Tracking Firearms

[Bailen]

So whenever I get a new gun I always wonder what it’s seen and stories it has to tell. Whether this be police use, war use, hunting, etc. Anyone know of any good way to trace a serial number back to anything? If only a gun could talk sort of thing.

 

[Deleted member 79987]

I think the local police dept., BATFE, and/or FBI would have to collaborate on that sort of thing.

 

[spencer60]

Tracing is hard, since you need to start at the manufacturer, trace it through all the distributors it passed through, and finally to the local FFL.

The ATF has authority to ask for this information, but regular people certainly don't. Actually, I'm not sure even state or local cops would have the ability to look at this data.

 

[atljetmech]

I request this kind of information on every bill oh sail I do

 

[chinamandan]

Tracing is hard, since you need to start at the manufacturer, trace it through all the distributors it passed through, and finally to the local FFL.

The ATF has authority to ask for this information, but regular people certainly don't. Actually, I'm not sure even state or local cops would have the ability to look at this data.

When I worked at a gunshop, traces were only phoned in by the BATFE. I remember sighing everytime I'd see that West Virginia number come up on the gunshop's caller ID.

The only people that can really get that info is BATFE and I think it's only for official business.

 

[palmettomoon]

I request this kind of information on every bill oh sail I do

It's good to know how many bodies a gatt has on it before you go totin' it.

 

[spencer60]

Can't you just count the notches? Or is that not a thing anymore?