Ser #

[cheaplaughs]

I wondering why the ser # of firearms are usually blocked out in pictures.

 

[TBDragonman]

So that criminals cannot start an illegal or fraudulent transfer of some kind.

 

[cheaplaughs]

Thanks I'll cover for the pics

 

[Silverback]

Because people are paranoid, if somebody, somehow, started a transfer on one of your firearms it won't complete until you personally confirm it.

 

[BattleRife]

It started as a US thing. An internet rumour went around that despicable people would find pics of guns online, record the serial number, then file a stolen property report with that number. I was never clear on what the rumour spreaders thought would happen then. Surely the cops need more than that to justify a seizure and handing the gun to a guy with no actualproof that he ever owned the thing.

Here in Canada, I understand the hesitation due to registration. Anybody with access to the police information computer system could look up the owner of a registered gun. If I post a pic of one of mine, said cop could now look up the name, address and numerous other details of the person with the pseudonym "BattleRife". I've done it myself a few times, but I can understand people being uncomfortable with that.

 

[can14]

I thought that we got rid of the registry and the serial numbers aren't listed anywhere. So it doesn't matter.

 

[big_e]

Not for restricted firearms

 

[Stevebot-7]

I thought that we got rid of the registry and the serial numbers aren't listed anywhere. So it doesn't matter.

As mentioned, it's part of general privacy, especially as the information we need to give a buyer is the majority of what the CFC asks us for to identify ourselves.
Other than that and the remote possibility of someone using the serial number to file a theft report the only thing I can think of is that it is an identifying feature that might prove the difference between a well-maintained antique collectable and a badly-beaten gun made five years ago.

Or tinfoil shadow registries and all that. I view it as a point of pride to photoshop out the number. I try to do it seamlessly so people might get paranoid and think that I have a gun that never got one stamped.

Like my old Daniel Defense M4 V5 that has since moved on to the great beyond. Probably Mexico by now. Check out the upper left picture, let me know how it looks. I think it turned out okay for a quick shop job.

 

[heckler]

I personally do it because I do not trust the security of our registry system.

Numerous occasions of it being hacked into,.... Yes I am paranoid. I do know someone that feels they were targeted because of a photo with the serial # in it as well (long story but interesting none the less). All it takes is some scumbag to use the # to determine my address, if I own other firearms, and if my collection is worth targeting.

Yes I'm paranoid, but why take the chance when internet crimes outnumber all other crime combined

 

[loki_81]

Because people are paranoid, if somebody, somehow, started a transfer on one of your firearms it won't complete until you personally confirm it.

While you are correct about the ability to veto an attempted restricted transfer, blocking out serials is partially to protect other buyers in the future. People do phone and verify a restricted is 'in the system', and once the serial is known to a scammer they have another tool to use in their kit. I prefer to make their scamming harder, not easier.

I personally do it because I do not trust the security of our registry system.

Numerous occasions of it being hacked into,.... Yes I am paranoid. I do know someone that feels they were targeted because of a photo with the serial # in it as well (long story but interesting none the less). All it takes is some scumbag to use the # to determine my address, if I own other firearms, and if my collection is worth targeting.

Yes I'm paranoid, but why take the chance when internet crimes outnumber all other crime combined

It's not paranoia to not trust a technology with proven weaknesses .

 

[Ardent]

I personally don't worry about it anymore. I show my face on here in hunting pics and lately video, and that's a heck of a lot more info than a number on steel. I don't look down on those who feel it is private info either, all personal choice. I do believe the risks are essentially non-existent however, but still catch myself listing serial numbers with X's for the last digits out of habit, sometimes even with the full serial shown in a photo in the same post.

 

[thump_rrr]

As mentioned, it's part of general privacy, especially as the information we need to give a buyer is the majority of what the CFC asks us for to identify ourselves.
Other than that and the remote possibility of someone using the serial number to file a theft report the only thing I can think of is that it is an identifying feature that might prove the difference between a well-maintained antique collectable and a badly-beaten gun made five years ago.

Or tinfoil shadow registries and all that. I view it as a point of pride to photoshop out the number. I try to do it seamlessly so people might get paranoid and think that I have a gun that never got one stamped.

Like my old Daniel Defense M4 V5 that has since moved on to the great beyond. Probably Mexico by now. Check out the upper left picture, let me know how it looks. I think it turned out okay for a quick shop job.

Off topic but which brand of fire control group is that in the Daniel Defense?

 

[Stevebot-7]

Off topic but which brand of fire control group is that in the Daniel Defense?

Daniel Defense. Or whatever they send in the M4V5 from the factory.