Black Powder Pistols. 23. Pellet Pistols and BB Guns. 26. Luger, PO8 and P-38 Identification. 28. Completion/Entry of. 35. License to Purchase/Pistol Sales
48 pages
80 KB – 48 Pages
PAGE – 2 ============
Table of Contents Acknowledgements 2 Introduction 2 Revolvers 4 Semiautomatic Pistols 12 Derringers 19 Four or More Barrels 20 Single-Shot Pistols 21 Black Powder Pistols 23 Pellet Pistols and BB Guns 26 Luger, PO8 and P-38 Identification 28 Completion/Entry of 35 License to Purchase/Pistol Sales Record Firearms Terminology 3 6 1
PAGE – 3 ============
Acknowledgements The Michigan State Police would like to thank t he numerous employees of the Firearms Records Unit, both past and present who have contributed to this compilation of information. A special thank you is due to the Royal Canadian Mounted Poli ce who graciously appr oved the use of most of the photographs used in this book. Introduction The purpose of this guide is to aid Michigan law enforcement agencies in the accurate identification of firearms and to make their de scriptions compatible with the State Central Gun Files and the Automated Pistol Registration System when they ar e registered, entered as stolen, or queried. To accomplish this, officers and clerical suppor t staff should understand the components of an accurate firearm description, and how they are coded in the system. These components are: Make, Caliber, Type, Serial Number, Model, and Shot (for revolvers [PR] and derringers [PD]). The first rule is : GET THE DESCRIPTION FROM THE WEAPON. Most errors are the result of copying handwriting from one document to another. MAKE (MAK) A correct make code is essential to retrieve in formation from the system and is often the most difficult component to identify. An NCIC code manual is essential, as there are hundreds of make codes. They often don™t seem logical, such as the code for Bersa (AEI). Don™t guess. Read the pistol carefully; differences like American Derr inger Corp. versus American Derringer Co. require different codes. The most perplexing problems arise in coding impo rted pistols, which can have as many as four different makers marked on one gun. The general rule is to use the original maker rather than an importer. One importer may assemble guns of the same caliber and serial number from different original makers such as Interarms Star (STA) and Helwan (MDI), both having seven-digit serial numbers on 9mm semi-automatic pistols (PI). This book lists some of the common makes. It al so lists some of the common errors seen by the Firearms Records Unit. To use this book, locate the make of the firearm. The NCIC make code will be in parenthesis after the manufacturer of the gun. This listing is not all inclusive. For make codes not listed here, refer to the NCIC manual. CALIBER (CAL) Calibers are expressed in ei ther a decimal fraction of an inch (.357) or millimeter (7.65). Caliber is entered in the system as a number only, without punctuation or mm. Although, 6.35mm is equivalent to 25 cal., if 6.35mm appears on the pistol , enter as 635. Always use the marking that appears on the pistol. However, a 9mm is not the same as a .380 cal.; a 9mm kurz (short) is. 2
PAGE – 4 ============
TYPE (TYP) There are relatively few fitypesfl of pistols. The most common are: PR- revolvers PI- semi-automatic pistols PD- derringers PS- single-shot pistols (usually target pistol s, which are not pocket-size like derringers) PG- pellet pistols PU- black-powder pistols PO- over-under pistol (e.g., 22 and 410 cal) QP- pistol-grip shotgun Types codes also apply to long guns (e.g., RB–bolt-action rifle, SP–pump shotgun) when entering them as stolen or listing for forfei ture. The complete type code table can be found in Section 3 of the NCIC Code Manual. SERIAL NUMBER (SER) The correct serial number is the key to accessin g any information in the system. It is what makes a particular pistol unique. It is important to dist inguish the serial number from the patent number, lot number or part number; but there is no simple rule for all pistols. One must also take care not to enter letters as numbers or vice versa (I™s as 1™s or 5™s as S™s, etc.) in a serial number. The following sections will provide descriptio ns of the most troublesome examples. MODEL (MOD) While the model of a pistol is not always necessary for identification, it is needed in certain cases such as that of older revolvers in which manuf acturers repeated serial numbers through a series of models. Often physical characteristics like fit op breakfl or fihammerless,fl or stampings like fisafety hammer,fl are helpful if no model is stamped per se; CTG, however, means ficartridgefl and has no value in identification. SHOT The number of shot for revolvers is important. In the fiQuery Gunfl format this information should be entered in the Miscellaneous field. 3
PAGE – 5 ============
REVOLVERS (PR) ARMINIUS (ARN) Arminius revolvers are made in Germany and imported by Firearms Import and Export (FIP), Herters (HEW) and Gecado (GEC). Models incl ude HW3, HW7 and Titan Tiger. Many are incorrectly coded as Titan. WEI is an alternate code that stands for Herman Weihrauch, the original maker. CHARTER ARMS CO. (CAC) AND CHARTER 2000 (CTR) . Charter Arms Co. Charter Arms 2000 Charter Arms Co. originally manufactured small concealable revolvers in Bridgeport, CT. They have since gone out of business. Charter 2000 began manufacturing similar firearms in 2000 at a manufacturing plant in Shelton, CT. Charter Arms Co. and Charter 2000 models are similar in appearance. Many of the Charter 2000 models retain the model names of their Charter Arms Co. counterparts. These similarities have lead to confusion over the NCIC coding. An original Charter Arms Co. should be coded CAC. A Charter 2000 should be coded CTR. 4
PAGE – 6 ============
CLERKE (CLK) Clerke revolvers are often miss-entered as Smith & Wesson™s (SW) because ‚32 S&W™ appears for the cartridge recommendation. COLT (CLT) Colt Cobra Cobra Enterprises On revolvers with side-break cylinders, serial numbers are always found on the ficrane.fl The crane is the flat area between the front of the tr igger guard and the rear of the barrel that is exposed when the cylinder is opened. fiLW,fl which ap pears on the crane, is not part of the serial number. If there is a number on the butt of the re volver, it is a US Army serial number. This number should also be recorded and the locations of both numbers indicated. One never knows how a gun may have been registered previous ly or how it was reported stolen. Note: Cobra Enterprises should not be mistaken for the Colt Cobra. Cobra Enterprises should be properly coded as CBR. Single-action Colts (models Frontier Scout, Peacem aker, etc.) typically have the serial number stamped on the flat area in front of the trigger gu ard. Always give the model for a Colt revolver. The model is stamped on the left side of the barrel. Colt repeated serial numbers with each successive model. 5
PAGE – 8 ============
serial number can be found under the grip and on the top strap on top break PR™s, as well as on the butt. HAWES (HAW) Some Hawes revolvers contain a slash (/) in the serial number. Frequently, the slash is confused for the number one (1) (Example: 2345/7). If there is a slash in the serial number it would be the second character from either the left or the right. HERBERT SCHMIDT (SCR) 7
PAGE – 9 ============
Herbert Schmidt revolvers can be distinguished by a variety of markings, including a buffalo on the grip on models 21S or Sierra Six, HS on the grips or stamped on the butt frame or cylinder, or Herbert Schmidt stamped under the left grip. HOPKINS & ALLEN (HAA) Hopkins & Allen made a Forehand model as well a XL Bulldog model. Serial numbers are found on the butt or under the grip. IVER JOHNSON (IJ) Iver Johnson has been making revolvers since 1 871. Many of the older models can be very misleading, as the Iver Johnson brand may not appear on the gun at all. Instead, models such as US Revolver Co., American Bulldog, Defen der, Secret Service Special, Boston Bulldog, Tycoon, and British Bulldog may be stamped on the gun. Serial numbers may appear variously on the trigger guard, the butt, the top strap (on top break PR™s where the cylinder is removed), 8
PAGE – 10 ============
and under the left grip, usually with a letter prefix that will positively identify the gun. An owl at the top of the grip usually identifies an Iver Johnson, but grips can be switched. JP SAUER & SOHN (SSS) JP Sauer & Sohn are makers of single-action revo lvers that are imported by Hawes (HAW) an d L A Distributors (LUR) with models like Western Marshall, Texas Marshall, and Montana Marshall. The serial number is found on the flat area in front of the trigger guard. The serial number usually contains a slash (/) between the last two digits and is often mistaken for a 1. Punctuation marks cannot be entered in the serial number field of an NCIC format or the State Automated Pistol Registration System. ROHM (ROM) AND R G INDUSTRIES (RGI) Rohm also uses the deceptive fiIfl on the model 66 prefix fiICfl or fiIBfl. RGI imports the ROM from Germany. Though both names may appear on the same pistol, they should be coded fiROMfl unless only RG Industries appears. The prefix fiQfl is found in the serial number of almost all model RG31™s and is frequently miss-entered as fi0.fl 9
PAGE – 11 ============
ROSSI (AMR) Rossi firearms are manufactured in Brazil. T hey are often mistaken for Interarms, the importer. RUGER (SR) Make sure to take the serial number off the gun and not the box. Frequently, a zero appears at the beginning of the serial number on the box, and is not a part of the actual serial number. SMITH & WESSON (SW) 10
80 KB – 48 Pages