The Scope and Implications of a Tracing Mechanism for Small Arms ...

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weapons. There are risks involved should individual weapons or the whole
consignment be stolen whilst in transit. It would be timely to encourage a
review of the practice of exporting unmarked small arms and introduce a
unique manufacturer’s identifier marked on each weapon (in a discreet
location if not to be immediately visible) and in accordance with Article 8
of the UN Firearms Protocol.
3.1.6 Additional Marks which Aid Identification
There are a wide variety of supplementary marks used on military small
arms and light weapons which may not uniquely identify an individual
weapon but, nevertheless, play an important part in helping to trace the
origin or previous market, particularly when serial numbers, etc. have been
sanitized. These marks can include those shown here:
Import Mark
Proof Mark
Year or Batch code
[Marked on the frame]
Armourer’s marks
[Marked on the furniture]
Selector markings
[Adjacent to the trigger]
Individually these supplementary marks are not unique but a
combination can be almost as good as a fingerprint for identifying the
history of a weapon and its potential source, particularly where they can be
linked to previously seized weapons whose origins have already been
traced. Traffickers very often overlook these features when sanitizing
weapons and, hence, it is important to exploit the intelligence they provide.
Proof marks, Import and Importers’ marks are cross-referenced with
additional records held by the relevant authorities, which can be utilized in