The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is amending the regulations to prescribe
minimum height and depth requirements for identification markings placed on firearms by licensed importers and licensed manufacturers.
Specifically, we are requiring a minimum height of 1 1 ⁄16 inch and a minimum depth of .003 inch for serial numbers and a minimum depth of .003 inch for all other required markings. We
believe that these minimum standards
are necessary to ensure that firearms are
properly identified in accordance with
the law. In addition, the final regulations will facilitate our ability to trace firearms used in crime.
DATES: This rule is effective January 30, 2002.
[url]http://www.atf.treas.gov/regulations/td461.pdf[/url]

What's really bullshit is the source of their research:

The Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and
Research provided us with the following
information:
We have been informed by the Baltimore
Police Department that of the almost 3,700
crime-guns recovered by them in 1998, 15%
had obliterated serial numbers. Nationwide it
is estimated that between 9 and 20 percent
of the crime-guns recovered have had their
serial numbers removed.

What do these people have for brains, oatmeal?

No.  Tofu for brains.  More liberal of a food.

Jesus! 1 1/16" high! I don't know if there is any pistol that could fit a serial number that high.

Am I reading that correctly?  1.0625 inch?  Or is that ONE 1/16th of one inch?  Seems somewhat vague to me.  1.0625 inch?  Seems some small guns will have to be enlarged to fit the serial number on them.  

Geez...

That is probably the reason for the change. No more pocket pistols, like Derringers.

The 1/16 inch high is no sweat.  I have a feeling what they are trying to do is rule out etched or laser engraved serial numbers.  .003" deep is pretty minimal for stamping or engraving.

Norm

You guys are missing the point!

The reason is so they can be indentified after  recovery from the "fire".

If this is true, it will affect all the C&R importers and probably raise the purchase price of these guns as they use laser engraving.

Isn't anyone else here concerned that a federal agency is using the data from an openly biased and exposed for fraud anti-gun organization to justify their actions?

The Republic is lost.

yes.  But we are used to it.  The BATF doesn't exist in my eyes.

I read the same.

When I build my own firearms, the ATF can eat the peanuts out of my shit before I will mark them for them.

Can I be any more adament about this?  Nope.

Not an X-ray operation actually - More like acid etching and microscopic analysis.  It won't work if a LOT of metal has been removed.

What you talking about is "acid etching".  It can used to bring out the number.  This can be defeated by using a cold chisel and hammer on the number BEFORE grinding.  The chisel will disrupt the metal and make recovery impossible, IF done correctly.