CFA Serial Number Research & Dating

Question 1

Under the Gun Control Act of 1968, U.S. firearms manufacturers were first required to do what regarding serial numbers?

Accepted Answer

Mark every firearm with a unique serial number

Answer

Register serial numbers with the ATF within 30 days

Answer

Maintain serial number records for 5 years

Answer

Submit serial number logs to the FBI annually

Question 2

What is the primary appraisal significance of establishing a firearm's date of manufacture through serial number research?

Accepted Answer

It determines whether the firearm qualifies as an antique under federal law

Answer

It establishes the replacement cost for insurance purposes

Answer

It confirms the identity of the original purchaser

Answer

It verifies the number of rounds fired during its service life

Question 3

A term describing a firearm where all major components — frame, barrel, cylinder or slide — retain their original factory-matched serial numbers is known as:

Accepted Answer

Matching numbers

Answer

Force matched

Answer

Consecutively serialized

Answer

Factory original

Question 4

When an appraiser encounters a firearm described as 'force matched,' this typically means:

Accepted Answer

Components from different guns were restamped to appear as an original matched set

Answer

The serial number was applied with extra force to meet military durability standards

Answer

All parts were inspected and force-fit by the factory armorer

Answer

The firearm was assembled outside normal production tolerances

Question 5

A Colt Single Action Army revolver bearing a serial number below approximately 100,000 with no letter prefix most likely dates from which era?

Accepted Answer

First Generation (1873–1940)

Answer

Second Generation (1956–1975)

Answer

Third Generation (1976–present)

Answer

Pre-production prototype (pre-1873)

Question 6

Which widely used reference guide is the standard resource for dating Winchester Model 1894 lever-action rifles by serial number?

Accepted Answer

Standard Catalog of Winchester Firearms

Answer

Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms

Answer

Blue Book of Gun Values

Answer

NRA Standard Firearms Reference

Question 7

In firearm appraisal, 'first year of production' examples typically command a premium primarily because:

Accepted Answer

They are rarer and especially sought by collectors who value early production variants

Answer

They were always built to tighter tolerances than later examples

Answer

Federal law requires higher valuations for inaugural production firearms

Answer

Insurance underwriters assign them a mandatory replacement cost multiplier