Got my very first centerfire deer rifle back from my brother inlaw this past season, and am going to have it rebuilt. It is an old BCD code 1944 Mauser. It has no serial number on the receiver. Just a serial number on the barrell. Not import marked, Waffenmat stamps still present. Is this a problem when the barrell gets replaced? I have seen a few old 22's with no receiver number but wonder what the laws are on a centerfire.

First off I'm not a gunsmith 1. I would think it's going to be difficult to ship or have a FFL gunsmith

receive your rifle if it doesn't have a serial number or identification on the receiver of some sort !.

Especially NOW DAYS !. Opinions vary and I've been wrong before , so it's just that an Opinion !.

There are millions of guns, in this country, that have no serial numbers. most of the older Win. and Rem. single shot, pump and autoloaders, in 22 rimfire, were never marked by the factories. There is no problem witth shipping them to an FFL holder/gunsmith for repair.

as long as the gun was made before the GCA 0f 1968 it is not a problem.....after that it is a big problem.
Steve

I got an older 22 with no serial number.

I have a Herter's sold Zastava (Mark X) that has no serial number. Not at all un-common with vintage firearms.

Often serial numbers will be below the woodline. It's uncommon for a military arm to not have one.

I have bought guns from pawn shops that were so old they did not have a serial number.

They would often copy from text off the gun like " 22 short" and put that on ATF form 4473 in the serial number box.

In the block for serial number put NSN. I do it all the time for guns manufactured prior to the GCA of 1968

If you wanted, you could have the smith engrave the number from the barrel onto the receiver.