Well, if it is a reweld, and the torch cuts went thru the markings, the markings would have had to be totally welded over and re engraved to look decent.
The only thing you have to worry about, is ATF has been know to x-ray *re-welded* or rewatted receivers to see if in fact, they were rewelds, and not new production.
Most 1950's dewats were simply dewatted by welding, brazing or soldering a plug in the barrel chamber, and maybe tack welding the barrel to the receiver. It was rare for the job to actually be done to dewat specs.
Possibilities: it is an original receiver that was rewatted, and they had to refinish the whole thing, including new (deepened) engraving. That is sort of OK except for remarking the S/N.
Or, it was a dewat, that was so FU'd, somebody just trashed the old receiver, and substituted a new receiver in it's place. That would be bad.
If you really want to cover your ass, have somebody go and look inside the receiver, that knows what they are looking at. Reweld repair will be obvious inside the receiver, as they can't duplicate maching marks.
Good luck.
I am certainly not turning my nose up at a rewat or reweld (Hell, I own a NAC, I will obviously put up with any old trash)
I would just be concerned that it may be a new production receiver, and if so, it is contraband, even if there are papers to go along with it.
Doug
(edited for spelling)
Edited by AZDoug, 06 February 2004 - 06:02 PM.