Tattoos: 417, 340. What do they mean?
March 14, 2014 9:20 PM Subscribe
I am looking for ideas about what the tattoos "417" and "340" might mean.
The person with the tattoos is a 26-year-old black man from Chicago. He is currently serving two years for forgery, but has served a previous one-year sentence for drug possession. The number "417" is tattooed on his left hand and the number "340" on his right hand. I find myself immensely curious about what these tattoos might mean.
Of course, they may have personal meaning only to him, in which case this is an unsolvable puzzle. But if they are in any way more widely significant, I'd like some ideas about what their significance might be. I mention his incarceration history in case it helps narrow down the possibilities.
What I've learned from my own googling:
417 is sometimes used as a code for crystal meth.
417 is an area code in southern Missouri. 340 is the area code for the US Virgin Islands. Neither of these seem relevant.
I am not in a situation where I can simply ask him to tell me about his tattoos.
The person with the tattoos is a 26-year-old black man from Chicago. He is currently serving two years for forgery, but has served a previous one-year sentence for drug possession. The number "417" is tattooed on his left hand and the number "340" on his right hand. I find myself immensely curious about what these tattoos might mean.
Of course, they may have personal meaning only to him, in which case this is an unsolvable puzzle. But if they are in any way more widely significant, I'd like some ideas about what their significance might be. I mention his incarceration history in case it helps narrow down the possibilities.
What I've learned from my own googling:
417 is sometimes used as a code for crystal meth.
417 is an area code in southern Missouri. 340 is the area code for the US Virgin Islands. Neither of these seem relevant.
I am not in a situation where I can simply ask him to tell me about his tattoos.
This post was deleted for the following reason: Hey, sorry, but the combination of personal info here makes this way too identifying of a third party. Contact us soonish if you'd like to edit to fix that. Thanks. -- taz
Is his name Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John? Like Rabarberofficer that was my first thought, so maybe self-referential.
posted by Carillon at 9:34 PM on March 14, 2014
posted by Carillon at 9:34 PM on March 14, 2014
My money is on area codes.
Chicago isn't far from southern Missouri (he could be from there), and he could have ties to the Virgin Islands. Or, it/they could symbolize where he was when a significant event in his life occurred. Area codes are also a fairly common tattoo.
posted by likeatoaster at 9:42 PM on March 14, 2014 [1 favorite]
Chicago isn't far from southern Missouri (he could be from there), and he could have ties to the Virgin Islands. Or, it/they could symbolize where he was when a significant event in his life occurred. Area codes are also a fairly common tattoo.
posted by likeatoaster at 9:42 PM on March 14, 2014 [1 favorite]
Cell numbers? Number of days of his sentences?
posted by SpacemanStix at 9:55 PM on March 14, 2014
posted by SpacemanStix at 9:55 PM on March 14, 2014
Just an FYI, 417 is a code for meth because of the area code in Southwest Missouri. The film Winters Bone with Jennifer Lawrence is set in (and filmed locally) in the 417.
Another option, 417 is also the police code for person with a gun. That seems like a message of intimidation someone might want to have visible in tattoo form.
Can't help you on the other number, though.
posted by shinynewnick at 9:56 PM on March 14, 2014
Another option, 417 is also the police code for person with a gun. That seems like a message of intimidation someone might want to have visible in tattoo form.
Can't help you on the other number, though.
posted by shinynewnick at 9:56 PM on March 14, 2014
There are a few Bible chapters/verses with these numbers that may apply well to someone trying to get through a prison sentence (especially if he had a conversion experience, or was feeling repentant):
1 Cor 4:17: "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."
Lamentations 3:40: "Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord."
Of course there are a number of books in the Bible that would have these chapter and verse designations, but if Google is to be trusted, these are two of the more popular ones with people.
posted by SpacemanStix at 10:01 PM on March 14, 2014 [1 favorite]
1 Cor 4:17: "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."
Lamentations 3:40: "Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord."
Of course there are a number of books in the Bible that would have these chapter and verse designations, but if Google is to be trusted, these are two of the more popular ones with people.
posted by SpacemanStix at 10:01 PM on March 14, 2014 [1 favorite]
This is pure speculation, but given the fragmented nature of Chicago gang life, maybe the second number is a very local reference.
Here's an article about a drug bust that happened at 340 Western Avenue public housing facility.
posted by shinynewnick at 10:04 PM on March 14, 2014
Here's an article about a drug bust that happened at 340 Western Avenue public housing facility.
posted by shinynewnick at 10:04 PM on March 14, 2014
Also, numbers are sometimes used in prison tattoos to identify affiliation, like with gangs and such.
posted by SpacemanStix at 10:08 PM on March 14, 2014
posted by SpacemanStix at 10:08 PM on March 14, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Rabarberofficer at 9:21 PM on March 14, 2014 [1 favorite]