Portable firearms having identification marks

• US 8,171,665 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2004
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Heckler & KOCH GmbH (H&K AG)
• Original Assignee: Heckler & KOCH GmbH (H&K AG)
• Inventors: Mauch, Ernst, Schumacher, Michael, Holzknecht, Dirk
• Primary Examiner(s): Eldred, J. Woodrow
• Application Number:
  US11/005,604
• Publication Number:
  US 20050183314A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,710 Days
• Field of Search: 42/10.1, 42/700.1, 42/701.1
• US Class Current: 42/1.01
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/063 comprising a transponder

Abstract

Portable firearms having identification marks and methods of making the same are disclosed. An example firearm includes a first identification number visibly located on the firearm; and a second, hidden or disguised identification number associated with the first identification number to facilitate identifying the firearm if the first identification number is destroyed, changed, or damaged.

Claims

1. A firearm, comprising:

a housing having a trigger guard;

a first identification number visibly located on the firearm and being a serial number stipulated for registration of the firearm; and

a second identification number being a unique identification independent of the first identification number and being located on an identification medium, wherein the second identification number contains information from which the first identification number can be derived.

2. The firearm according to claim 1,

wherein the identification medium is arranged in a recess located in the bulge of the trigger guard.

3. The firearm according to claim 2, wherein the recess formed in the trigger guard is a pocket, a through hole, or a blind hole, and the identification medium is seated in the recess.

4. The firearm according to claim 2, wherein the identification medium is cemented into the recess.

5. The firearm according to claim 2, wherein the recess is closed by the identification medium itself.

6. The firearm according to claim 2, wherein the recess having the identification medium arranged therein is closed by at least one lid.

7. The firearm according to claim 2, wherein at least one lid terminates flush with an external surface of the trigger guard.

8. The firearm according to claim 1, wherein the identification medium is a transponder.

9. The firearm according to claim 1, wherein the identification medium is adapted for at least one of being manufactured outside the firearm and being provided with the second identification number before arrangement in the recess of the trigger guard.

10. The firearm according to claim 1, wherein the identification medium is arranged for separation from the firearm.

11. The firearm according to claim 1, wherein the first identification number and the second identification number are different.

12. The firearm according to claim 1, wherein the identification medium is arranged in a recess located in a bulge in a front and at a bottom of the trigger guard.

13. A method of manufacturing a firearm, comprising the steps of:

providing a first identification number being a serial number stipulated for registration of the firearm;

locating the first identification number visibly on the firearm;

providing a second identification number being a unique identification independent of the first identification number and containing information from which the first identification number can be derived;

locating the second identification number on an identification medium; and

arranging the identification medium having the second identification number thereon in a recess located in a bulge in a front and at a bottom of a trigger guard of the firearm.

14. A method according to claim 13, comprising the step of forming the recess in the trigger guard of the firearm in form of a pocket, a through hole and a blind hole.

15. The method according to claim 13, comprising the step of cementing the identification medium into the recess.

16. The method according to claim 13, comprising the step of arranging at least one lid above the identification medium being arranged in the recess.

17. The method according to claim 16, comprising the step of arranging the at least one lid such that the at least one lid terminates flush with an external surface of the trigger guard.

18. The method according to claim 13, comprising the step of providing a transponder as the identification medium.

19. The method according to claim 13, comprising the step of providing the identification medium with the second identification number before the step of arranging the identification medium in the recess.

20. The method according to claim 13, comprising the step of separating the identification medium from the firearm.

21. The method according to claim 20, comprising at least one of the steps of scanning and reading the second identification number from the identification medium being separated from the firearm.