Regarding the Win 21 serial problem:

Doc

I pray the moderators to forgive me for bringing this up after the original thread was locked but some bad info was offered and needs to be clarified.

Yes, before 1968 the law didn't require serial numbers. But most good quality guns had them and certainly all Winchester Model 21s had them.

It's illegal to remove any number regardless of when the gun was made. If the gun had a number, even before 1968, it's illegal to remove it, even if done before 1968.

Raising or finding the original number will only help if you can PROVE legal ownership. The ATF will help in restamping the serial if it can be determined BUT they only do this when they know for a fact that the gun isn't stolen. Usually they help owners who recover stolen guns when the criminals erased the serials while they had them.

Can you prove this gun isn't stolen? Maybe you didn't steal it, and maybe your ganddad didn't steal it, but I'd bet a doughnut to a monkey that SOMEBODY stole it at some point and that's why the serial was filed off. Stupid crooks do that not realizing it screams I'M STOLEN.

You can contact ATF but I'm pretty sure that they will want the gun. You can try to sell the parts and trash the receiver. You can keep the gun and keep your mouth shut. You can find a 21 with bent barrels and a broken stock for cheap and swap your parts onto the frame. Those are your options.

chickenhawk8

Hey Friend.....Well I tried doing something different and tell me if this helps. I took apart the trigger guard from the wood stock and found some numbers.....23862....can this be the serial #? Can I get it restamped....is there a website I can trace this to? I didn't steal it and my granddad was a godfearing honest man....I know he didn't steal it and do believe the story that he bought it off some one....possibly that did steal it. I don't know it was in Alabama in the 40's or 50's. See if this helps. thanks amigo.

Doc

Like I said, determining the serial will only help if you can prove beyond a doubt to the ATF that you are the legal owner. That means the gun was never stolen and sold to an unsuspecting buyer. The problem is how do you prove it? Also, the filed serial is proof that the gun is stolen.

Do what you think is best. I already told you what I think your options are.

bobski

sometimes new receivers were replaced and restruck to match a damaged gun. if all the serial numbers on the small parts match, odds are that is the serial to the gun. question is...how did a receiver get past being restamped?
grind marks and filing is the dead giveaway for stolen guns; but, sometimes high grade guns that are to receive expensive engraving are polished smooth to make engraving easier and then just restruck later. could the gun have been preped to receive engraving and it was never done?

turtles11756

the cody firearms museum has production records on model 21 winchesters www.waca.org no way it left winchester without number

turtles11756

www.winchestercollector.org should take to contact for cody museum