[milprileb]

Those are nice pistols, enjoy them as is.

 

[Jericho]

I have seen firearms with police case numbers engraved on the gun

 

[Clyde]

Yes, has the Waffenamt stamps.

Need to talk to somebody with more expertise on Walthers than I have about finish, but I wonder if it was plated after it changed sides. Not uncommon and one more artifact of its life IF it happened.

 

[TENMAN]

I suppose this is more of a rant than anything else, but always interested in others opinions and suggestions. We have two handguns that were inherited so value isn’t the highest priority since they will be handed down to our children and hopefully down to grandchildren. Anyway, we have both a Colt pocket hammerless and a WW2 German officer Walther PP that my wife’s father engraved his social security number into way back in the 70’s.. Back when that seemed to be the thing to do. 😫.

The Colt was engraved on the slide and the Walther on the front strap of the grip. Any thoughts as to options to remove the engraving. Again value isn’t the highest priority, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a factor either.

I bought a old Ruger Bearcat last year that had someones ssn engraved on it. The frame is aluminum and the engraving wasn't very deep so it buffed off fairly easy and I reblacked it. Turned out good.

 

[6thsf]

I feel the pain, own a beautiful matching #4T only completely matching one I have ever personally encountered and at some point someone electro penned their drivers licence number in literally dozens of highly visible places, sometimes in multiple places on the same part….

 

[satkinson]

SSN does no good anyway. No one, including the police, can run an SSN and get an identity. DL # makes more sense, if one is to do anything. Amazingly, the NY Times was wrong.

 

[fourbore]

I removed ss numbers from an old Winchester 97 and reblued. Three places. I did not ask anyone for permission or any opinions. I like what I like and hate what I hate. BTW, I purchased the gun super cheep cheep. NOBODY wants an engraved piece of junk like that.

If the OP has no strong opinion, then leave it. It will cost to make then right. But; if he feels like I do then, consider my advise and make then right. No true collector wants defaced crap like that anyway. You can only go up from where you are at now.

 

[Adler1944]

Leave it be. You can't undo what was done and be back to 100 percent original.

 

[mnmkeller]

My Enfield revolver has an ssn scratched onto the bottom of the trigger guard. I got it from an estate auction and the SSN was from the region of the auction so I presumed it likely was the property of the estate so to speak.

 

[Mike in Texas]

I thank everyone for the advice *both sides". To sum up my OP, these are family heirlooms and as such hold much more value to us than the actual monetary value. That being said I'm going to leave them as is, and not attempt any restoration on them...

 

[Thagomizer]

I have seen firearms with police case numbers engraved on the gun

I have seen this too. Until recently the Department auctioned off confiscated guns and all had a several digit number electric penciled on them.

 

[saki302]

If it's on blue, a good cold blue carefully applied with a sharp q-tip or toothpick will make it less visible without hurting a thing.

 

[Bjack]

Picked up an old Remington Sportmaster 341 a couple years ago and it has a SS # on the bottom of the trigger guard. I like guns that are unique and it does add some of that to it. Its part of the nostalgic history to the gun and makes me wonder who the previous owner or owners were. Funny how you could do that back then, when now we protect our SS #'s like they were our first born!

 

[SirWillyum]

If the number belonged to a deceased individual, it means nothing. Put the tinfoil hat away and enjoy the guns for their history.

Bill

 

[graymountain]

Please listen when it is recommended you leave them both alone. I made the mistake of not listening to such good advise when I was given one of my uncle's bring back from WW2. I knew I wanted it to look better and so I had it polished and reblued. I didn't care about the fact he had put his name, rank, serial number and date and place of capture on it. (My aunt did not keep the capture docs). I was 18. I'm now 77. I have regretted md my stupidity for half a century.

 

[captainkeough]

When NCIC came into being every item was entered by serial number. That eliminated the method of identifying a gun
by SSAN.

i could be wrong, but my understanding is that the NCIC purges the records after 20 years. I had a Carcano stolen in 1979 that was one of a kind. all the wood was intricately hand carved with hunting themes, and there were handmade silver badges inlaid in the butt stock and a silver plate in the forestock . It has never turned up.

 

[RaoulHayduke]

I bought a Siamese Mauser with one. The owner’s exact words were “I put my social on it because they used to say ‘Put your social on your guns in case they get stolen.’ Well, now they say ‘Don’t put your social on your guns…in case they get stolen!’”

 

[3L120]

Bought a German made Weatherby Mk V a hike back. A earlier owner did the DL engraving on it. Course, he also D&T it for a Weaver scopes side,ourt for some reason, ignoring the top mounts.

 

[Clyde]

SSN does no good anyway. No one, including the police, can run an SSN and get an identity. DL # makes more sense, if one is to do anything. Amazingly, the NY Times was wrong.

Not quite right. If you engraved it on a possession and it was then stolen AND you reported the loss and provided the number engraved on it, the NCIC report generated would note it had whatever you reported on it. Yes, trying to report it as "SSAN of CWH engraved" wouldn't help much, but "Has owner's SSAN of ABC-DE-FGHI", that would allow ID.

 

[soke jim]

I suppose this is more of a rant than anything else, but always interested in others opinions and suggestions. We have two handguns that were inherited so value isn’t the highest priority since they will be handed down to our children and hopefully down to grandchildren. Anyway, we have both a Colt pocket hammerless and a WW2 German officer Walther PP that my wife’s father engraved his social security number into way back in the 70’s.. Back when that seemed to be the thing to do. 😫.

The Colt was engraved on the slide and the Walther on the front strap of the grip. Any thoughts as to options to remove the engraving. Again value isn’t the highest priority, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a factor either.

cold blue ?? beg to differ. bad idea on any collectable.which is what you got. ppk esp should not be touched,respectfully