View Full Version : Showing Serial Number in Web Photos?
xtimberman
03-16-2008, 05:00 PM
I believe that this is Home Security related.
Some folks love to post photos of their prized firearms on gun-related websites. Quite often, the SN will be visible in the photo, and there will always be some person who points this out to them as if it was more than a lapse of good judgement. You know what I'm talking about - posts like: "Yuk, Yuk, your SNs are showing. They're mine now!", and so on.
If you go on any of the gun buy/sell 'sites, you can find thousands of SNs in photographs, so just what is the big deal? :confused5:
Will someone knowledgable please explain the likely and unlikely ramifications of a troublemaker obtaining the SN of a gun they do not own?
xtm
AlPackin
03-16-2008, 05:24 PM
Will someone knowledgable please explain the likely and unlikely ramifications of a troublemaker obtaining the SN of a gun they do not own?
xtm
ramifications? zero, nada, zilch.
Oh you said knowledgeable ...zero, nada, zilch.
sparky241
03-16-2008, 05:33 PM
i believe it started out as an internet rumor, that if i can get the serial # from your gun, i can call the local authorities and tell them gun XXX with serial # XXX was stolen, then i call them back up and tell them i just saw my gun posted on the internet site xxx by user XXX and they will arrest you and i get your gun. I think its bs. Anyone who reports my gun stolen had better have a bill of sale because i do along with a reciept showing i paid for it.
Make life simple for everyone, photoshop out the serial #.
:yesnod:
Jammer Six
03-16-2008, 06:29 PM
That scheme wouldn't even come close to working, but okay...
There is no reason to "photoshop" out a serial number.
If there is, I'd like to hear it.
[birds twittering]
BadSpellar
03-16-2008, 07:37 PM
The only reason I can see for doing it is if you bought a used gun with a questionable past. If the gun was ever reported stolen the original owner may see it and want it back. Even if you have a receipt you lose the gun.
freakshow10mm
03-16-2008, 07:44 PM
I guess one thing good about pistol registration in MI is it's pretty easy to prove it's my gun. They run my certificate, it comes up on the screen as what it is, who is it registered, and who I got it from.
lcarreau
03-16-2008, 07:46 PM
I just hope they did not have a picture of their foot in the same photo. Then the feds would know it really did come from a GP person. For real.
freakshow10mm
03-16-2008, 08:03 PM
No kidding!
coltc
03-16-2008, 08:08 PM
They could take a hot gun and stamp your numbers into it that they know are clean. That's about the only thing I could see.
Jammer Six
03-16-2008, 08:12 PM
It's easy to tell when a serial number has been altered. Once you know that, some acid can bring up the original.
I see all that as a good reason to avoid guns with questionable pasts. Even if it cost a few pennies more.
xtimberman
03-16-2008, 09:17 PM
Thanks for your comments. I pretty much figured it was internet myth and mostly BS.
xtm
mbradst
03-16-2008, 10:19 PM
I guess one thing good about pistol registration in MI is it's pretty easy to prove it's my gun. They run my certificate, it comes up on the screen as what it is, who is it registered, and who I got it from.
Freak, you know it is not a REGISTRATION they are doing to your handgun when you take it to the Sheriff's Office. It is a SAFETY INSPECTION for your own good. At least that is what they told me when I lived in MI. I probably still have the nifty safety inspection cards for some of my handguns.
anyplainjoe
03-19-2008, 10:34 AM
safety inspection, yea right! They have certified gunsmiths, factory trained on all models of arms on staff?
Steve Koski
03-19-2008, 11:22 AM
The first thing I do when I get a new gun is go home and change the serial number. It's just common sense people.
layusn1
03-19-2008, 02:45 PM
I buy an aftermarket barrel at a gun show so nobody knows about it. That way when I shoot someone with it I can grind it to dust on the disk grinder and put the original barrel back in...the cops will never find out it was me that way. Oh yeah...I don't use bullets with serial numbers either :rofl: I go to the range everyday so I have a valid reason for gunshot residue on my hands too.
VN350X10
04-22-2008, 10:09 PM
take the pic of the OTHER SIDE of the gun....
Yeah, MI's "safety inspection" caused me to NOT buy a house near B.C. a few years back. Pity, as it had a shop that would have made a GREAT gunsmith place with virtually no work except security items.
At least here in the peoples republik of IL we get registered as a gun owner (F.O.I.D. card) but it's good for any number that we want.
MakeMineaP99
04-22-2008, 10:10 PM
At least MI has carry and is a NFA state, could be worse.
VN350X10
04-22-2008, 10:15 PM
Living in a non-NFA state has it's advantages.......
If I ever got a full auto, I'd go BROKE !
we don't discuss the "carry" issue......common sense does prevail however.
MakeMineaP99
04-22-2008, 10:24 PM
My point was not to compare MI to IL, just saying MI has come a LONG way.
It's not like you don't have enough reloading presses to feed a subgun!
VN350X10
04-22-2008, 10:39 PM
The presses aren't the problem, but the APPITITE is !
'Cause I'd want a MP-10 & a Ma Duece !(need another press to load for Ma)
The first thing I do when I get a new gun is go home and change the serial number. It's just common sense people.
You mean like prying the serial number from your Glock 35 and sticking it on your Glock 22?
Down here it doesn't matter ,because all guns are registred anyway:rolleyes5:
All of em :wink5:
Jammer Six
04-22-2008, 11:47 PM
Still haven't heard a real reason to alter serial numbers in pictures.
On a side note, people who call their home state in the U.S. the "People's Republic etc., etc. have no idea what they're talking about, or what life is like in a real People's Republic.
It makes you sound like an ungrateful child.
MONTEGOD7SS
04-23-2008, 12:09 AM
In most "People's Republics" you get to carry an AK and RPG in the street and nobody looks twice at you. Registering guns just sounds wrong to me. If you have a gun you want to buy have a buddy buy it for you so it's not in your name, doesn't everyone do that?
ISUSteve
04-23-2008, 12:54 AM
If you steal them, you don't have to register them. State law.
Geez - ya'll would come unglued down here. When I am gonna buy a new gun person to person - I run them over to my town PD. Guys there run it thru NCIC and TX state to make sure things are square. Most of the guys have gotten to recognize me (or my truck) over the years - haven't been invited to use their range yet - but still trying.
Simple class and a 50 rd shooting proficiency test and CHL is yours. NFA state and lots of wide open space. I now know where the saying "I wasn't born a Texan, but I got here as fast as I could" came from. I ain't ever leaving this state.
Jammer Six
04-23-2008, 02:32 PM
Did that ever prove my point...
trickyasafox
05-02-2008, 02:10 PM
I don't know if there is a good reason, but I shop mine out. I figure worst case scenario it does nothing, and I lost 30 seconds per photo. not a big deal as I probably had to resize the photo anyway.
Steve Koski
05-02-2008, 02:18 PM
You mean like prying the serial number from your Glock 35 and sticking it on your Glock 22?
You did that too?
VN350X10
05-02-2008, 05:37 PM
Here in IL, disregarding the "straw sale" aspect of it, with a F.O.I.D. card you are required by law to keep a record of that transaction for 10 yrs.
On advice of my atty. I destroy all of those @ 10 yrs.(calander) + 1 day.
Besides, I don't get rid of that many guns anyhow. And virtually everything gets shot, even the AutoMag !
uncle albert
Crazy4nitro
05-02-2008, 05:49 PM
Steve Koski
Quote:
Originally Posted by 918v http://www.glockpost.com/forums/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.glockpost.com/forums/showthread.php?p=24565#post24565)
You mean like prying the serial number from your Glock 35 and sticking it on your Glock 22?
You did that too?
Steve,They arent talking Airsoft Pistols.
'Nitro
GLOCKENNBOOMER
05-04-2008, 05:09 AM
I don't worry about it since all my serial numbers are filed off........................ (If there are any law enforcement or people from the ATF reading this , I AM JUST KIDDING!!!!)
Steve Koski
05-04-2008, 08:35 AM
Steve Koski
Quote:
Originally Posted by 918v http://www.glockpost.com/forums/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.glockpost.com/forums/showthread.php?p=24565#post24565)
You mean like prying the serial number from your Glock 35 and sticking it on your Glock 22?
You did that too?
Steve,They arent talking Airsoft Pistols.
'Nitro
My airsoft is a G17, not a forty.
yammerschooner
05-04-2008, 09:04 AM
edit because original post was a week too late to be anything other than trolling.
I don't worry about it since all my serial numbers are filed off........................ (If there are any law enforcement or people from the ATF reading this , I AM JUST KIDDING!!!!)
Why worry? They can easily restore serial numbers in the lab. It's more of a cosmetic issue nowadays.
chewy
05-07-2008, 04:32 PM
All this talk of cereal make Chewy hungry.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k298/chewybaca67/Goofs%20n%20Stuff/2007_02_05t095541_450x301_us_chewba.jpg
Anvil
06-04-2008, 05:43 PM
I'm late to this thread but... so what.
There is no identity theft issues that coincide with firearm serial numbers that I know of. I remember the big hubub over serial numbers in website photos sprung up around the time of the Gore / Bush election season and the anti's were in full force. People were sure that the fall of society was around the corner and did not want intrusive govt. knowing what guns they had and felt that exposing the serial number would give clues to govt. agents who had what guns for a possible confiscation effort.
I say the gun serial number in a photo is about as critical as the image of a clean bore and no obvious wood gouges in the stock and no visable rust. The serial number is not interesting to the govt in my opinion. Guarding the number is just paranoia.
thorn
06-04-2008, 06:04 PM
The serial number is not interesting to the govt in my opinion. Guarding the number is just paranoia.
I highly concur. Have i erased those numbers from pics myself? Yep. Don't know why, really... i just did, because other people did.
It probably takes me all of 20 seconds to do it in Photoshop, and since i color-correct my photos anyway i always think "well, while i'm at it..."
But i think that literally, it's sort of like those modern vehicles whose headlights stay on a minute after you leave the vehicle. The light will go off. Stop looking out the window to check.
If someone wants to claim my gun is theirs - that I stole it - they're going to have to do a lot more than just provide the police with a SR# that I posted on a for sale forum last week for the whole world to see. ;)
thorn
45auto
04-16-2009, 05:06 PM
I remove my serials from photos kuz all the cool people do! :D
Sometimes if I'm feeling frosty I'll use photoshops clone stamper and make my serials all 8's or something fun. :)
MONTEGOD7SS
04-16-2009, 05:09 PM
If somebody was gonna fake a serial number they could just as easily pick one randomly that happens to be your's anyways. Only thing I have posted pics of is my revolver and its serial wasn't showing.
Tailgunner
04-17-2009, 04:29 AM
i believe it started out as an internet rumor, that if i can get the serial # from your gun, i can call the local authorities and tell them gun XXX with serial # XXX was stolen, then i call them back up and tell them i just saw my gun posted on the internet site xxx by user XXX and they will arrest you and i get your gun. I think its bs. Anyone who reports my gun stolen had better have a bill of sale because i do along with a reciept showing i paid for it.
It's a lot older than that, it started with some "gun rag" commando long before Al Gore "invented" his internet IIRC it goes back into the 50's
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