As per the GCA, all firearms manufactured or imported into the United States are required to bear a serial number. In 1968, the Gun Control Act (GCA) imposed numerous additional requirements in the arena of gun manufacture. Among many other restrictions, the act required all firearms subject to the NFA to have serial numbers on them. The NFA imposed several restrictions in efforts to reduce the criminal use of these particular weapons. It didn’t apply to every gun as it defined “firearms” somewhat narrowly.Īccording to the NFA Handbook (produced by BATFE, see ), “Congress found these firearms to pose a significant crime problem because of their frequent use in crime, particularly the gangland crimes of that era such as the St. At the time, it was the most restrictive federal firearms legislation that had ever been enacted in the United States.

In 1934, Congress enacted the National Firearms Act (NFA). How did we get to practice we know today? Some did as per their own internal policies. At that point in time, the manufacturers held the power to choose whether or not to utilize serial numbers.

Although our younger generations have never lived in the America where serial numbers were optional, this was in fact the case long ago. In fact, it should look strange to you, and in most cases someone selling you or giving to you a firearm with a tarnished serial number should nearly give you a heart attack. If you’re a Law Abiding Gun Owner (LAGO) who primarily uses modern firearms, a firearm without a serial number would probably look strange to you. Are Firearms without Serial Numbers Illegal?

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