general question - Mini Colt 32

Question
My local PD can't answer this question and the ATF website doesn't address it:  I have a mini Colt 32 of WW2 vintage (preferred sidearm of Army generals) with the serial number filed off.  Since it's pre-1968 when serial numbers first became required by law, do you think mine is legal?  

Answer
If you can have or can find documentation then keep copies of it with the gun. Most laws make it illegal to possess a gun with the serial number removed, however this is a way to get a serial number stamped in or you can get some historical waiver. I would contact some other that own the gun or that may have that gun in a museum an history display and see how they handled it and got around the law.

If you are just keeping the gun for keep sake and don't intent to shoot it, you could remove the hammer or firing pin or maybe have the barrel plugged so it could not be fired.  If it can't be fired it is not a firearm and the law would not apply.

You would have check on what the definition of firearm is and then make sure your gun does not fall into that definition.  It all depends on what you what gun for, how you keep it and what is the likilyhood the cops would come to possess it or see that the numbers were filed off.

Some gun shops can bring back ground down serials numbers so you can find what the numbers were and then have it re-stamped.  You say the numbers were filed off but then say it was when serial numbers were not required so that would be a factor in how you handle as well.