Adding Serial numbers?

[Scota4570]

A Friend's loss of his entire collection to theft last week.  That  has caused me to think about my collection.  I have very good security precautions.  However,  I do not serialize my ML builds.  In the event of theft I would have no chance of seeing them again due to that fact.  Do you all put a hidden SN#?  Engrave to top flat with name and a number?  Forget it?  Thanks.

[J Henry]

  Pictures are always good,

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I engrave a serial number on the bottom flat of the barrel, then the date that I brown/blue the barrel and finish the rifle.  I also document all my builds with a computer file of pictures.  I engrave my name on the top flat between the breech and the rear sight.  Finally, I keep a book with all this information.

[577SXS]

The problem with a serial number that isn't visible is the law enforcement will not take gun apart to look for a serial number. I had a pistol one time that part of serial number was covered by grip panel when I bought the gun and the dealer didn't even take the panel off to record correct number. I plan on putting serial number on trigger plate where it can be seen. Very few people would notice it unless looking for it.

[jerrywh]

Most of mine are sold before any thief has a chance however, I engrave my name in gold script on the top barrel flat in a gold frame. You asked.

[Scota4570]

True, the cops, especially around here make only token efforts to return guns to their owners.  Some agencies refuse to return guns at all. 

It is a dilemma for me.  IF I put information the gun that is useful that will deface the gun. 

[JPK]

I had 10 guns of various types stolen forty years ago. Serial numbers, make and model were given to the law along with detailed disruptions. None have come home so far but the very next thing I bought was a good gun safe and bolts to hold it down. I hope to not have to recover any more.

[Ezra]

a good gun safe and bolts to hold it down. I hope to not have to recover any more.

Yup, same here.  God I hate thieves.


Ez

[Mark Elliott]

I always engrave my name, date, and serial number on the top flat behind the rear sight.   I also have good photos of all my guns.   

[bama]

I lost a few guns to thieves about 30 years ago. I got all of my modern stuff back except for a luger. I had serial numbers on my modern stuff. My custom muzzle loaders I did not get back because I had not detailed records. Now, I was contacted by the police 20 years after this theft and was informed that my Luger had been used in a robbery in Las Vegas and that after all the legal proceedings were over that I would get my Luger back. About 2 years after being contacted by the police I deed indeed get my Luger back. So it pays to keep track of the serial numbers. I did buy a safe which is good to have but I have lost guns that were in a safe. My safe weighed over 500 lbs but because I did not have it anchored to the floor the thieves stole the whole safe. It is amazing how hard a thief will work to steal something but will not work to make an honest living.

Document your all of your guns and have good pictures of them, this increases the chance of getting them back.

[oldhunter1954]

I was told by local law enforcement that having identifying marks on a gun allows them to prosecute the thief when and if they catch them. No marks then no proof of a crime. 

[Scota4570]

Get a heavy safe and bolt it to the floor.   Mine weighs over 1000#. IF possible locate it inside the house.   Always lock the safe!
 Second thing, electronic locks can be opened with two straight pins and 9V battery.  Get a real Greeley mechanical lock.  I also have motion sensors and security cameras.  That may sound like overkill but here in California I trust only the inner circle.  30 years in law enforcement makes one jaded! : )

[WadePatton]

Well if were going to great lengths, had the space, money, and high-value collection; I'd say have two safes, one that isn't so terribly difficult to find (the decoy) and a second safe that is properly secured and difficult to deal with. Keep the good stuff in the hidden safe.

My favorite approach is a bank-vault type room, as the one I worked in at the engraver's place.  Genuine bank vault door on a filled block room.  Make the room any size you want, then build your home or shop on top it it.

Camouflage can be more effective than safes as I heard of a local case years back that went like this:  Guy had a lot of his guns out of the safe for cleaning and such.  Left the home for whatever reason with the guns out, and simply threw some bed coverings over multiple guns on the bed and floors.  In his absence thieves broke in to the house, and broke into his safe and stole everything in it. However they walked right past all the unsecured guns they couldn't see.

I have a safe, but don't bank on it being full of anything.   

[WadePatton]

Get a heavy safe and bolt it to the floor.   Mine weighs over 1000#.

Some of us guys have at least that much lead lying around...   

[Scota4570]

I am home shopping right now.  One thing I am hoping to have is a hidden room with a walk in safe.  Second best would be a  hidden room with a strong security door and safes inside.  It would be cool to have book case that opens to reveal a door when you pull on a trophy.  Didn't Batman have one of those??   

[Collector]

Put a couple different sizes/diameters of of close fitting but still loose pipe around the bolts, if there's room.  The individual pipe pieces will spin around, increasing the difficulty in getting to the actual bolt securing the safe.

Old blacksmith'n jail window bar design.   

[dogcatcher]

Use  the date finished as the serial number.  My father-in-law was a gunsmith.  He used the (year).(month).(day) with  (initials) as a serial number.  Example, 2021.5.4.OM  We can look at the ones we have, and know the date finished.  On both his regular modern rifles and his muzzleloaders he stamped the info on the side of the barrel. 

[J Henry]

  POST pictures!!!!  numbers all look alike but a patch box is one of a kind, and keep posting the pictures.  and Faux finish is hard to hide the pattern !!! "Excuse me can I look at the serial # on your rifle OR I've seen that rifle patch box stripes somewhere"

[Steeltrap]

Long time ago, on a forum that is no longer around, there was a "colorful fellow" that posted his security measures and he used two safes. Each safe had a sign on it...both signs said "Rifles or Oxygen Tank?"  He then had a working set of torches beside the safes.

I don't know if his post was actually true, but based upon all of his post, it seemed to be right up his ally. 

[Darkhorse]

A gun must have a serial number on it before my insurance co. will insure it. That's reason enough for me.

[Scota4570]

My safe came with a sticker, in the document pack,  that indicate explosives were stored inside. 

[smylee grouch]

I put numbers on the first 4 or 5 that I built then stopped. Then I was told that you needed serial numbers on muzzleloaders to cross into Canada so I engraved numbers on the bottom flat of the barrels and transported the guns broken down so Canadian customs could find the numbers with out having to take them down themselves. Now I have a PAL card so they don't even look at the guns as when I cross I always cross at the same port and its always the same guys working and they know me.

[P.W.Berkuta]

All my builds have my name, date I started the build and the date I finished the build stamped on the bottom of the barrel. I then take a picture of it and the finished gun completely assembled from different angles. I have been doing this since the late 1960's.

[Marcruger]

"It is a dilemma for me.  IF I put information the gun that is useful that will deface the gun."

If the number is engraved nicely, I do not think it defaces the gun.  Many guns in the past had numbers on them for various reasons.  If one were planning ahead, the serial could even be incorporated into the engraving pattern.  The trigger plate is indeed a nice inconspicuous location that is visible if someone is looking for it.  I've seen one by Ed Wenger numbered in that location. 

I put a serial number on each of my bags including #1.  I don't think it defaces them. 

God Bless,  Marc