J.P Sauer Pistol with serial number filed off

[muddinman04]

Hey guys,
Check this one out:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=151979426
Just curious to see what you guys think of this pistol. I thought that owning any firearm that has had the serial number removed was illegal. I messaged this fellow and he states that any firearm made prior to 1968 is not required to have a serial number. That maybe so, but this one obviously had a serial number at one time.
I would love to purchase this little pistol especially with the capture papers, but with the serial number being removed, there is just no way I would do it. How would you even have it transferred? Don't you have to input a serial number on a form 4473?

[FW 200]

Check with BATF-you could be asking for BIG trouble here!

[muddinman04]

Well, I called the BATF to let them know about it and no one there could give me an answer.

I do want to make clear that I am NOT going to purchase this firearm. I just posted the link to see what everyone else thought. I never could get a straight answer to whether this would be a legal purchase or not.

[Mike Steves]

I have owned period original WW2 German firearms with no serial number (not removed, but none applied at time of manufacture). They were simply listed as "no serial number" on the form. I can't speak to this one though, with the serial removed I wouldn't own it.

[Ed Sunday]

With any gun if a serial # has been visibly removed I would walk away. It spells trouble down the road and besides , it's been defaced as a collectors piece.

[SIGNALMAN]

Hello, I am not familiar with this pistol, but many german guns have the serial number on the inside when disassembled.

If so, I would use any internal number as the serial number.

Many years ago I found a low grip screw Mauser Hsc with a removed serial number, and sold it to a serious collector who used the number on the barrel and i believe slide, to have the pistol and serial number restored.

[BMWR71]

The capture papers also list no number. I have never seen that yet.

[Matt Weber]

It's funny this thread has come up, because just 2 weeks ago I was approached and offered a nice Mauser HSc. After examining it, it too has had the serial number removed from the front of the grip strap. I told the guy I could not purchase it. I would stay away from it myself.
Surprised the guy advertised it on an online gun auction?

Matt

[Gimpy117]

im surprised the batf couldn't give you an awnser

[cossack1648]

Numbers

If you really want, it is possible to read those numbers after being filed off. During punching of the number metal micro grain structure pattern gets deformed from the tool up to 10 times the depth of the mark. Any metallurgical testing facility should have an equipment to analyze and read it. Same method is used by investigators to read filed or restamped original numbers on frames or engines of stolen cars.

In this case however, I don't think it is worth it. It is rather common and not too expensive pistol, plus with little collector value with filed serial #.

Jack

[sstuart13]

Ohio Law

Since it looks like you live in Ohio I will only post the Ohio Statue. Don't want to mess with Federal Law at all if you can help it. In Ohio it is a Felony in the Fourth Degree. No matter what the capture paper states or claims to state. I wouldn't touch that with a ten foot pole. If you want the federal statue PM me and I will send it to you.



2923.201 Possessing a defaced firearm.
(A) No person shall do either of the following:

(1) Change, alter, remove, or obliterate the name of the manufacturer, model, manufacturer’s serial number, or other mark of identification on a firearm.

(2) Possess a firearm knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the name of the manufacturer, model, manufacturer’s serial number, or other mark of identification on the firearm has been changed, altered, removed, or obliterated.

(B)(1) Whoever violates division (A)(1) of this section is guilty of defacing identification marks of a firearm. Except as otherwise provided in this division, defacing identification marks of a firearm is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of division (A)(1) of this section, defacing identification marks of a firearm is a felony of the fourth degree.

(2) Whoever violates division (A)(2) of this section is guilty of possessing a defaced firearm. Except as otherwise provided in this division, possessing a defaced firearm is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of division (A)(2) of this section, possessing a defaced firearm is a felony of the fourth degree.

(C) Division (A) of this section does not apply to any firearm on which no manufacturer’s serial number was inscribed at the time of its manufacture.

Effective Date: 09-28-2006

[tom wy]

sometimes it happens that criminals get rid of the serial code, so there gun can't be traced by the police....
otherwise I have no clue...
kind regards

[tracman]

Agree 100%: stay far, far away from any firearm with the serial number filed off.

[Gene]

Too bad, it looks like a nice pistol

[Josh Beckett]

Kinda reminds me of when my dad was at a gunshow back in Florida, some guy had a remington 742 with the serial number filed off, and he told my dad to go ahead and buy it and that he can just replace the reciever, needless to say my dad ran away from the deal.