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A firearm made before serial numbers were required will have no number, and is perfectly legal. But if a firearm, no matter when made, had a serial number and it has been removed or altered, the law applies.
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I held the same opinion until I read a ATF letter that, although vague, stated a removed serial number on early fire arms did not necessarily make them illegal. The fire arm in question was a 1880's S&W revolver. Of course this letter only applies to this one particular revolver.
I may have saved a copy of the letter, I'll look for it. That letter may have been here at the FL in the gunsmith section, can't recall, been a long time.