Serial Search

[SHOGUNNIN]

What's a good website to look up a firearm by its serial number? thanks

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[G1GRANDEUR]

Gunfax.com

You don't have the authorization.

The police can run the serial number for you to see if the gun has been reported stolen though.

 

[Mark W.]

What do you want to find out? with some brands you can find out the date of manufacture Like most Winchesters can be looked up. Not sure what other brands might have collector type info on line.

In Oregon there is a phone number you can call and find out if a firearm is stolen. But you have to give a lot of info besides just the serial number in case it comes back stolen they want to know where to start looking for it.

 

[SHOGUNNIN]

Looking for information and value on a list of guns my grandfather left behind. Thought it might help with the research process.

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

It's not like a part numbers.

Do you at least know what brand/model they are?

 

[SHOGUNNIN]

Ya I have a copy of the list

 

[jbett98]

A lot of times, I just just put the make, model and serial number on a Google search and see what pops up. It's pretty amazing what amount of data you can find with a simple search online. For value, I stay away from Gunbrokers listings, unless there is a similar firearm up for sale and has active bids reflecting a real price, not a "buy it now" for some stupid inflated unrealistic number.

 

[MountainBear]

Some military and old civilian stuff can be found here: ProofHouse.com

If you have old S&W's, try the smith and wesson forum.

 

[hermannr]

You can get close on old Colts and Smiths, but if you want exact you got to pay the manufacturer to look it up and send you a copy of the original papers. The closer to 1900 the worse the guess on Colts. As was said, Winchester's serial number/date of manufacture are available online.

 

[Mark W.]

And if you are looking for appraisals the serial number would be of limited value. Since its more by Maker model and most important CONDITION. And condition can only be accurately determined by careful examination. You can get an idea of condition from detailed photos but things like bore wear and the condition of internal parts is near impossible to do anyway but in hand.

And of course with any collectable just because one sold on line for X amount doesn't mean another will.

 

[Spitpatch]

If they are old guns (left behind by an old guy, so we can assume so), websites exist devoted to collectors of each individual manufacturer. Lots of info is available there.

Mark W. brings up a good point that serial number and/or manufacture date is very often NOT an indicator of value (although it CAN be).