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#1 |
User
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: NorthWest USA
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Hello everyone! Just found you guys and registered yesterday. What a great site this is! I've been reading old threads and FAQs for hours but so far haven't stumbled across a big question I have.
Serial numbers and detailed pictures of Lugers are seen freely here - maybe I'm just paranoid but aren't you concerned that someone could use this information to lay claim to your pistol saying it was stolen from them or a relative, even 50 years ago? For example I doubt many of us really know the history of a 60+ year old Luger unless you personally removed it from a German soldier. Even the stories about the one grampa brought home could be "embellished" - maybe it actually was won in a poker game. And certainly it's next to impossible to know the ownership history of a Luger you've bought. With today's technology it seems to be possible to forge a "stolen property" report dated 20, 30, 50 years ago of your Luger. Heck, maybe it's even a genuine report because I bet a lot of our Lugers were stolen somewhere along the line! Just no way to know the past of most Lugers. One of my Lugers was purchased in a pawn shop over thirty years ago, the other ten years ago in a private sale. So I can't be sure of their past. I'd like to post pictures and info but am fearful at this time. If someone stepped forward and had a legitimate claim to my Luger I'd feel obligated to return it but what about a 1957 stolen Luger report from B. Fife in Mayberry, NC? (No disrespect, I was born in a little town in NC!) Anyway, if this has been discussed before, sorry to bring it up again but I'd sure like your opinions on this. |
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#2 |
Lifer
Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002
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To even begin to establish that a pistol was stolen, a police report would be required. Such a police report would have to also predate any evidence you have that the pistol was rightfully in your possesion. Such evidence could be a cancled check, buyer's receipt, C&R record, your own personal gun diary or a posting on this website.
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#3 |
Lifer
Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Kentucky
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Geoge is correct. Anything is possible, but there would need to be proof (sufficient fo court use) that it once belonged to a third person and proof (sufficient for court use) that it was dis-honestly separated from them before you acquired it. If a police report was involved, it would have to be certified. A mere photo copy of something would not be sufficient.
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charlie |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: NorthWest USA
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Guess I'm really thinking of valuable items, my Lugers probably aren't worth enough for someone to go to the trouble - so thanks, you have calmed my fears! Somewhat... :icon107:
Still, for a piece worth tens of thousands of dollars or more it's within the realm of possibility. I'm sure a bona fided looking police report can be crafted and placed in archieves in one of the thousands of police districts around the world. Sure wouldn't be fun! |
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#5 |
Lifer
Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Aug 2002
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I have, in three instances, posted pictures of three of my pistols that are worth more than $10,000 each (ie: a Hi-Power with serial no. 1, or a prototype Hi-Power that has a barrel bushing like the Colt 1911).
I have had displays at some gun shows over the years where these three and others were more than that amount and the serial number was visible and set forth in the handouts that I gave. I have no worries and sleep sound at night. (The only thing that bothered me was that I would have an accident on the way to or from the gun show, but then I have insurance so it would not be a total loss.) Everything is possible. Perhaps the moon will crash into the earth. It is possible as the moon could be knocked out of orbit.
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charlie |
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#6 |
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: CT & FL
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Law enforcement agencies that run a Luger's serial number through the NCIC system will often get a "hit" based upon the serial number that it was stolen. The serial numbers on Lugers are repeated many times during the 42 years they were made, so the one that was stolen and reported to the police years ago may not be the one in question.
Most Lugers that are reported stolen often do not have the letter suffix included with the serial number in the report or the computer system, nor do they have the chamber date if military. Many owners and the investigating police officers do not realize the importance of this identifying information [the suffix letter]. Most Lugers and P-38s in the NCIC system do not even have the manufacturer's name, as nobody but collectors can understand the letter codes. Checking directly with the police agency that submitted the stolen report to NCIC, they often do not have this basic info in their original complaint record. I am sure that many of guns have been sold from reputable gun shops, that do not specialize in German military weapons, where the correct letter suffix was not included in the required paperwork, if a suffix was recorded at all. A lot of folks, including collectors cannot accuratly read which lower case German script letter was stamped onto the gun. It is very important that collectors of German military Lugers, P-38s, K98k rifles record the manufacturer's name, the chamber date and the suffix letter, along with the serial number and keep it in a safe location. lew, I don't think you have much to worry about concerning someone making a claim that the Luger you currently own was stolen from them and they have the detailed police documentation to prove it. Joe
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It is better to have lived a day as a tiger, then a thousand years as a lamb. |
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