Canadian gun serial numbers - The Firearms Forum

doubleslover · 12-05-2010, 02:18 PM

I know that the US gun act of 1968 required all firearms to have serial numbers. Does anyone know when serial numbers became required for Canadian firearms. I would have thought it would have been the same time but I have seen on different forums where people implied they bought guns in the 70's in Canada that have no serial number. I was under the impression that guns in Canada were required to have serial numbers before that.

Old Grump · 12-05-2010, 04:23 PM

All Canadian guns were supposed to be registered by 2003. If they didn't have a serial number then they were issued a FIN, Firearm Identification Number with their paperwork. Depending on the gun that number had to be put on the gun, the registrar should have been able to tell you whether that particular gun required one or not and where it should be put if it did. I know of no law requiring serial numbers on Canadian guns but new guns now have them so its a moot point and grandfathered guns don't need them as long as they have a FIN.

Jim K · 12-05-2010, 04:30 PM

Just to clarify, the US federal law requires that all NEW guns made in the US or imported must have serial numbers, but older guns without serial numbers can be bought and sold with no restrictions. If the gun is bought or sold by a dealer, he just enters "Pre-1968, no SN" in his records. In some US jurisdictions that require registration (e.g., New York), the police will assign a serial number which must be put on by stamping or an electric pencil. Some valuable collectors pieces have been damaged because police refused to accept that they were antiques and hammered a number into them.

Jim

deadin · 12-05-2010, 06:41 PM

Just to clairify... Pre-68 guns without serial numbers are legal as long as they never had a serial number. One with a removed serial is a no-no.

doubleslover · 12-07-2010, 02:10 PM

Yes, I am familiar with the Canadian gun registration process and the identification numbers they issue if the gun doesn't have a serial number. Most of the guns that don't have the serial numbers are older guns before 1968. Why I was wondering if there was a set date that serial numbers began in Canada is because like the US, I often hear someone trying to date a gun here and they will say "well it must have been before 1968 as it doesn't have a serial number." Next time I will hear someone say "I bought it new in the 70's and it doesn't have a serial number." So I was just trying to determine if there was a timeline that Canada required serial numbers. Nowadays, I know that all guns have serial numbers. I tried to google for info but I couldn't find an answer. But I guess if Canada didn't require serial numbers by a set date, that's why I couldn't find it. I just thought Canada would have been like the US in requiring all guns be serial numbered.

grcsat · 12-07-2010, 02:27 PM

Hi, All firearms in Canada that had a barrel shorter than 16 inches had to have a serial no. starting in 1924. in order to be legal.
As for long guns the rifle or shotgun had to have a serial no. by 1968.

Please note I said legal. A lot of firearms did come into Canada without serial no.s during the 1960s and just passed through the system due to our VERY liberal laws at the time. Today anything that goes bang , even BB guns must have a serial no. This will soon apply to crossbows.

F***** liberals.

doubleslover · 12-08-2010, 01:11 PM

I had a suspicion that we would have followed the US.

grcsat · 12-08-2010, 02:35 PM

Yea sadly its true. Seems no matter what the US proves to be a falure,our government thinks that it can make a few changes and Canadian politicians can prove the US wrong.

After all, we were told by a Cal. govener that the Brady Bill didn't work. So what did we do? Modifyed the **** out of it to prove they were wrong and look at the mess it's caused.

All I can say is F***** Liberals.

PS. you may have noticed I don't like the Liberals

The_Guv · 12-08-2010, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grcsat

Yea sadly its true. Seems no matter what the US proves to be a falure,our government thinks that it can make a few changes and Canadian politicians can prove the US wrong.

After all, we were told by a Cal. govener that the Brady Bill didn't work. So what did we do? Modifyed the **** out of it to prove they were wrong and look at the mess it's caused.

All I can say is F***** Liberals.

PS. you may have noticed I don't like the Liberals

Who DOES like liberals? Certainly not me ....... as a resident of Ontario, I've learned to dislike Liberals heavily

12-05-2010, 02:18 PM	#1
doubleslover V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 213	Canadian gun serial numbers I know that the US gun act of 1968 required all firearms to have serial numbers. Does anyone know when serial numbers became required for Canadian firearms. I would have thought it would have been the same time but I have seen on different forums where people implied they bought guns in the 70's in Canada that have no serial number. I was under the impression that guns in Canada were required to have serial numbers before that. -->

12-05-2010, 04:23 PM	#2
Old Grump Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Little hut in the woods near Blue River Wisconsin Posts: 2,320	Re: Canadian gun serial numbers All Canadian guns were supposed to be registered by 2003. If they didn't have a serial number then they were issued a FIN, Firearm Identification Number with their paperwork. Depending on the gun that number had to be put on the gun, the registrar should have been able to tell you whether that particular gun required one or not and where it should be put if it did. I know of no law requiring serial numbers on Canadian guns but new guns now have them so its a moot point and grandfathered guns don't need them as long as they have a FIN. __________________ "When once a republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil."~~- Thomas Jefferson Roman Catholic, Life Member of American Legion, VFW, Wisconsin Libertarian party, Wi-FORCE, WGO, NRA, JPFO, GOA, SAFand CCRKBA

12-05-2010, 04:30 PM	#3
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: Canadian gun serial numbers Just to clarify, the US federal law requires that all NEW guns made in the US or imported must have serial numbers, but older guns without serial numbers can be bought and sold with no restrictions. If the gun is bought or sold by a dealer, he just enters "Pre-1968, no SN" in his records. In some US jurisdictions that require registration (e.g., New York), the police will assign a serial number which must be put on by stamping or an electric pencil. Some valuable collectors pieces have been damaged because police refused to accept that they were antiques and hammered a number into them. Jim

12-05-2010, 06:41 PM	#4
deadin Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 867	Re: Canadian gun serial numbers Just to clairify... Pre-68 guns without serial numbers are legal as long as they never had a serial number. One with a removed serial is a no-no.

12-07-2010, 02:10 PM	#5
doubleslover V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 213	Re: Canadian gun serial numbers Yes, I am familiar with the Canadian gun registration process and the identification numbers they issue if the gun doesn't have a serial number. Most of the guns that don't have the serial numbers are older guns before 1968. Why I was wondering if there was a set date that serial numbers began in Canada is because like the US, I often hear someone trying to date a gun here and they will say "well it must have been before 1968 as it doesn't have a serial number." Next time I will hear someone say "I bought it new in the 70's and it doesn't have a serial number." So I was just trying to determine if there was a timeline that Canada required serial numbers. Nowadays, I know that all guns have serial numbers. I tried to google for info but I couldn't find an answer. But I guess if Canada didn't require serial numbers by a set date, that's why I couldn't find it. I just thought Canada would have been like the US in requiring all guns be serial numbered.

12-07-2010, 02:27 PM	#6
grcsat V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: far,far,North Posts: 377	Re: Canadian gun serial numbers Hi, All firearms in Canada that had a barrel shorter than 16 inches had to have a serial no. starting in 1924. in order to be legal. As for long guns the rifle or shotgun had to have a serial no. by 1968. Please note I said legal. A lot of firearms did come into Canada without serial no.s during the 1960s and just passed through the system due to our VERY liberal laws at the time. Today anything that goes bang , even BB guns must have a serial no. This will soon apply to crossbows. F***** liberals. Last edited by grcsat; 12-07-2010 at 02:41 PM.. Reason: misspelled F**** Liberals*

12-08-2010, 01:11 PM	#7
doubleslover V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 213	Re: Canadian gun serial numbers I had a suspicion that we would have followed the US.

12-08-2010, 02:35 PM	#8
grcsat V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: far,far,North Posts: 377	Re: Canadian gun serial numbers Yea sadly its true. Seems no matter what the US proves to be a falure,our government thinks that it can make a few changes and Canadian politicians can prove the US wrong. After all, we were told by a Cal. govener that the Brady Bill didn't work. So what did we do? Modifyed the ** out of it to prove they were wrong and look at the mess it's caused. All I can say is F*** Liberals. PS. you may have noticed I don't like the Liberals Last edited by grcsat; 12-08-2010 at 02:40 PM..