Mr. Sabato...
You bring up some very good points. The liability issue is a biggie, but I think it can be overcome. The site itself can be protected by a caveat stating that entries are made by the victim/owners and are in no way connected to the site or the site's owners... etc... typical disclaimer information. You could also require the owner/victim to provide a photo if possible and/or purchase documentation. You do not have to allow just anyone to put their information on. You could restrict it to those with researchable documentation of ownership. (just some ideas).
About the serial numbers, correct me if I'm wrong... I am fairly new to the Luger research, but I understood the serial numbers begin at 1 and go through 9,999 or 10,000 (debated)without a suffix and then start back at 1a-9,999a (or 10,000a) etc. Then on top of that the Manufacturers mark would identify it further. Meaning each manufacturer serial numbered the same way so the M/M would technically become part of the identifier of the gun as well as would the year of manufacture.
Therefore, if the gun in question was a 1938 .9mm with a M/M of S42 and S/N 5102 this would identify the gun uniquely.
That is the information for the gun I was talking about. The victim/owner's father took it from a German Officer during the war. The only documentation he has for it is the U.S. Customs paperwork that allowed him to bring it back into the U.S. in 1946. There was no suffix on the serial number on these documents.
The gun had all 5 parts with the same S/N (6 if you include the matching magazine that was in it). The only issue with the weapon was that the Victim/Owner's father had it Nickel plated sometime after it was brought back here. The weapon was stolen in it's brown leather holster.
I work in law enforcement and yes the prospective purchasers can request any local law enforcement to run the guns through NCIC prior to purchase. However, that is not always an option or accessible at the time.
(JIM, thanks for the offer, but we are not looking to buy a gun we are looking to recover one. We know the numbers will come up stolen, since he requested they be put there. That was very decent of you to try to help.
I think that is why I put the suggestion out there. You guys seem so much more like a family than a website. You seem so banded together. It just seems as if more legal gun owners banded together in some fashion it might help. I mean, if it stopped one theft or stolen sale transaction it would be worth it, right?
There are so many of us that are proud of our weapons and our rights to carry them. And there are those that are only out for themselves and what they can profit. It is these people that are slowly taking our rights away from us.
Ok.... I will get off my soapbox, I'm done....
Thanks for letting me vent a little at the end...
Sandi