Should matching serial numbers matter?

Many times guns are advertised as having matching serial numbers, obviously because it is assumed that it makes them more valuable.
Is that because we all agree to pay more for a barrel with the same number as the receiver, or is there really any different in performance, given equal condition?

 

Subjective at best, up to the individual ... Personally, I prefer numbers matching and I do not break up sets ... If I find a gun I got to have I would buy it any way ... I cannot imagine it would have any effect on the performance if the numbers do not match ... Might be a good seed to plant if you are in a shoot off with someone, you can ask if the numbers match and how can they shoot it like that if they don't ... (Mind games ) ... (wink, wink) ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

WPT, I like asking the shoot off competitor if he breathes in or out before he calls a target. Roger C.

 

Caesar G when you buy a combo, the O/U barrel and receiver matches but the unsingle will not match. O/U and receiver have 6 digit number , unsingle barrel has 5 digit number, called CG they said that's normal, unsingle barrels will never match O/U and receivers

 

Rbdjr, much like putting together an unsingle combo for an MX8. The unsingle is probably from an MX 15 and won't match the receiver or the o/u barrels.

 

I like them to match. However, many Model 32 Krieghoffs that have had barrels fitted to them do not match. With proper fitting, performance is not a problem.

 

I knew a shooter that bought a Beretta 687 EE LL top combo several years ago from a small dealer. He could not hit a damn thing. Looking at the gun I saw that none of the numbers matched. The single barrel shot flat & left. I think they may be test fired to be sure it shoots true.

 

Matching serial No's means the mfgr. is still backing up the integerity of that gun. If they see unmatched no's they will have no liability on the integeraty of the gun. YES matching No's are very important. Roger C.

 

Yes it wont match is what I said, The U/S barrel will only have 5 digits as per CG, the O/U and receiver will have 6. the fellow at CG told me they will never match . so if you buy a combo from CG the numbers on the U/S barrel wont match.
From CG the integrity on the gun never comes into play, they have there records on hand. I bought a combo New 5 weeks ago and CG told me they have the numbers to that set, and when I registered it with them as a combo it was confirmed and would stay like that for future services if and when required.

 

Having played the matching numbers game in the Corvette world I never though I would run into this game in the shotgun world but I did.

 

It’s a hit or miss. As an example, Krieghoff shotguns basically are available from dealers so you pick R&I, wood and barrels. Very rarely will you find an all numbers matching k80 these days. Good shooting, Rey

 

Old Trap Shooter Said when asked this same question Years Ago......Parts are Parts..All Assembled Correctly ... No Worries

 

bigpapa, Have one of those guns blow up and let the mfgr. find parts are parts in it and see what happens. Roger C.

 

I have to agree with Rey. When I bought a new k80 a few years ago, one of the barrels didn't match. The dealer said it didn't matter. Krieghoff will stand behind the product, not the numbers. I have since found that to be true.
But resale is where matching numbers still seem to be important to many people.

 

My CZ Pro Combo serial numbers do, so you know that the Combo Bbl match each other to the reciever, so you know it is a Factory original Combo, I just checked Reciever and bpth sets of Bbls

Gary Bryant DLS

 

That makes me smile.
Seriously, if someone makes it to the shoot-off, they probably won't be distracted by comments made by competitors.

 

For someone collecting guns (and not shooting them), maybe it matters. Since I actually like to shoot my guns, it doesn't matter. Regarding manufacturers only honoring warranties for matching serial number guns, maybe...but how many folks are buying used shotguns still covered by a warranty?

Some folks might swap barrels to build a gun that wasn't available from the factory. For example, I'm thinking of putting a set of MX3 Special barrels on an MT6. As long as all of the parts are fitted correctly, there is absolutely no performance difference.

 

Generally if a combo set leaves the facory as a set the numbers will match. If it is put together later they will not match. IF DONE BY A COMPETANT GUN SMITH the gun is just as good as one put together by the factory. But you have no knowledge of how competant the smith was or even if it was assembled by a gunsmith. Roger C.