Serial Numbers Locations

[Slavic-Slav]

Out of curiosity, where do shotguns and rifles have their serial numbers? Also where does Ruger in their 10/22's place their serial numbers and where does Remington place their serial numbers in their 870's? I know that there are serial numbers on the receiver but are there serial numbers inside the receiver or the parts that the receiver houses or some other place on the firearm?

[ar15barrels]

Out of curiosity, where do shotguns and rifles have their serial numbers?
Also where does Ruger in their 10/22's place their serial numbers and where does Remington place their serial numbers in their 870's?
I know that there are serial numbers on the receiver but are there serial numbers inside the receiver or the parts that the receiver houses?

The serial number needs to be on the receiver.
You can put it multiple places if you like, but only one is required and that one needs to be on the receiver.

[Slavic-Slav]

The serial number needs to be on the receiver.
You can put it multiple places if you like, but only one is required and that one needs to be on the receiver.

But do gun manufacturers usually place serial numbers in other areas?

[ar15barrels]

But do gun manufacturers usually place serial numbers in other areas?

They can if they want but it's not required.
Only the receiver must be serialized.

Glock serializes the frame which is the receiver as well as the slide and the barrel.
You can freely swap the slide and barrel as neither of those are THE firearm.
The frame remains the firearm even if you remove every other part from it.

The same rules apply to all types of firearms such as rifles and shotguns.

[SVT-40]

But do gun manufacturers usually place serial numbers in other areas?

Not US gun makers.

Serial numbers on firearms must be on the outside of the guns receiver. And must not be covered by any other part of the gun.

[morrcarr67]

Out of curiosity, where do shotguns and rifles have their serial numbers? Also where does Ruger in their 10/22's place their serial numbers and where does Remington place their serial numbers in their 870's? I know that there are serial numbers on the receiver but are there serial numbers inside the receiver or the parts that the receiver houses or some other place on the firearm?

Here you go:

[sfe187]

Are you asking if gun makers secretly put serial numbers elsewhere so it can be identity later by say LE/investigators?

[M1NM]

No secret numbers I've ever seen. "matching" numbers generally refers to old C&R guns that were built/assembled in a time when the manufacturing process was not as accurate and parts were massaged to fit individual guns.
The only oddball serial number location I can think of is the Ruger Auto pistol series - Standard to MK IV. The serial number is on the upper that contains the barrel and tube for the bolt.

[ar15barrels]

The only oddball serial number location I can think of is the Ruger Auto pistol series - Standard to MK IV.
The serial number is on the upper that contains the barrel and tube for the bolt.

That "tube" as you are calling it is the receiver.
The receiver on most guns is the part that "receives" the barrel, bolt, fire control parts, magazine and the grip/stock.
On split-receiver guns such as the AR or FAL, the manufacturer chooses which one that they are going to call the receiver and serializes that part.
As you can see in the case of the AR, the lower receiver was chosen but in the case of the FAL, SCAR and Ruger MK series pistols, the upper receiver was chosen.
Most manufacturers choose the part where the barrel and bolt goes to be the receiver.
The AR is an anomaly in this regard.

[Quiet]

They can if they want but it's not required.
Only the receiver must be serialized.

Glock serializes the frame which is the receiver as well as the slide and the barrel.
You can freely swap the slide and barrel as neither of those are THE firearm.
The frame remains the firearm even if you remove every other part from it.

The same rules apply to all types of firearms such as rifles and shotguns.

European firearm manufacturers mark serial numbers on slides and barrels, because those parts are a controlled items under EU firearm laws.

[Dirk Tungsten]

Are you asking if gun makers secretly put serial numbers elsewhere so it can be identity later by say LE/investigators?

Yeah, it might prove helpful if someone was looking to figure out where US firearms illicitly shipped to a warzone came from. Like say, people looking into guns shipped to say, Ukraine, in contravention of the law.

[BlueOvalBandit]

No secret numbers I've ever seen.

There are a few manufacturers that hide serials and you have to cut up parts to get to them. But I wont post who they are.

[Temecula_Komrad]

There are some older side-by-side and over-under shotguns that appear to not have serial numbers. You have to take the fore end off, and you'll sometimes find all three parts are numbered - the barrels, receiver, and fore end. The fore end is a sometimes.

[bohoki]

on my 10/22s its on the left side of the receiver in the front

[pohorsky]

Some browning shotguns have them on the trigger guard.