Running a gun serial number search is essential if you’re looking to buy a used gun from an individual or a dealer. While it is illegal for dealers to sell guns that have been lost, stolen or used in a crime and wanted by the police, it can happen. Private-party sales of stolen guns are also uncommon, but can occur. Running a gun serial number search before you buy will make sure you get a gun that you can legally own and register in your name.
- Locate the serial number for the gun you want to check. If you are purchasing a gun or checking one that is already in your possession, you can check the documentation that came with the gun. In many cases, the serial number will be noted in the owner’s manual. If you don’t have the owner’s manual you will need to locate the serial number on the body of the gun. The serial number is usually located on the handle or inside the gun, but this does vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
- Contact a reputable gun dealer in your area and ask them to run a serial number search for you if you’re looking to buy a gun from a private party. In most cases, the dealer will charge you a small fee for this service. However, this is often the fastest, simplest method. Many gun dealers will be able to give you basic records about where and when the gun was registered.
- Check your local department of law enforcement’s website to see if you can run an online gun serial number search. Some states do not maintain a database that individuals can access, so this method may not work in all areas. Dragon ball z budokai 3 download. If you can’t find the database, contact a law enforcement representative and ask if an online gun serial number search can be performed in your state.
- Contact your local police department or sheriff’s office to run a gun serial number search if you are looking to purchase a pre-owned gun from a dealer. Police records will indicate whether the gun has been used in a crime or has been reported lost or stolen. Checking the serial number with the police department or sheriff’s office is beneficial if you’re considering buying a gun from a dealer because they can quickly check whether a gun was used for a crime or reported stolen in all states using the national ATF database.
- Check the Gun Verify database if you are purchasing a pre-owned firearm from a dealer or individual to make sure that it is not stolen. Gun Verify is a user-based database, meaning gun owners input their own information if their gun is lost or stolen.
Tip
- If you can’t find your gun’s serial number on the body you should contact the manufacturer. If you know the model of your gun they will likely be able to tell you where you can find the serial number right away. If you don’t know the model, a description or photograph may be necessary in order to locate the serial number.
Best Answer: Manufacturer, model, and serial number is what makes a firearm unique. There are various models of Colt firearms that could have that serial number. There are various models of Colt firearms that could have that serial number.
Warnings
- Private websites like Gun Verify can be helpful in finding information about a pre-owned firearm and they’re easy to use. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use other resources to check the serial number if there is no Gun Verify match.
- Do not buy a pre-owned gun if the serial number appears to be missing or has been filed off. This is illegal in some states, and in many cases, it means the gun has been stolen or used for a crime. Antique guns may not have serial numbers, but be sure to do your homework to make sure the particular model you’re looking at wasn’t imprinted with a serial number before you buy it.
References
About the Author
Christopher Godwin is a freelance writer from Los Angeles. He spent his formative years as a chef and bartender crafting signature dishes and cocktails as the head of an upscale catering firm. He has since ventured into sharing original creations and expertise with the public. Godwin has published poetry, fiction and nonfiction in publications like 'Spork Magazine,' 'Cold Mountain Review' and 'From Abalone To Zest.'
Photo Credits
- Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
By: Si Kingston
By: Si Kingston
Every gun has a serial number. The serial number can tell you the manufacturer's date and model. Finding out whether or not a gun you purchased has been reported stolen can also be determined from a gun's serial number. If you want to look up information about a gun, you can contact the gun manufacturer or your local police, or visit online databases to find out whether the gun is stolen. Half life 2 synergy download torrent.
Locate the Gun Serial Number
The serial number can be found in many different locations. Typically the serial number can be found on the handle, slide, trigger guard or receiver. There is no typical serial number. For example, a Browning serial number can range in length from eight to ten characters, a Glock number is only five characters long. Serial numbers can contain both numbers and letters. A serial number is stamped in metal so it doesn't wear easily. If a serial number is worn, try looking for the serial number in a different place on the gun (some guns will have more than one serial number). A worn or filed-off serial number is an indicator of a stolen gun.
Pretest emergency medicine 3rd edition pdf download. PreTest Emergency Medicine, 3rd Edition (2012) [PDF]| Free Medical Books 5 MB. Read Books Case Files Emergency Medicine Second Edition [PDF, ePub,. Editorial Reviews. About the Author. Rosh, MD, MS, FACEP, Attending Physician. Emergency Medicine PreTest Self-Assessment and Review, Fourth Edition 4th. Edition; Due to its large file size, this book may take longer to download. Pretest ER 3rd edition is pretty comprehensive and tests over the major. So if need to download Emergency Medicine PreTest Self-Assessment and Review, Third Edition pdf by Adam Rosh, then you've come to the loyal site. Emergency Medicine PreTest Self-Assessment and Review, Third Edition: 102. Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.
Contact the Manufacturer
Call the gun manufacturer or go to the manufacturer's website to access their online search tool. There is no central resource for gun manufacturers. See Resources for the gun manufacturer's online directory of many gun manufacturer websites. For lesser-known manufacturers, you can conduct a search online or look at your user manual for contact information. Submit the gun serial number to the representative over the phone or enter it into the search field online. Write down the gun manufacturing date and the gun model as provided by the representative or online search tool.
Pistol Serial Number Search
Gun History
Check the search tool in the state where you purchased the gun. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement agencies, for instance, provides a free online search tool. If that gun is reported stolen, the search tool will display that information. You can conduct a search online for checking firearm serial numbers in your state, or go directly to the police department as described in step two.
Visit Your Local Police Department
Give the officer the gun serial number and ask him to run a check on the gun. If the gun was ever reported stolen anywhere in the United States, the officer will be able to tell you. The police department will run the gun's serial number through the FBI's NCIC database which records all stolen guns that have been reported in every state.
Go Online
Enter the serial number into a third-party website like HotGunz or StolenWeapon. A gun owner may register the gun with one of these sites after he realizes that it is stolen. These sites, therefore, can only tell you if the gun has been previously registered to them as stolen, not if the gun has been reported stolen to a law enforcement agency.