Have recently acquired two FN Belgium commercial (JC Higgins) Mauser actions. One has a serial number on the right side of the front ring. It also has some numbers stamped into the flat under the ring. They don't match.

The other has the numbers stamped on that flat ... but no serial number anywhere else that I can find. Would make it a PITA to get through customs when finished into a rifle.

What is standard practice for smiths when they are faced with building a rifle on an old action?

My guess is, restamp it, either with the original number or make one up.

Keith

Mike

If you are an FFL you are "supposed to" fill out an ATF&E form assigning a new serial number and file it with the Feds. If you are an individual I would not worry about it. Or, do as Keith said - make up a number - no one will ever know the difference. "That's the way I bought it."

Ray

I have a custom made on an FN action that has no serial number. No numbers what so ever. I even had to remove the stock to see the FN proofs. Bought it from an O1 FFL back in the 80s.

Rad

Depends on who you talk to as to which answer you will get, but in Oregon, firearms with no serial numbers are no problemo IF they were made before December 1968 when GCA '68 took effect.

At least, I have had several rifles without SNs go through the instant-check system (including one a few weeks ago) as duly state/federal authorized sales.

When we would call in the instant check to the State Police and they asked for the serial number, we would just tell them "No serial number". (We would have to put that same info on the 4473).

My guess is though, that if the rifle(s) or action(s) are crossing a U.S. international border, that approach will NOT fly. When I imported about 100 rifles from Canada in 1982, the border guards at Sweetgrass, Montana made it absolutely clear that any gun I had without a serial number was not coming in, approved BATF Form 6 or not. I suspect in these days of anti-terrorism buffoonery it would be even worse.