Citation(s) from the GunPolicy.org literature library
Spain. 2008 ‘Marking of State Arms.’ National Report of Spain on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA), pp. 9-10. New York, NY: Permanent Mission of Spain to the United Nations. 31 March
Relevant contents
Marking of State Arms
The national marking system is described in article 28 of the Regulations on Arms, which governs the codes and markings required for firearms in the possession of government armed and security forces. A different acronym is assigned to each corps.
All small arms and light weapons must be marked with the following:
- Manufacturer's mark;
- A number composed of the:
° Number assigned to the manufacturer;
° Number corresponding to type of weapon;
° Serial number, beginning each year with the number 1;
° Last two digits of the year of manufacture;
° If purchased for the armed forces or security forces, weapons are numbered separately, and the acronym of the purchasing entity is included: Army (ET), Navy (FN), Air Force (EA), Ministry of Defence (MD), Civil Guard (GC), National Police Corps (CNP) and Customs Service (SVA);
° Special numbers may be assigned to weapons supplied to foreign Governments, in which case the Civil Guard is informed.
In addition to these markings, weapons must also bear an official proof house stamp recognized by Spain… The Spanish stamps are produced by the Eibar Official Proof House, which reports to the General Directorate of Arms and Materials of the Ministry of Defence …
… the marks are verified during the final testing phase by BOPE or, in the case of weapons manufactured for the armed forces and security forces, by inspectors of those forces.
[BOPE: In Spain the official agency in charge of firearm testing is known as Eibar Official Proof House]