New serial number on historical gun??

[yoshie]

I'm looking at buying a Mauser 1914 pistol from WA. The serial number doesn't line up with anything in any of the online information I've found. I've asked the seller what up with the serial number as I have to date the pistol for my PTA. They have said that it's a WAPOL issued serial number and that WAPOL previously wouldn't allow double up serial numbers on their databases, and the old number was scrubbed off. I just wanted to see if anyone had heard of this or had first hand experience with this issue. Secondly whats you're thoughts on a collectable pistol that's been modified, serial numbers are a big part of historical collecting. Thanks

[No1Mk3]

I'm looking at buying a Mauser 1914 pistol from WA. The serial number doesn't line up with anything in any of the online information I've found. I've asked the seller what up with the serial number as I have to date the pistol for my PTA. They have said that it's a WAPOL issued serial number and that WAPOL previously wouldn't allow double up serial numbers on their databases, and the old number was scrubbed off. I just wanted to see if anyone had heard of this or had first hand experience with this issue. Secondly whats you're thoughts on a collectable pistol that's been modified, serial numbers are a big part of historical collecting. Thanks

Yes, I have 3 handguns with replacement VicPol numbers, 1 for the reason you outline, 1 for never having had a serial number before (a common practice in early days) and 1 for having a number in a foreign script which prior owners could not decipher. I also have a couple of rifles that don't match reality, a Siamese where the Siamese characters were mis-interpreted and a Persian allocated another number for the same reason. As for the effect on collectability, it depends on what it is, many Service handguns were given rack numbers in addition to their serial and over time have been registered to the rack number instead of the serial (I have a Lithgow 303 registered to the bolt number instead of the serial on the action!!), Your Mauser 1914 is not so rare as to warrant any loss of value due to the re-number, even though an original number would be nicer I would pay the same for either one. Unit markings are another thing altogether, I pay premiums for particular Unit markings.

[No1Mk3]

PS: All M1914 are pre-47 so a particular date is not required

[yoshie]

Thanks. I think I'll go ahead with buying it. I'm in QLD and I've had issues with QLD weapons licensing and dating my first 2 pre 47 pistol (not enough documentation). Most of the hold up was around serial numbers and not having accurate dates. I'll be able to date this one pretty accurately

[alexjones]

I assume you are talking about a collector licence? Mention in your permit application that providing a correct date of manufacture is difficult due to graffiti of the original serial number so ongoing continuous research of the proof marks will be needed as I have a prolonged and genuine interest in the study preservation and collection of “insert model name” blah blah blah get poetic with it. It was used in both world wars etc etc etc. Mauser fits my theme of big small arm manufactures of the 20th century etc etc etc.

Just get poetic and send pages and pages of information. The more you inundate them with information the less likely they are to read it and they will just approve the permit as they can see you are genuine in your research.