In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.

Remove Importer Marks & Go to Jail?

tr foxtr fox Member Posts: 13,856
edited April 2014 in General Discussion
Hi all. I have been warned that if I even THINK about posting a question on the experts forum I will be shot on sight, buried, dug up and shot again. So can someone here answer this question to keep me out of jail? (Note: to my critics here, this is your chance to lie to me and trick me into jail)

I have a kinda rough milsurp import WWII (C&R?) rifle and I wish to shorten the barrel from its present 48 inches (haha, just joking. But it sure looks long) to 16.5 inch and install a long eye relief scope and have a scout rifle. But if I cut the barrel down, I will be removing the importers mark. Importers name, city and state, country rifle imported from and caliber of rifle but not any serial numbers. The importers serial number is still on the receiver along with the serial number stamped when the rifle was made.

Give me credit for extensively checking the rules, regs & FAQ on the ATBE forum. I found that the importer must add all that info I mentioned plus the importers own, new serial number on the receiver, but there is nothing mentioned about an owner like myself from cutting/replacing the barrel and thereby removing that info. Any advice?

Comments

  • asphalt cowboyasphalt cowboy Member Posts: 8,904 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Short of defacing the serial number, making an AOW or a pistol out of it you, as a private owner, are free to do as you wish with it.
  • sharpshooter039sharpshooter039 Member Posts: 5,897 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The only thing it would do is make it lose its C&R statis since it has been modified from its original configeration.
  • andrewsw16andrewsw16 Member Posts: 10,728 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Give yourself a nice safety margin when cutting the barrel length and don't even get close to the serial number with your tools [:D], and you will have your scout rifle.
  • hicap47hicap47 Member Posts: 516 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Technically, it's illegal to remove an importer's mark as it's part of ATF's tracing system......That being said, I've never heard of anyone being dinged for it......Rifles being rebarreled or shortened is one reason ATF now requires import marks on receivers......
  • mark christianmark christian Member Posts: 24,443 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    You will be reinstated in Ask The Experts on the day that all three moderators in that forum agree on allowing you back. Keep in mind that my two colleges wanted you removed from the site and for me to lock your GB account. As an administrator I am inclined to follow staff suggestions but since it was over the holidays I was feeling generous (falling prey to the Christmas spirit ) and while you are persona non grata in ATE, your GB account remains active...For now [;)]
  • hicap47hicap47 Member Posts: 516 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by GreatGuns
    quote:Originally posted by hicap47
    Technically, it's illegal to remove an importer's mark as it's part of ATF's tracing system......That being said, I've never heard of anyone being dinged for it......Rifles being rebarreled or shortened is one reason ATF now requires import marks on receivers......


    Do you have a reference or source to that? I can't find anything. I believe the firearm manufacture, type, caliber and serial number identify it, not who brought it into the country. Barrels are also commonly replaced on military imports for various reasons, mostly to get rid of those awful import stampings. [;)]



    GG......My source was a group of ATF JB's manning a booth at one of the local gun shows last year.....A few of us were bitchin' about how import marks ruin otherwise fine collectible milsurps.....They told us "IT'S THE LAW" (in their best authoritative voices) and told us not to be messin' with their marks........
  • dfletcherdfletcher Member Posts: 8,179 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by hicap47
    quote:Originally posted by GreatGuns
    quote:Originally posted by hicap47
    Technically, it's illegal to remove an importer's mark as it's part of ATF's tracing system......That being said, I've never heard of anyone being dinged for it......Rifles being rebarreled or shortened is one reason ATF now requires import marks on receivers......


    Do you have a reference or source to that? I can't find anything. I believe the firearm manufacture, type, caliber and serial number identify it, not who brought it into the country. Barrels are also commonly replaced on military imports for various reasons, mostly to get rid of those awful import stampings. [;)]



    GG......My source was a group of ATF JB's manning a booth at one of the local gun shows last year.....A few of us were bitchin' about how import marks ruin otherwise fine collectible milsurps.....They told us "IT'S THE LAW" (in their best authoritative voices) and told us not to be messin' with their marks........


    I wouldn't take that to the bank. They may be well intentioned, but laws can be complicated. That a type of imported firearm must have certain markings by law at the time of import or while in the possession of the FFL importer does not mean a subsequent nonlicensee (buyer) is prohibited from eliminating the markings. Further, "altering" or "obliterating" or "removing" are each distinct and different things. Just by way of example, it could be illegal to "obliterate" something, but still legal to remove it entirely.

    And none of those covers a simple barrel change.
  • Mr. PerfectMr. Perfect Member, Moderator Posts: 66,437 ******
    edited November -1
    I say turn it into an SBR and announce that you did on the forum.
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    And fiery auto crashes
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    While sifting through my ashes
    Some will fall in love with life
    And drink it from a fountain
    That is pouring like an avalanche
    Coming down the mountain
  • tr foxtr fox Member Posts: 13,856
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Mr. Perfect
    I say turn it into an SBR and announce that you did on the forum.


    If I followed your advice, in ten years or so (about the time I was released from prison) I strongly believe your conscience would start to haunt you.
  • tr foxtr fox Member Posts: 13,856
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by mark christian
    You will be reinstated in Ask The Experts on the day that all three moderators in that forum agree on allowing you back. Keep in mind that my two colleagues wanted you removed from the site and for me to lock your GB account. As an administrator I am inclined to follow staff suggestions but since it was over the holidays I was feeling generous (falling prey to the Christmas spirit ) and while you are persona non grata in ATE, your GB account remains active...For now [;)]




    Mr. Mark, I'll be good. Really, I promise I will be good. But you forgot to mention one party to that "ban the fox" decision. I, myself, asked to be banned and locked out of GB.com. But apparently my reputation has become so powerful all the administrators but you were afraid to mess with me. BTW, why the heck did you have to confer to both of the "colleague" (in red above) from your past to help you decide to ban me? I mean, just how obsessed are you about this "ban the fox" program that you felt a need to confer with your old college professors about me?

    Oh, and do you have any advice about removing the importer marks? [:o)]
  • mark christianmark christian Member Posts: 24,443 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I was under the impression that after our exchange of emails you were fine with the ATE staff verdict. Dragging it back up here in this forum does not increase the likelihood that your situation will ever change and instead increases my confidence that the correct decision was reached. I wish to hear no more of your plight; your status will remain as it is for the duration of your stay here on Gun Broker...Period.
  • tr foxtr fox Member Posts: 13,856
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by mark christian
    I was under the impression that after our exchange of emails you were fine with the ATE staff verdict. Dragging it back up here in this forum does not increase the likelihood that your situation will ever change and instead increases my confidence that the correct decision was reached. I wish to hear no more of your plight; your status will remain as it is for the duration of your stay here on Gun Broker...Period.


    You are a harsh. cruel man Mark Christian. But what about the importer mark removal?
  • nmyersnmyers Member Posts: 16,892 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Your research is mostly correct. It is legal to alter or remove importer information (name, city, state of importer, & any other information required by the Secretary) from an imported firearm.

    Imported firearms do not need to have an importer's serial number stamped unless the manufacturer's SN contains other than Arabic numbers. (Many Russian firearms have a Cyrillic letter as part of the serial number.) The importer's SN cannot be altered or removed.

    Neal
  • mlincolnmlincoln Member Posts: 5,039 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by tr fox
    quote:Originally posted by mark christian
    I was under the impression that after our exchange of emails you were fine with the ATE staff verdict. Dragging it back up here in this forum does not increase the likelihood that your situation will ever change and instead increases my confidence that the correct decision was reached. I wish to hear no more of your plight; your status will remain as it is for the duration of your stay here on Gun Broker...Period.


    You are a harsh. cruel man Mark Christian. But what about the importer mark removal?


    Ahhhh, I love the smell of foolishly baiting a guy trying to do you a favor in the morning. It smells like. . . idiocy.
  • Horse Plains DrifterHorse Plains Drifter Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 40,233 ***** Forums Admin
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by mark christian
    your status will remain as it is for the duration of your stay here on Gun Broker...Period.
    [^][^][^]
  • Mr. PerfectMr. Perfect Member, Moderator Posts: 66,437 ******
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by tr fox
    quote:Originally posted by Mr. Perfect
    I say turn it into an SBR and announce that you did on the forum.


    If I followed your advice, in ten years or so (about the time I was released from prison) I strongly believe your conscience would start to haunt you.
    don't bet on it.
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    And fiery auto crashes
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    While sifting through my ashes
    Some will fall in love with life
    And drink it from a fountain
    That is pouring like an avalanche
    Coming down the mountain
  • JnRockwallJnRockwall Member Posts: 16,352 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Is it me or are there getting to be more horses * than horses on GB?
  • Mr. PerfectMr. Perfect Member, Moderator Posts: 66,437 ******
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by JnRockwall
    Is it me or are there getting to be more horses * than horses on GB?
    many of the good horses got so fed up with the * they ended up getting the boot for their retaliation.
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    And fiery auto crashes
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    While sifting through my ashes
    Some will fall in love with life
    And drink it from a fountain
    That is pouring like an avalanche
    Coming down the mountain
  • Horse Plains DrifterHorse Plains Drifter Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 40,233 ***** Forums Admin
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Mr. Perfect
    quote:Originally posted by JnRockwall
    Is it me or are there getting to be more horses * than horses on GB?
    many of the good horses got so fed up with the * they ended up getting the boot for their retaliation.
    Yep
  • 1BigGuy1BigGuy Member Posts: 4,033 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
  • tr foxtr fox Member Posts: 13,856
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by nmyers
    Your research is mostly correct. It is legal to alter or remove importer information (name, city, state of importer, & any other information required by the Secretary) from an imported firearm.

    Imported firearms do not need to have an importer's serial number stamped unless the manufacturer's SN contains other than Arabic numbers. (Many Russian firearms have a Cyrillic letter as part of the serial number.) The importer's SN cannot be altered or removed.

    Neal


    Thanks Neal. Makes sense to me. Case closed
  • kristovkristov Member Posts: 6,633
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by tr fox

    Case closed


    Does anyone else find it strange that a member who was removed from a forum specifically for being told by the moderators that a subject was closed, but kept right on posting anyway, would say that?
  • mogley98mogley98 Member Posts: 18,291 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Fine but you better not ever get caught taking those labels of of pillows and such!
    Why don't we go to school and work on the weekends and take the week off!
  • bigoutsidebigoutside Member Posts: 19,443
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by kristov
    quote:Originally posted by tr fox

    Case closed


    Does anyone else find it strange that a member who was removed from a forum specifically for being told by the moderators that a subject was closed, but kept right on posting anyway, would say that?




    Strange?
    Nope.
    It's exactly what I would expect.

    It's a control issue. [;)]
  • tr foxtr fox Member Posts: 13,856
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by bigoutside
    quote:Originally posted by kristov
    quote:Originally posted by tr fox

    Case closed


    Does anyone else find it strange that a member who was removed from a forum specifically for being told by the moderators that a subject was closed, but kept right on posting anyway, would say that?




    Strange?
    Nope.
    It's exactly what I would expect.

    It's a control issue. [;)]


    Note to self: find more effective way of hiding that I am a controlling hypocrite.
  • bigoutsidebigoutside Member Posts: 19,443
    edited November -1
    Hypocrite?

    Never said that.




    But the fact that you posted on this thread again proves my point. [:D][:D]

    Try to go six months without digging up this thread.

    Just let it gracefully go to page 40. And die a simple death without another comment.
  • GrasshopperGrasshopper Member Posts: 17,042 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I went and tore my mattress label off to prove I am a rebel without a clue!! And I posted it here!! Cut the barrel!
  • tr foxtr fox Member Posts: 13,856
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by bigoutside
    Hypocrite?

    Never said that.




    But the fact that you posted on this thread again proves my point. [:D][:D]

    Try to go six months without digging up this thread.

    Just let it gracefully go to page 40. And die a simple death without another comment.






    Well.....ok, I'll try and go six months without......(damn! I just broke my promise) You tricked me, didn't you bigoutside!
  • nunnnunn Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,085 ******
    edited November -1
Sign In or Register to comment.