Is there any way to trace a guns sn?

I just bought an older gun and wanted to see if I could find who has owned it and where its been.

 

You can call the local sherriff department & ask to have the SN traced. Tell them your checking to see if the gun is stolen. A gun shop should be able to trace it for you too.

 

Law Enforcement can trace it back to the last registered owner. If the gun was never registered you have few options. Records do exist for firearms, it depends what manufacturer kept the records.


Colts can be traced back to the 1860's, actual equipment, and where shipped with the date is possible. The drawback..price. Colt charges $150.00 to research a SAA = Single Action Army. The rest of the models research charge is $100.00


The Winchester Museum has records, but they have no shipping data on 95% of the pre 1907 models, where the older records end. The later records were tossed out in 1931. These early records are at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming. They also have Marlin and Ithaca records.


Remingtons, Brownings, Sharps, Springfield and other gun makers records are available if you know where to look. If your gun was something used by the military...any countries military, there is an online site where by typing in the serial number in the correct box, y'all might get some info.


I have all the Winchester and Colt serial number books, but all I can do is date the weapon. On Winchester Models 1886, 1887, 1892, 1894 and 1895, I have all the rarity figures. On WinM1895's, I know what's rare and what isn't...after 45 years of collecting this one model.