Lookup gun serial number, a noun describing the process of searching databases using an identifier unique to a firearm, allows individuals to track important information about their own or recovered guns. For instance, one who purchases a used gun can verify its model, manufacturer, and date made.
Serial number tracing is an essential tool for law enforcement who recover firearms and need to determine prior ownership, which may lead to missing persons or criminal investigations. The Gun Control Act of 1968 mandated serial numbers on firearms, a major advancement in tracking and preventing gun violence.