#Gun serial number check serial numbers

But, the information is still visible under magnification.īecause the density changes underneath the dots during the marking process, scientists can use acid etching to make the invisible to be visible. When one grinds off the serial numbers, that process might fill in the metal.

With a PINSTAMP® mark, there may be a very small dot that still remains. Telesis developed laser process used to recover lost serial numbersįorensic science uses many different ways to recover this mark including electromagnets and inferred cameras. Because the density of the metal has changed, we can use a process to identify traceability of the invisible mark. These methods for marking compress the metal below the characters and change the density. One can use a roll stamp, scribe marker, or dot peen. This displaces the metal around the actual visible numbers. When you apply the serial number with a device, it presses into the metal to form a character. One can utilize many methods that forensic scientists use to reveal the invisible. What many owners may not know is that even when they remove a serial number, there may still be a way to see that number. Is the serial number still visible after removal?

This means one can clearly see deep scratches on the metal surface after “removal”. Because manufacturers typically apply serials numbers by roll stamping, criminals need to grind them off if they’d like to remove the mark. Criminals assume that this weapon is untraceable and that it can be used in a crime without the possibility of the gun being identified. This does not mean, however, that criminals do not remove the serial numbers. Once you remove the mark, the serial number is no longer visible. It is deep enough to deter criminals from grinding the identification off, as well.

This depth makes the mark visible while the weapon experiences normal wear and tear.

#Gun serial number check serial numbers

The ATF requires serial numbers on firearms be a minimum of. How deep in the metal should the serial number be? Importantly, as well, the serial number can help link the firearm back to crime if one were to occur. This database prevents the firearm from being sold at licensed gun dealers and pawn shops that run the numbers through the database before they purchase it for resale. Additionally, if the weapon is stolen, it can help link the firearm to the original owner when the government places the serial number into a national database. The serial number includes information related to the date and location of the weapon’s manufacturing. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) requires serial numbers on guns. TFB has been able to restore the account, but a clear explanation was never provided as to why it was deleted.By Telesis Technologies How serial numbers on firearms help As both of these companies are privately owned, but heavily relied upon, the knowledge of this publicly available data mine is unsettling.Įarlier this year, our Instagram account was deleted with seemingly no explanation. Regardless of this, Instagram is owned by Facebook, and YouTube is owned by Google. And no, you as an individual cannot readily lookup someone’s personal information with only firearm serial numbers. It’s clear that the firearms community is not being singled out by this data mining operation. However, this does not mean that we should be complacent in the information that we share being controlled or censored. If you’re an avid TFB reader, you might have read our article about how we’re not concerned about posting firearms serial numbers. Here are the results.įacebook and Google are Reading and Cataloging Your Firearm Serial Numbers. Placing the search term in quotes, Google is forced to search for only that specific character string. In order to further test this theory, I tried a different serial number, this time from a silencer review. It appears Google, with the help of Facebook, is archiving this information and making it easier to aggregate. Facebook and Google are Reading and Cataloging Your Firearm Serial Numbers