What is Defarbed?

[TLanoy]

Dixie has an Enfield for sale and states this: PR0106 2 BAND ENFIELD RIFLE DEFARBED

What does defarbed mean?

 

[biliff]

It means all the modern markings (ie,Black Powder Only, proof marks, etc.) have been removed.

 

[TLanoy]

Thank you but, why in the world would anyone want to do that? Seems kind of dangerous.

 

[TennesseeJed]

It's done so that they look more authentic to reenactors.

 

[TLanoy]

Ah ha! Now I have understanding grasshopper!

Thank you for the enlightenment guys. Learning as I go. :grin:

 

[Stumpkiller]

Or to defraud "casual" investors by passing a modern firearm off as an original. IMHO you should always leave a maker's mark.

A marked copy is a reproduction. An unmarked copy is a forgery. :wink:

 

[FishDFly]

De-farbing ensures that when your guns are stolen and the serial numbers are removed, you will not get them back, since Law Enforcement cannot trace them, to return them. Makes sense to me.

Is de-farbing legal?

If you are using a cap and ball pistol for a personal protection and are arrested by law enforcement and there are not serial numbers on the pistol what happens to it and you?

 

[satx78247]

In MOST states BP firearms are not considered to be "deadly weapons" under the meaning of law.

Also, "homebrewed" firearms need NOT be serial-numbered according to BATFE, though it's certainly a good idea for "recovery" if it's lost/stolen.
Some local/state jurisdictions require all firearms to be serial numbered and will, if asked, "assign" a number to your "self-built" receivers.
(We found this out a couple of years ago, a couple of weeks, before an "AK building clinic", which was held in Richmond/Henrico County, VA.)

yours, satx

 

[Brian6396]

I suppose if you build a gun from individual purchased parts there would be no official serial number. :hmm:

 

[cynthialee]

if you make a homemade gun you could number it and sign it if for no other reason than posterity

 

[Alden]

"Defarbed" has at its root the term "farby" from re-creation and reenactment circles. It means "far-be-it-from-real." Example: "ya know, like, that skinny beotch is so farby in that tunic -- no-one wore pink in The Dark Ages."

So, "defarbed" is to make it more authentic.

I've only met a few people who cared about guns being defarbed but when they do, OMG, do they ever! They become unhinged. It has always concerned me as there really is a lot of metal that could have to be removed to defarb a deep struck mark. I have one but that's the only way that particular customized gun was sold by the 'smith and I had to have it.

 

In MOST states BP firearms are not considered to be "deadly weapons" under the meaning of law.

I suggest that you have it backwards. They are not considered "firearms", but they are considered deadly weapons.

 

[pargent]

Here is what I do ,first I don't remove any modern marks or numbers etc. , instead I work on the finish and shape of the gun .Stock shape and finish of the wood to look as close to period as possible ,metal finish to match the finish on the gun the repro is meant to be , even fitting and removeing the bayonet to leave marks on the barrel . The idea for me is to have a gun that looks like a used and well cared for gun would look like in the time frame it was meant to represent .

 

[RedFeather]

Came across a Springfield musket in a pawn shop. Had unit markings stamped in the buttplate. Thought, holy cow, could it be??? Now, Manassas battlefields are maybe ten miles up the road. I contacted Mr. Pohanka (rest his soul), I think through matching him up to the stampings and he reckoned it was one of his reenactor crew's guns. Truth be told, it looked too good to be true. A light down the barrel "bore" this out. 'Twere red as the pictures coming back from Mars. Personally, I tend to steer clear of reenactor guns. Some know what they're doing while others think they do.