Most reported stolen gun brands in Wisconsin
From Wisconsin police reports that list the manufacturer.
Most reported stolen gun models in Wisconsin
From reports that list both the make and the model.
Buying a used gun privately in Wisconsin
Wisconsin law does not require a background check on private sales between residents, so checking the serial number may be the only check that happens before a private sale. Federal law still requires a sale to someone who lives in another state to go through a licensed dealer.
Before you pay: ask for a photo of the serial number before you meet, check it here, then make sure the serial on the frame or receiver matches and hasn't been scratched, ground or altered. Possessing a gun with an obliterated serial number is a federal crime, whoever removed it.
If the serial number comes back as stolen, don't buy the gun and don't confront the seller. Leave, and give the serial number and the seller's details to local police on their non-emergency line.
About the Wisconsin records
These are reports of stolen and lost guns filed with police in Wisconsin, dated 2010–2017. They are historical and not complete: many stolen guns are never reported, and not every agency's records are included. Of the 2,829 reports, 169 are marked recovered. A check shows a gun as outstanding only when its latest report is still stolen or lost. SafeOrStolen never publishes serial numbers; the only way to look one up is to check it. See the national stolen gun statistics.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a gun is stolen in Wisconsin?
Enter the gun's serial number at SafeOrStolen (safeorstolen.com/gun-serial-number-lookup/wisconsin). SafeOrStolen searches 2,829 police reports of stolen and lost guns from Wisconsin, dated 2010–2017, 240,010 reports from 33 other jurisdictions, live Ohio law-enforcement records and SafeOrStolen's own theft reports. You get a result in a few seconds, and the first 2 checks are free.
How many stolen gun reports does SafeOrStolen have for Wisconsin?
2,829 police reports, dated 2010–2017: 2,651 reported stolen, 9 reported lost and 169 marked recovered. That is 1.2% of the 242,839 reports SafeOrStolen holds, and ranks Wisconsin 14 of the 34 jurisdictions covered.
What guns are reported stolen most in Wisconsin?
In Wisconsin's reports, the most reported brand is Smith & Wesson (537 reports) and the most reported model is the Smith & Wesson SD9VE (49).
Do I need a background check to buy a gun privately in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin law does not require a background check on private sales between residents, so checking the serial number may be the only check that happens before a private sale. Federal law still requires a sale to someone who lives in another state to go through a licensed dealer.
Is a gun that isn't in these records definitely not stolen?
No. Many stolen guns are never reported, and these are historical police records. A no-match result on SafeOrStolen means nothing was found in the records searched. Ask for the receipt or transfer paperwork, and use a licensed dealer for the transfer when you can.