“All the important encroachments to the 2nd amendment happened in 1934 and 1968. I don’t remember when the 4472 form started, but probably ‘68.”
I know for damn sure I have one that isn’t registered. It is circa Revolutionary/Civil war and uses black powder and ball. It’s a long, long, rifle and extremely heavy. Since powder and ball is sort of not modern ammo :o), I think that antique is safe.
So, you are saying, if one bought a modern type gun in 1934 and later, the govn. has the serial number of the gun? That doesn’t seem possible.
And 'registered' is a loaded word. If I go buy a crappy Bersa .380 today, I will fill out a form 4472 and it will get stored at the dealer's office, but fedgov is forbidden by law to keep a list of firearms associated with names of final purchasers.
If firearm xyz is found, there is a long and convoluted process that involves paper records to figure out who made it, who the brokers were, which gun shop wound up with it, and then, maybe, if you didn't lie on the 4472, they can tie it to a name.
/johnny