Charlie Kirk assassin's alleged gun was powerful, vintage and hard to trace

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NBC News

Sept. 20, 2025, 5:00 AM EDT


In the frantic hours after Charlie Kirk’s assassination, investigators discovered a gun in a wooded area near the scene in northern Utah. The federal agents seeking to trace the weapon faced a daunting task.

It was a decades-old, German-made rifle built for use by the military in both World Wars, according to multiple law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation. So old that it may have been brought into the U.S. before laws were enacted in the 1960s requiring guns to be affixed with serial numbers or other marks to enable tracing. There are believed to be millions of such weapons in homes across America.

Fortunately for investigators, the alleged shooter was identified through other means — his family — who convinced him to surrender to police. But the alleged use of such a vintage weapon has raised fears among some former federal agents of the potential for other would-be assassins to seek out these powerful, accurate and hard-to-trace firearms.

“Short of the security afforded to the president, there’s no way to defend against the threat posed by this,” said Scott Sweetow, a retired official with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/kirk-assassins-alleged-gun-was-powerful-vintage-hard-trace-rcna231334

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"A polite society?"

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. I don't think there is any issue that the gun is or is not the murder weapon

The number of vintage guns without serial numbers is a small percentage and getting smaller every day. He borrowed it from his grandfather, which is not a route available to the average murderer.

[James48]

2. They have serial numbers.

But there is no central database with registrations connecting serial numbers to individuals.

And that particular .30-06 rifle was made before there were requirements to record serial numbers in sales transactions.

[flashman13]

3. OK More of this official story is BS. If this was a WWII German rifle it is a 7.92x57mm Mauser.

For those not in the know, that is not a 1903 Springfield 30 06 (7.62×63mm) as used in the U.S Garand of WWII. The 30 06 is a very common large caliber hunting rifle available in a large number of designs.

While Mauser ammunition is scarce and expensive it is still available. Could the rifle have been rechambered? Possibly, but it would require very specialized gunsmithing. Also, the picture I saw was not a WWII configuration Mauser. It is possible that someone could have converted it to a "sporter" configuration. It is just not the kind of weapon Joe Average would have and use. However, it certainly could have been a grandpa's souvenir.

Of all the law enforcement agencies out there, I would expect the FBI to be able to tell the difference and report it accurately. Oh, yeah, the FBI is busy chasing down brown people.

These people need to get their stories straight.

Epstein, Kirk, Epstein, Kirk, Epstein, Kirk Americans want to know.

[sl8]

5. Century Arms alone sold tons of sporterized Mausers rebarreled to .30-06, dirt cheap

And they were far from the only military surplus sellers

Have you seen anything reliable that indicates this was a German WWII Mauser? The Mausers from Mexico, Belgium and some South American countries were factory chambered in .30-06 , mostly in the 1950s. Older 7mm models were rebarreled to .30-06.

[flashman13]

7. I bow to your superior knowlege. Nothing more reliable than internet posts in which the FBI reported it as a

"German Mauser" immediately after the event.

The FBI seems to have said a great deal in a situation where they would normally be very stingy with information.

[flashman13]

8. Question: Before those surplus WWII rifles were sold wouldn't they have been stamped with a serial number?

[sl8]

12. Yes, after that requirement was instituted. 1968 Gun Control Act, I think. nt

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

14. They probably had serial numbers before they originally left the Mauser factory. nt

[sl8]

16. Yes, good point. nt

[Jack Valentino]

17. The average reporter is not competent to report intelligently on specifics about firearms,

particularly vintage firearms.

And maybe not your average FBI agent, either....

[ImNotGod]

4. You can get Gew 1888 mausers shipped directly to your door without any paperwork. I believe it used the first smokeless

cartridge and since it was made before 1898 it falls under antique non firearm which needs no federal registration. The ammo, unless it was rechambered for a modern cartridge, would be very difficult but not impossible to find. I remember back in the 1990's tons of these showed up in sportsman's catalogs for around $200 buck. I still see them for sale online but at about double that price. This is just one example out of hundreds of pre 1898 weapons available that fall under the no paperwork loophole.

[Ellipsis]

6. It was his Grandfathers gun and it had a $2000 scope on it is what I heard.

[Paladin]

9. Grandpa's gun? Old war surplus rifle? $2000 scope sight?

Something's not adding up, here...

[Ellipsis]

10. Don't over think it. n/t

[Paladin]

11. Good advice. Think I'll take it. (nt)

[Ellipsis]

13. Thanks for that.... thought perhaps I was a being a bit short...

...which was not my intention.

I don't hunt but grew up around the culture. If a gun shoots straight and the manufacturer of the weapon discussed is known to ...and being a bolt action, one shot is basically what you get.

During the gun deer hunting week around here, the countryside sounds like a war zone on opening day. There's a saying.... "If you hear one shot, dear. If you hear two shots, maybe dear. If you hear three shots, no dear." A good scope makes all the difference.

Have good night Paladin.

M

[Paladin]

15. I've been in DU gun discussions for 24 years, now. Pretty hard to get me riled.

Your area appears to be like central Texas during deer season---lots of hunters, many deer. Early mornings at daybreak do indeed sound like open warfare. The younger members of my family do the hunting, now. I'm content with the memories.

[Jack Valentino]

18. The scope was added long afterwards, obviously....

[Kaleva]

19. Private sellers are not required to record serial numbers of guns sold

Only licensed gun dealers are required to record information about the gun sold , such as the serial number, and the buyer.

[LudwigPastorius]

20. Ban unregistered guns and confiscate them, please.

You'd easily lose half your MAGA base instantly.