Go to the seller where you purchased the gun.
Serial numbers have been required on all firearms since 1968
There are no specific federal statutes, per se, regarding firearms that are stolen. Guns are considered "property" under the laws of all states, and as such the Possession or Receiving of Stolen Property is a prosecutable offense under STATE LAW. It is against federal law to possess a firearm from which the serial number has been filed off or is disfigured so as to be unreadable. Stolen and recovered firearms are considered "property." When recovered, if they are traceable, they are returned to their rightful owners.
If it has been reported stolen, you might be able to find out by asking the police to run the serial number.
All Winchester model 1886 rifles were given a serial number at the factory, stamped on the tang. If there is no serial number on the tang it is likely that the tang was replaced at the factory. This was not unusual. Other common reasons for no serial number: 1. The gun has been aggressively cleaned and the number may have been buffed off. Serial numbers 1 to about 120,000 were lightly stamped. 2. The gun is a stolen firearm where the number was deliberately filed off. These firearms should be shunned by all shooters and collectors.
It it has been reported stolen, ask your local police to run it.
I haven't been able to find one on mine.The Savage model 342 was produced from 1950-1955.During this time frame serial numbers were not required on firearms.The passage of the gun control act of 1968 mandated that all firearms made in the U.S. and abroad have serial numbers,and this was started in the year 1969.I believe that your Savage model 342 were not given serial numbers at the time of production.
Actually, yes it is. Before 1969 many firearms had no serial numbers. I have two different models of JC Higgins bolt action shotguns made in the 50's and neither have serial numbers. Strange but true!
If you were at a car show and asked "I have a Ford with four wheels and would like to know what it is worth". You can imagine all the followup questions and information that would be needed to get an accurate answer. Colt has been making both firearms and non firearms products that had/have serial numbers for over 150 years. Without a detailed descripiton of exactly what you have, trying to find that particular serial number would require hours of research and hoping the sn has/had been published.
Go to the police.
Prior to the gun control act of 1968, there was no requirement in the US for gun manufacturers to place serial numbers on firearms (though many did anyway). The Stevens 66B was a relatively inexpensive .22 rifle, and has no serial number. My experience with the 66B has been very positive, however, and I think you will find it a joy to shoot.
Just like a car; Make, Model & Serial Number is the place to start. "A shotgun" is like saying "a car". It could be a Vega or it could be a Lamborgini. Who would know? Serial numbers on long-arms have only been required since 1969 in the US. Before that, some manufacturers used serial numbers on all their firearms and the records have been preserved. Others didn't serialize any, and some serialized certain models. Remington uses a date code separate from the serial number and Marlin date codes are part of the serial. Nearly all Winchester, Colt, Browning and Ithaca firearms can be dated by the serial number. But many of the lesser names either have no serial numbers or there are no records available so you may have to be satisfied to know the time period during which a particular model was made. There are a few people who have all the old catalogs and determined what year certain features were introduced by the manufacturer they are studing.
The Model 60 has been made since 1960. Serial numbers were not required until 1968. As a general rule, serial numbers are located on the receiver.