In the early 80s while letting a friend that worked on the back of our small towns only garbage truck go on vacation, I did! About a week after I started, I saw a paper bag with some arrows sticking out
I looked into it &there was some camping gear & a cigar box w/ tape around it. Inside was a Colt Gold Cup totally disasimbled! After about a few hours at home I had a working .45 auto pistol! Checked it out to see if it was used in a crime or stolen. It was clean & I was told it was mine by the city police. Sold it a few years later. It shot fine! Never found out why it was thrown out!