Legal question on Barrel markings.

[joshb]

I picked up a barreled action at my local gun shop. The barrel was not marked as to cartridge or caliber. The owner/ gunsmith said that was “illegal”. He didn’t give me any real grief about it but it stuck in my mind. This will be the first gun I own that isn’t marked.......yet.
My curious mind yearns for an answer on the “legality” issue. I know it’s not smart!
Josh

 

[jepp2]

This will be the first gun I own that isn’t marked.......yet.

All my prefits have no markings. Never know where the barrel is going to headspace. They etch the caliber on the breech end of the barrel, but once in the action you can't see it.

 

[SKWERLZ]

Possibly for factory/manufacturers installed barrels?

none of my barrels have markings.

 

[SSL]

I picked up a barreled action at my local gun shop. The barrel was not marked as to cartridge or caliber. The owner/ gunsmith said that was “illegal”. He didn’t give me any real grief about it but it stuck in my mind. This will be the first gun I own that isn’t marked.......yet.
My curious mind yearns for an answer on the “legality” issue. I know it’s not smart!
Josh

Not sure of the 'legality of it. As mentioned, if it started life as a blank the manufacturer wouldn't know what the chambering would be anyway. Ethics, yes. Illegal, I doubt it. Serial number on an action would be a different matter.
Besides, I saw a Winchester M70 a friend picked up that was stamped
.222 Remington. Wouldn't fire so he had me look at it. Turned out it was actually a .223 Remington. No idea if it came from the factory that way or had the barrel set back and rechambered without re-stamping. More dangerous than NO barrel markings.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

No requirements at all for markings on a barrel. The action is a different story and theres specs on how thats done

 

[Bill Rodolph]

I would like to point out Title 27, CFR Chapter II; Part 478-Commerce in Firearms and Ammunition.

Go to Subpart F-Conduct of Business. Under 478.92, talks about the marking and serialization, paragraph ii at the end "Additional Information includes: (B) The caliber or gauge"

This is found in the book ATF gives you when you get your license "Federal Firearms Regulations Reference Guide"

Since the barrel can be changed, it makes sense to me that the barrel is the part that needs to be marked.

 

[jelenko]

But, it doesn't say it's required to be on the barrel, yes?

 

[tobnpr]

Barrels need to be marked with caliber.
All prefits are stamped on the breech end.

478.92 specifically references "licensed manufacturers and licensed importers".
So, this is a bit of a gray area for a smith that has an 01, in my opinion.

In addition to the SN engraved on the receiver, "additional information" on the "frame, receiver or barrel" must contain: model, caliber/gauge, name/city/state of operation.

For those of us with 07's, it's black and white.

May or may not be "illegal" if no caliber engraved by an 01 smith, but it's certainly a common sense safety requirement. Without an engraving, a chamber cast is required to know the chambering.

 

[K9TXS]

Back in the 50's or 60's, whenever Savage first made the .22/.410 over/under, my barrel had no markings at all. The action itself does not even have a serial number. The brochure that came with it told what caliber/gauge it was.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Back in the 50's or 60's, whenever Savage first made the .22/.410 over/under, my barrel had no markings at all. The action itself does not even have a serial number. The brochure that came with it told what caliber/gauge it was.

Maybe back then it wasn't required.

 

[shortgrass]

GCA of '68 was when serial numbers became a requirement, I believe

 

[wkdickinson]

I've onl

Barrels need to be marked with caliber.
All prefits are stamped on the breech end.

478.92 specifically references "licensed manufacturers and licensed importers".
So, this is a bit of a gray area for a smith that has an 01, in my opinion.

In addition to the SN engraved on the receiver, "additional information" on the "frame, receiver or barrel" must contain: model, caliber/gauge, name/city/state of operation.

For those of us with 07's, it's black and white.

May or may not be "illegal" if no caliber engraved by an 01 smith, but it's certainly a common sense safety requirement. Without an engraving, a chamber cast is required to know the chambering.

Criterion laser-etches the cartridge on their pre-fit barrels "radially", so no matter where the barrel ends up headspace-wise, you can read it.

 

[PRR1957]

I’ve seen plenty of AR barrels that are not marked or if anything, they mite just have the rifling rate of twist. I can’t say this is the main reason, but there have been quite a few AR 223 Rem./5.56 barrels that had a 300 Blackout bullet try to transit the tube. Makes for an interesting day at the gun range. Only if you’re four or so benches away from the excitement.

 

[tobnpr]

^^^
Fair point- but remember- AR lowers are mostly engraved "Cal 5.56", as are factory rifles- so they are engraved on the receiver. Those that are engraved "Multi Cal", should have the barrel engraved.

I guarantee you won't find a factory rifle that doesn't have either the receiver or barrel engraved- whether 5.56, .300 Blackout, 9mm, or anything else. I've never seen an AR barrel in anything other than 5.56 not be engraved, it's the "default" for the AR platform- for many years, it was all there was commercially.

 

[Ggmac]

Receiver markings were only required on post 1968 receivers . Many commercial mausers and 22s , including British ( which have the ser num on barrel up to a certain date ) and german post war guns had scrubed receivers by the gunsmith . I have many FN single shot commercial receivers without ser numbers and have only recently had an issue. It seems the Atfe has modified the 4473 when they went digital, and eliminated the choice of none as the ser number .
Barrel cal markings are required by gunsmiths now , I think .

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Receiver markings were only required on post 1968 receivers . Many commercial mausers and 22s , including British ( which have the ser num on barrel up to a certain date ) and german post war guns had scrubed receivers by the gunsmith . I have many FN single shot commercial receivers without ser numbers and have only recently had an issue. It seems the Atfe has modified the 4473 when they went digital, and eliminated the choice of none as the ser number .
Barrel cal markings are required by gunsmiths now , I think .

Whats the regulations on shipping one of those old actions for service with no ser no?

 

[Papa Charlie]

Whats the regulations on shipping one of those old actions for service with no ser no?

I wonder if they come under the collector firearm conditions at that point?

 

[Walt Krafft]

If it is pre-68 NSN is the serial number I use in my bound book.

 

[joshb]

I wonder if they come under the collector firearm conditions at that point?

Old school ghost gun.

 

[tobnpr]

I wonder if they come under the collector firearm conditions at that point?

I get in old milsurps for work all the time.
After the GCA 1968, importers used less conspicuous import markings- usually on the barrel.
In 2002, depth requirement of .003 added and they were made more conspicuous on the receivers.

I've had many pre-02 imports that had no S/N, and they're logged in as such. Sometimes I'll get just the stripped receiver- no barrel, so no importer, and no S/N either.