Collyer Brothers Gun collection

[orpington]

I know this is a long shot, but under the ‘House Contents’ section, “a collection of guns” was mentioned. Any ideas what they were?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collyer_brothers

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Huh, fascinating read, no clues about the gun collection though.

 

[Monac]

Back in those days, I would assume it would have been percussion or flintlock guns. New York City firearms laws may have made that more likely too.

 

[orpington]

Back in those days, I would assume it would have been percussion or flintlock guns. New York City firearms laws may have made that more likely too.

I don’t know, the brothers passed away in 1947 and any firearms would date to 1947 or likely much before. But laws in NYC were different then, and so probably virtually anything was fair game.

I have a Winchester Model 1886 Rifle that I’ve owned for over 30 years and the previous owner claimed it came out of an apartment in Manhattan only a few years prior to my purchase. Perhaps my rifle was ex the Collyer Brothers collection?

 

[Moparnut]

The Colyer brothers are an interesting read. If you can access old police reports, you might be able to find something. Maybe. My guess would be those firearms were stolen or possibly MIA before they got to the police department.

One thing is certain, those guys were definitely odd characters.

 

[Speedo66]

I don’t know, the brothers passed away in 1947 and any firearms would date to 1947 or likely much before. But laws in NYC were different then, and so probably virtually anything was fair game.

The Sullivan Act, a NYS law requiring a license to possess a handgun, went into effect in 1911.

 

[orpington]

The Sullivan Act, a NYS law requiring a license to possess a handgun, went into effect in 1911.

Do you think the Collyer Brothers would have known or, frankly, for that matter, even cared?

 

[Speedo66]

Do you think the Collyer Brothers would have known or, frankly, for that matter, even cared?

My point was handgun laws were not different then.

 

[lonegunman]

Two guys owned some guns, got harassed by their neighbors until the day they died and then the police stole their gun collection.

Somewhere, probably long destroyed by crooked New York policemen, was a report listing the contents they took control of when they emptied the house. Maybe a FOIA request will answer this question.

 

[Monac]

deleted by author

 

[orpington]

Maybe a FOIA request will answer this question.

I submitted what’s called a FOIL request.