I think a hunting arrow would be much easier to trace from the manufacturer to the retailer to the receipt, because they aren't very common.
No, you might not be able to identify the specific purchaser, but if the FBI is willing to wear out enough shoe leather, they can reduce it down to a handful of people.
You'll need a good alibi, or they'll make your life a living hell. Ask Richard Jewell.
As I pointed out in another comment, paying cash in person usually puts you on security video. Depending on the retention period, it's no longer anonymous.
Good archers fletch their own arrows from components just as good shooters craft their own ammunition. Components, sometimes bought years before being assembled, are going to a lot harder to track.
Shafts from here, nocks from there, broadheads from a gun show and feathers from the neighbor's barnyard. Keep the fingerprints and DNA off them and it may well nigh be impossible.
Only a bullet is recoverable, if the shooter polices his brass.
Constructing an arrow with shafts from A, nocks from B, and broadheads from C can create an intersection where all three were sold. Unless you bought those things from different parts of the county, you might be drawing an arrow (no pun intended) right to your neighborhood. And even if you paid in cash, you could show up on security video at each location.
A bullet sometimes retains tool marks that can (not always) match it to a barrel.
It's still unlikely considering that none of these items are controlled in any way. Buy 'em from the gun and knife show. Your arrow components will be in the hundreds if not thousands sold.
I am cleaning up and cleaning out the house in preparation for downsizing. In tidying up around the reloading bench, I noticed I have ammunition components that were purchased years ago and thousands of GI surplus cartridge cases. I've had to scatter old smokeless powder around the flowerbeds as fertilizer because I didn't trust the age of it.
Probably no serial numbers, at least not on the ones I've seen.
But, hunting arrows are specialty items, and the manufacturer can tell you where they shipped them, at least in the next step of the distribution chain.
Can't trace an arrow like you can a bullet. I think you're on to something here!
I think a hunting arrow would be much easier to trace from the manufacturer to the retailer to the receipt, because they aren't very common.
No, you might not be able to identify the specific purchaser, but if the FBI is willing to wear out enough shoe leather, they can reduce it down to a handful of people.
You'll need a good alibi, or they'll make your life a living hell. Ask Richard Jewell.
Fletching arrows by hand will come back in style
Also, pay cash for these kind of things when you can
As I pointed out in another comment, paying cash in person usually puts you on security video. Depending on the retention period, it's no longer anonymous.
Just put an arrow through the security cam, problem solved
Yeah, but out in the sticks, LOTS of people have arrows and bows.
And if you pay cash. . . At Walmart. . . The week before opening day. . .
Good archers fletch their own arrows from components just as good shooters craft their own ammunition. Components, sometimes bought years before being assembled, are going to a lot harder to track.
Shafts from here, nocks from there, broadheads from a gun show and feathers from the neighbor's barnyard. Keep the fingerprints and DNA off them and it may well nigh be impossible.
You aren't thinking this through.
Only a bullet is recoverable, if the shooter polices his brass.
Constructing an arrow with shafts from A, nocks from B, and broadheads from C can create an intersection where all three were sold. Unless you bought those things from different parts of the county, you might be drawing an arrow (no pun intended) right to your neighborhood. And even if you paid in cash, you could show up on security video at each location.
A bullet sometimes retains tool marks that can (not always) match it to a barrel.
It's still unlikely considering that none of these items are controlled in any way. Buy 'em from the gun and knife show. Your arrow components will be in the hundreds if not thousands sold.
I am cleaning up and cleaning out the house in preparation for downsizing. In tidying up around the reloading bench, I noticed I have ammunition components that were purchased years ago and thousands of GI surplus cartridge cases. I've had to scatter old smokeless powder around the flowerbeds as fertilizer because I didn't trust the age of it.
How would they get to the retailer?
I mean I'm sure there's serial numbers on them somewhere, but that's easily removed.
Probably no serial numbers, at least not on the ones I've seen.
But, hunting arrows are specialty items, and the manufacturer can tell you where they shipped them, at least in the next step of the distribution chain.