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I purcased a pistol from a fellow in Texas. He was able to ship it cheaper via FFL than common carrier, so we went that route. His FFL incorrectly recorded the SN - it begins with a B but he recorded it as a P. It arrived at my FFL and he let me inspect the gun while he started on the paperwork. He asked me to read the SN to him, so I read it "BXXXXXXX". He said, that's not right and it should begin with a P. He looked over my shoulder and declared, "Looks like a P to me!" completed the paperwork and sent me on my way.

Do I let sleeping dogs lie or do I try to correct this?

FYI, it's a S&W revolver. A fellow looked up my SN and estimated out a P-prefix. My gun was made c. 1991. If it were a P-prefix, it would be made somewhere around 2045 (seriously) if they suddenly recussitated that now-discontinued model.

Q

hmm... I would say that you are safe, the FFL's not so much. It was their mistake and not yours. I'm assuming that this is a used gun bought directly from the original or current (until you bought it) owner. I would have to say that as long as you have some sort of proof of whom you originally bought this gun from, that you are safe. Even though this is an uncommon issue, I doubt that it's truly that big of a deal for you in this transfer. I personally wouldn't worry about it. It seems to me the FFL dealers would be the ones to have issues, and not you. Just my $.02 anyway. I've never encountered a situation like this before, so please just take this as my opinion and not fact.

I agree.

The FFL's are the ones with the issue.

If this had occured with a firearm I received, I would have contacted the sending FFL to confirm that he sent the correct item. If so, I'd recommend that he correct his records.

I record the serial numer that is on the firearm, not the box or the shipping papers.

PBratton wrote:I agree.

The FFL's are the ones with the issue.

If this had occured with a firearm I received, I would have contacted the sending FFL to confirm that he sent the correct item. If so, I'd recommend that he correct his records.

I record the serial numer that is on the firearm, not the box or the shipping papers.

I agree as well. It needs to be corrected by both FFL's. 2 wrongs don't make a right.

I contacted another FFL and asked him the question.

First, he said it's the FFL's problem. They should have checked and double checked.
Second, he said if I wanted to make it right, take the gun back to my FFL and have him do a corrected 4473 and attach it to the original I did with him. I would assume he would then do something similar to the seller's FFL, alerting them to the mix-up.

Basically, it's walking back the cat via paper.

Q

I am surprised your FFL repeated the mistake. My FFL only records the number he reads off the gun. I don't think he would be willing to record a wrong number intentionally. I bet if he had of just called the other FFL he could have corrected the problem right on the phone by telling the other guy to make a correction in his book. Turning a P into a B would not take much of a pen stroke.

You should contact the FFL in question and tell him to correct the mistake in his A&D book. The ATF sorta frowns on inaccuracy.