Commercial Mauser action

[Mac1978]

I have located a FN commercial action that I'm very interested in, however, the owner states it has no serial number on the front ring. There is a 4 digit number stamped in front of the recoil lug at the 4 o clock position,though. Is that the serial? I need some education on this one, please. Thanks!

 

[jonbearman]

Most if not all mausers have the serial on the right(looking from the front )side of the receiver ring. I seem to remember numeric arms selling unfinished recievers a long time ago and you had to do alittle machining to finish them up ,so they had no serial number. However it was up to you to serial number it like a home built rifle. This in my mind is a slippery slope and if I was you I would pass and just get a modern receiver and build on that unless some one else can elaborate on what legalities are involved.

 

[Mac1978]

Thats along the lines of what I was kinda thinking, too. The stamped number on it has me interested,though.

 

[jonbearman]

The way it is now is the serial number has to be in plain sight when the stock is on. It cant be obscured or hidden unless you could have someone put those numbers into the side of the receiver ring so it can be seen. I suppose you could have it lasered in but not stamped as the receiver is heat treated so a number stamp probably wont work.

 

[Mac1978]

Therefore making it more trouble than it is worth,being that it is out of state and has to be shipped to my FFL

 

[wapiti25]

Is it marked with the FN markings? or is it a commercial action that you think was made by FN?

 

[CatShooter]

There were many receivers without numbers way back "in the day"... they are grandfathered. On the form 4473, write "no number".

This is not unusual, and if you like the receiver, there is no reason to pass on it.

You can have a number etched on it if you like. There are carbide tipped tools that are cheap, that will do it.

 

[Mac1978]

Its a commercial action

 

[shortgrass]

Serial number weren't required by the government until the gun control act of 1968. Before that, the maker marked only if he thought he might want a record for his own use. Lots of firearms out there without serial numbers. Nothing unusual about it. Buy it if you want it, if not PM me with the sellers info! I might want it!

 

[Outrider27]

What CatShooter and shortgrass said. I see a couple of rifles a year cycle through my buddy's shop with no serial number. It is especially common in .22 RF rifles manufactured before GCA '68 - I still have my first, a single shot Winchester bought used by my grandfather in 1950 as a Christmas present for me, and it has no number. "No number" on the 4473 takes care of the legalities.

 

[swd]

It's pretty common to find pre 1968 commercial FN 98's with no serial number. I have 2.

 

[joshb]

I recently took a chance on an old FN action Varmint gun, in 22-250. My first run at load development produced some sub 1/2 in. Groups at 100. I felt pretty good about the old girl. Has 207 stamped on the left side, with the FN, made inBelgium Fabrique National.

 

[ab_bentley]

It's a similar deal to older shotguns having the SN stamped between the barrel and receiver. If it has a number stamped on the receiver, anywhere, use it as the serial. I have a few Mausers with the SN under the lug and nowhere else, those are what goes in the log and on the 4473 when it goes out.

Adam