Serial numbers

[@nd]

In roughly what year did serial numbers first start to appear on British firearms??
Thanks

[FredB]

What do you mean? Individual manufacturers sometimes numbered their products since time immemorial, but some didn't. I have a Snider---circa 1865--- with no number or manufacturers name. Serial numbers have no standard format and actually mean nothing. Many military firearms have four digit numbers, but they made millions of them.
Fred

[@nd]

Thanks Fred
I was just wondering if the government in a particular year made it law to number all firearms.

[Hrun]

I have a replica musket with no serial no and am about to buy a replica flintlock with no serial number.

I also own a Mauser .308 I tried to find out more about, but they have no records before 1999.

As above, the only reason for arbitory serial numbers is to make my liberal dad feel safer..