refinishing / painting a firearm - what do i do with the serial numbers???

[BP7]

if i want to refinish my Norc 1911, what am i supposed to do with the serial numbers that are on the frame and slide? can i just etch them somewhere on the inside where i won't paint, or what? do they have to be visible from the outside?

i'm not sure what materials i'll use to refinish it, but i'm pretty sure that whatever i do either in prep or in refinishing will obliterate the existing serial numbers (and maybe even the Norc branding).

 

[Doc M]

Jesus... if you refinish it that thick, the whole thing will be even more out of spec than it was to begin with... if you put that much garbage on the frame, I'd be the slide won't even take the rails.

If you're that worried, you can mask the numbers with tape and hand-paint the serial number area? If it's not a baked coating, you can flat-fill the serial number with wax and then remove it later.

-M

 

[JDTonken]

i'm pretty sure that whatever i do either in prep or in refinishing will obliterate the existing serial numbers

It would be important to keep this little bit of the Canadian Criminal Code in mind:

PART III
108. (1) Every person commits an offence who, without lawful excuse, the proof of which lies on the person,
(a) alters, defaces or removes a serial number on a firearm; or
(b) possesses a firearm knowing that the serial number on it has been altered, defaced or removed.

Punishment
(2) Every person who commits an offence under subsection (1)
(a) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years; or
(b) is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

Exception
(3) No person is guilty of an offence under paragraph (1)(b) by reason only of possessing a firearm the serial number on which has been altered, defaced or removed, where that serial number has been replaced and a registration certificate in respect of the firearm has been issued setting out a new serial number for the firearm.

Evidence
(4) In proceedings for an offence under subsection (1), evidence that a person possesses a firearm the serial number on which has been wholly or partially obliterated otherwise than through normal use over time is, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, proof that the person possesses the firearm knowing that the serial number on it has been altered, defaced or removed.
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 108; 1991, c. 40, s. 20; 1995, c. 39, s. 139.

 

[sulisa]

I filled mine in with white paint. Thin coat, and the original stamp/engrave is still visible, but I like the contrast. If asked, I'll say the white paint is a protective measure to keep the s/n safe from damage

 

[Gunney]

They should be deep enough that a proper refinish will still let them be visible. As stated if you paint it so thick you can't read the serial number after I doubt the slide will operate properly. They're a bit loose, but not *that* loose.

 

[BP7]

thanks for the tips.

since i'm not sure how deep the engraving is for the s/n and i've heard and seen Norcs which completely lack their branding marks, i thought that maybe while i sand the surface down i might go right past the s/n, so... i thought it would be a good idea to replicate it elsewhere so that the s/n is still there, just in a different spot.

as to the specs / tightness... i wasn't planning on painting the slide rails since they're not visible to the outside and they do have to be a smooth flat mating surface. THAT much i'm aware of. masking tape will get used on those spots for certain, and grease or other "stuffing" on various other spots to prevent the paint from sticking where i don't want it to stick to.

i might go for a baked on coating - that's still TBD. it's definitely not gonna be a thick coat of Tremclad from a spray-can, though. i just don't like the shiny blued finish that's on it right now

 

[Doc M]

If you have it stripped and parkerized, the serial number should still be visible - unless I'm missing something and Norinco isn't stamping serial numbers anymore? I just can't see an electro-penciled number being legal...

-M

 

[BP7]

looking at it now... the s/n on the frame is either stamped or lasered, composed of tiny dots like a dot-matrix printer. not terribly deep... probably won't take much to fill it to the point that it's hard to read.

 

[colinjw]

When I did my frame, after, I took a dental pick ( thanks Princess Auto ) and took my time & took the covering out of the serial number. I did not alter it, just took the paint out. Now I can read it again.
Dental pick kit is about $ 5.00 & they are great for cleaning guns.