black powder). Since a pre-1899 firearm an antique gun, it's plain old common property in the eyes of the law.