Who puts their name on their guns.

[jmorris]

My first ~ $3000 pistol I had the ser# made our wedding date.

Told her I had to buy the pistol because it was fate....

 

[GEM]

If your gun as some collectible value - don't do it. Collectors want pristine guns. Unless you are someone truly famous, it drops in value. If it is a shooter, go ahead. I know that from experience of some used guns I bought and then later went to resell. A collector balked at the previous owner's engraving under the grips. .

 

[JONWILL]

I put my initials on a few BB guns when I was a kid. In fact I had a row of “notches” for my kills

Off topic, but not sure if anyone else remembers writing their social security numbers all over their TV’s and other expensive items to identify them in case they were stolen. Way before the internet

 

[.308 Norma]

Off topic, but not sure if anyone else remembers writing their social security numbers all over their TV’s and other expensive items to identify them in case they were stolen. Way before the internet

LOL! Yeah, I didn't do that myself, but I remember a few advocates of the practice. Nowadays, putting your SSN on an item likely to be stolen just seems like a good way to give it to a crook, thereby risking identity theft in addition to TV theft.

 

[HB]

Only an extremely short-sighted Goober who never wants to be able to sell it, and doesn't care whether his financially desperate widow or brother can sell it for cash to buy their critical pharmaceuticals.

Interesting take on identifying marks. Off topic but I’d hate to speculate on some members’ opinions on tattoos!

 

[tritonguy]

I have a least one AR that has my name on it. It's an SBR and my Trust name is my name. ATF said I had to put my name on it.

 

[mudstud]

Interesting take on identifying marks. Off topic but I’d hate to speculate on some members’ opinions on tattoos!

When I am considering purchasing a used gun, any indication of bubba going to work on same, is basically an automatic rejection. Chicken scratchings on guns for resale are a definite turn-off to the vast majority of buyers. Unless your name is Wyatt Earp or Annie Oakley, leave your name off! LOL. If you really care to know my opinion on tattoos, I'd be happy to oblige! LOL.

 

[HB]

When I am considering purchasing a used gun, any indication of bubba going to work on same, is basically an automatic rejection. Chicken scratchings on guns for resale are a definite turn-off to the vast majority of buyers. Unless your name is Wyatt Earp or Annie Oakley, leave your name off! LOL. If you really care to know my opinion on tattoos, I'd be happy to oblige! LOL.

I agree 100% on resale but calling somebody a short sighted goober is a little much. Most trap club guns have tags and I see no reason why a duty, ccw, or duck gun shouldn’t either. It seems people hold firearms to a higher standard than other metal objects.

 

[mudstud]

I agree 100% on resale but calling somebody a short sighted goober is a little much. Most trap club guns have tags and I see no reason why a duty, ccw, or duck gun shouldn’t either. It seems people hold firearms to a higher standard than other metal objects.

It's a free country! Live like you want to live! But, on the flip-side, I'm free not to purchase a used gun with someone's name scratched on to it as well! LOL! YMMV

 

[Lyle Wyatt]

Sam Colt, John Browning and Oliver Winchester did.

 

[hdbiker]

My friends father in law had a complete collection of model 12 Winchesters, every one. After he died the family discovered he had engrave his ID number in the side of all the receivers. SHOCK and shame on him. hddiker

 

[kimberkid]

With the exception of my NFA items I've not, however my dad carved his name and "phone # 99" (yeah, it's so old he had a 2 digit phone number, but they also lived in a small to\wn) in the stock of his Little Scout 22 ... I don't think it hurts the value though, the stock is chipped, the bore was shot out with steel shot 22's they used for birds, the handle on the block was replaced with a nail and even if you held the block in place the firing pin barely hits the rim so you might have to cock it 3-4 times befor it ignites

 

[vito]

Maybe I should engrave my guns with the names of famous people, like Abraham Lincoln, to add to the gun's value. Most everyone knows that Lincoln owned Glocks, so who would know?

 

[medalguy]

I have photographed all my guns for insurance purposes. I would never engrave any of my guns, but I have to say I have bought a couple of shooters in the past with engraved names and driver's licenses on them for pennies on the dollar of value. One was an early 92 Winchester.

 

[luger fan]

PLEASE don't. You may think you will be around for 150-175 years. You won't but a quality weapon will.

 

[3Crows]

I would never write or scribe my name in the gun metal or wood. I would record serial and possibly put a tag under the butt plate or in the stock. 3C

 

[Armored farmer]

To each, his own.
This one is my own. Lock, stock, and barrel.

 

[rhweb32]

Only my NFA firearms have my name, city and state engraved on them.

 

[splattergun]

I never put my name on them, but I have bought a couple that had the previous owner's name in an inconspicuous place... one, a shotgun with his name on the butt under the butt plate and the other a revolver, name inscribed on the grip frame under the grip scales.

A long time ago, my home owners insurance agent recommended inscribing SS numbers on tools and other items. I did that to a few items, but when ID theft came into vogue, I soon realized the danger of my SS number in the possession of a thief, so obliterated them.

In the event of theft I have all serial numbers recorded and photographs of all valuables.

I am considering RFID tags on certain items.

 

[George P]

Do you put your name on your guns? What all do you put on there? How do you do it?

The stuff I carry in the truck I just took a dremel to it and wrote my name on it. I’ve got some nicer bolt actions I’m not so sure I want to take a dremel to! It’s big enough on what I carry daily that hopefull the thief would see it and know they will have a hard time selling it.

I know some old timers that write
“stolen from Bob Smith TXDL 123456”

Took a Dremel? Seriously?......What's wrong with writing your name somewhere hidden like under grips or rifle buttplates?

 

[SamT1]

Took a Dremel? Seriously?......What's wrong with writing your name somewhere hidden like under grips or rifle buttplates?

Hidden doesn’t do anything to make someone think twice about stealing it. Why would you put the info under the butt plate? You can just use the serial to ID the thing if it happened to get found. (rare, good luck) I put it in plain sight so anyone who grabs it will instantly say $&?@ I cant sell this dang thing, hopefully they choose to leave it instead of commit a felony for nothing. If someone does take it you can call every gun shop you have time to and tell them hey if you see a gun with my name on it. It’s stolen. Otherwise you turn your serial into the PD and it most likely makes it into the system. Then maybe or maybe not does it ever get ran when said criminal parts with your gun. Shops don’t run serial numbers. I’ve had to surrender a stolen gun I bought from a pawn shop and that sucked real bad.

Professional engraving will just blend right in. So that’s almost as useless as hiding your name.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I picked up a Pietta '58 Remington with the last owner's name and nickname neatly engraved along the flats of the last two inches of the barrel on either side of the muzzle.
This pistol is about to get shortened by two inches.
I don't want my name or anyone else's names on my gun unless it has historical significance.

 

[czhen]

My first given rifle had my initials carved in the stocks, when I was kid. And, hobby started 53 years ago.

 

[Rogue909]

Depends on the gun. Hadn't thought about engraving.

I have a mini 30 that after much work I enjoy. Its not in perfect shape, has been shortened, filed, and it still has time to age. Odds of me selling it and being concerned about resale value is low. Odds of anyone else (wife/kids) selling it many years from now as an investment are nil.

I have a BLR in 7mm that comes out for deer season that I've "borrowed" from my dad. I like it but would rather have a .308/6.5 bolt. Won't engrave that...

Thinking of engraving the mini... Who will engrave the rifle profesionally? Not a big fan of using a nail...

 

[Sav .250]

lots to consider but for me it`s more of a personal action.