standingbear
Member
what happens to them?do they get destroyed,returned to the original owner ...also,what if the gun was stolen or was found during a narcotics arrest?
recovered guns?
- Thread starter standingbear
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Thumper
Member
I had a Ruger KGP-141 and a Hi-Power stolen from my truck (break in) in Athens, Ga. a few years back.
They were recovered in Conyers a few months later in a traffic stop and returned to me the same day.
Neither of the holsters (one a Kramer I loved) were found.
They were recovered in Conyers a few months later in a traffic stop and returned to me the same day.
Neither of the holsters (one a Kramer I loved) were found.
SquirrelNuts
Member
I would assume that unless they were used in another crime, they would be returned.
-SquirrelNuts
-SquirrelNuts
Standing Wolf
Member in memoriam
Two of my guns were stolen by a scammer with a convincing story and perfectly legitimate-looking identification.
Like most scammers, he was caught in due time.
The B.A.T.F. called to say my firearms would be returned to me, and about a year later, they were, both in holsters I'd never purchased. Both were dirty. One was somewhat worn. I still have both to this day, and haven't sold a gun since then.
Like most scammers, he was caught in due time.
The B.A.T.F. called to say my firearms would be returned to me, and about a year later, they were, both in holsters I'd never purchased. Both were dirty. One was somewhat worn. I still have both to this day, and haven't sold a gun since then.
mdsteele
Member
Hey StandingWolf, can you elaborate? I'm just curious.
Thumper
Member
Yeah...that DOES sound interesting...
standingbear
Member
what about..
situations where the gun was not stolen?
situations where the gun was not stolen?
Thumper
Member
Recovered from what, then...?
Did you lose a gun?
Did you lose a gun?
Standing Wolf
Member in memoriam
Well... lemme see, here, eh?
A client left me high and dry for $5,000 in the middle 1980s. I went to all my vendors with my sad tale, and to a one, they were sympathetic, surprised I intended to pay what I owed them, glad to accept delayed payment, and equally glad to throw business my way. Without exception, they were kind, understanding, and generous.
Meanwhile, I kept a beater on the road instead of trading it in, lived cheaply, and sold some of my guns. I wasn't shooting much in those days: I was contending with Page Maker 1, trying to figure out how to do color separations, taking graphic design courses, et cetera.
I sold two guns to a self-styled "restaurant consultant," and accepted a check in payment after scrutinizing his driver's license. I sold a couple more to other people the same way with no problems. The self-styled "restaurant consultant's" check bounced. I went to the local P.D. They'd already heard of him under that alias and assorted others, and would I like to add my name to the list?
My insurance company refused to reimburse me for my loss, since I'd "voluntarily sold" the guns to the criminal, who'd been paroled from prison several weeks earlier. The state insurance commissioner's office received a letter from me. The insurance company underwent a sudden change of heart, and sent me a check for part of the amount, which I applied to debts owed to my vendors. I switched insurance companies, if it need be said: my agent and claims adjustor had tried to rip me off about the same way the "restaurant consultant" had.
Roughly a year later, I received a telephone call from a B.A.T.F. guy to inform me the "restaurant consultant" had been busted five or six states away with a "cache of firearms," a bundle of phoney identification, lots of stolen stuff, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. He needed proof of my ownership of two firearms, so I sent him copies of the original bills of sale.
I called several times during the following year or so, and was told the case was "pending," and the firearms were "needed for evidence," and then the "restaurant consultant" had been found guilty, but the firearms were still needed in case he appealed, et cetera. By and bye, I received a call from another B.A.T.F. individual to inform me he couldn't ship the guns to me, but could ship them to a local F.F.L. I found a sporting goods shop, explained things to the guy, and sent his name and number to the B.A.T.F. guy. Several weeks later, the local F.F.L. called to say the guns were in, and since they'd been stolen from me, he'd skip the usual fee, which I think was $10 per gun.
Lo, and behold, both guns were in a box, each with a holster I'd never purchased. I felt guilty about accepting stuff that wasn't mine, then figured a cheap Nylon holster and an expensive leather shoulder rig were probably fair payment for the hassle I'd been put through. Both guns were dirty, and one was somewhat holster-worn, but the other was in fine shape.
Eventually, I paid off my vendors, but haven't even considered selling a gun since, and wouldn't sell one for cash to a close friend or relative. I'll leave all that to the executors of my estate. I've got one or two guns I don't need and hardly ever shoot, but have too many memories of a sale gone all awry.
As for the "restaurant consultant," I'm sure he was paroled again, went on another fraud spree, got busted again, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
A client left me high and dry for $5,000 in the middle 1980s. I went to all my vendors with my sad tale, and to a one, they were sympathetic, surprised I intended to pay what I owed them, glad to accept delayed payment, and equally glad to throw business my way. Without exception, they were kind, understanding, and generous.
Meanwhile, I kept a beater on the road instead of trading it in, lived cheaply, and sold some of my guns. I wasn't shooting much in those days: I was contending with Page Maker 1, trying to figure out how to do color separations, taking graphic design courses, et cetera.
I sold two guns to a self-styled "restaurant consultant," and accepted a check in payment after scrutinizing his driver's license. I sold a couple more to other people the same way with no problems. The self-styled "restaurant consultant's" check bounced. I went to the local P.D. They'd already heard of him under that alias and assorted others, and would I like to add my name to the list?
My insurance company refused to reimburse me for my loss, since I'd "voluntarily sold" the guns to the criminal, who'd been paroled from prison several weeks earlier. The state insurance commissioner's office received a letter from me. The insurance company underwent a sudden change of heart, and sent me a check for part of the amount, which I applied to debts owed to my vendors. I switched insurance companies, if it need be said: my agent and claims adjustor had tried to rip me off about the same way the "restaurant consultant" had.
Roughly a year later, I received a telephone call from a B.A.T.F. guy to inform me the "restaurant consultant" had been busted five or six states away with a "cache of firearms," a bundle of phoney identification, lots of stolen stuff, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. He needed proof of my ownership of two firearms, so I sent him copies of the original bills of sale.
I called several times during the following year or so, and was told the case was "pending," and the firearms were "needed for evidence," and then the "restaurant consultant" had been found guilty, but the firearms were still needed in case he appealed, et cetera. By and bye, I received a call from another B.A.T.F. individual to inform me he couldn't ship the guns to me, but could ship them to a local F.F.L. I found a sporting goods shop, explained things to the guy, and sent his name and number to the B.A.T.F. guy. Several weeks later, the local F.F.L. called to say the guns were in, and since they'd been stolen from me, he'd skip the usual fee, which I think was $10 per gun.
Lo, and behold, both guns were in a box, each with a holster I'd never purchased. I felt guilty about accepting stuff that wasn't mine, then figured a cheap Nylon holster and an expensive leather shoulder rig were probably fair payment for the hassle I'd been put through. Both guns were dirty, and one was somewhat holster-worn, but the other was in fine shape.
Eventually, I paid off my vendors, but haven't even considered selling a gun since, and wouldn't sell one for cash to a close friend or relative. I'll leave all that to the executors of my estate. I've got one or two guns I don't need and hardly ever shoot, but have too many memories of a sale gone all awry.
As for the "restaurant consultant," I'm sure he was paroled again, went on another fraud spree, got busted again, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
Tamara
Senior Member
My Old Model Bearcat was a po-po seizure; so is my Browning BDM.
They run the serial numbers and wait a certain amount of time to see if someone reclaims them and then:
1) Various statist principalities destroy them.
2) More enlightened republics auction them off or use them as trade goods for new service sidearms.
If you've ever browsed through a police evidence locker or a couple of crates of seized guns, you'd laugh in the face of the next Political Overlord who whined to you that "assault weapons are the favored tools of gangsters"! From what I can tell, the favored tools of gangsters are assorted pot-metal wonderguns leavened by the occasional rusty K-frame, Security Six or Ruger semiauto. The rifles appear to be evenly divided between SKS's and Marlin Model 60's, and what shotguns there are are mostly H&R toppers with the barrels lopped off to 12" or so...
They run the serial numbers and wait a certain amount of time to see if someone reclaims them and then:
1) Various statist principalities destroy them.
2) More enlightened republics auction them off or use them as trade goods for new service sidearms.
If you've ever browsed through a police evidence locker or a couple of crates of seized guns, you'd laugh in the face of the next Political Overlord who whined to you that "assault weapons are the favored tools of gangsters"! From what I can tell, the favored tools of gangsters are assorted pot-metal wonderguns leavened by the occasional rusty K-frame, Security Six or Ruger semiauto. The rifles appear to be evenly divided between SKS's and Marlin Model 60's, and what shotguns there are are mostly H&R toppers with the barrels lopped off to 12" or so...
Thumper
Member
Hey, Tam...
I got a Smith 41 out of a box of police trade ins...
Talked real nice to the S&W guy at SHOT in '99 and he ended up having it refinished for me.
He sent it back, not only refinished, but with NEW GRIPS AND 3 MAGS...all for free.
I miss working in a gunstore.
I got a Smith 41 out of a box of police trade ins...
Talked real nice to the S&W guy at SHOT in '99 and he ended up having it refinished for me.
He sent it back, not only refinished, but with NEW GRIPS AND 3 MAGS...all for free.
I miss working in a gunstore.
Fed168
Member
It depends on the case. I am working to return one now to its owner- stolen ten years ago.
EOD Guy
Member
In California, they are returned to the legal owner unless he/she is not legally allowed to possess them. Some PD's try and keep them or have them destroyed, but California law requires that they be returned. The CRPA recently won a lawsuit against the LAPD on this matter.
Had several stolen over the years; ex-spouse "loaned" several to some of her "friends", who usually took off to other states shortly thereafter, only one I ever heard about again was my .357 Blackhawk, stolen in 1977.
Seems some IDIOTA attempted to rob a bank in NYC with the Blackhawk, but had 2 minor episodes of 'cranial flatulence' (1.)Tried to rob the bank next to NYPD substation/precinct house (2.) on NYPD Payday.
Got a visit from the Fibbys in '78, still waiting for the return of that Blackhawk.....
Seems some IDIOTA attempted to rob a bank in NYC with the Blackhawk, but had 2 minor episodes of 'cranial flatulence' (1.)Tried to rob the bank next to NYPD substation/precinct house (2.) on NYPD Payday.
Got a visit from the Fibbys in '78, still waiting for the return of that Blackhawk.....
SquirrelNuts
Member
I remember reading about a similar story where a man tried to rob a bank with the FBI field office on the floor above the bank. It was also payday. The man waited patiently in line with the gun stuck in the back of his pants. One agent saw this and by the time the man made it to the teller, there were 20-something agents right behind him.
-SquirrelNuts
bear in mind that if you have insurance and it pays off on your claim of a stolen firearm...it no longer belongs to you, it now belongs to them
WilderBill
Member
A couple of years back, a co worker had his new USP stolen.
He reported it to the local PD and waited.
Two months later he got impatient and bought a replacement.
A month after that he got a call from the local PD asking him to come pick up his pistol.
It seems that an officer had bought it at a gun show and then checked the S/N when he went to work Monday morning.
Sort of a weird way to get it back, but he did and now has a matched pair of USPs!
No word on wheather the officer that bought it ever got his money back.
He reported it to the local PD and waited.
Two months later he got impatient and bought a replacement.
A month after that he got a call from the local PD asking him to come pick up his pistol.
It seems that an officer had bought it at a gun show and then checked the S/N when he went to work Monday morning.
Sort of a weird way to get it back, but he did and now has a matched pair of USPs!
No word on wheather the officer that bought it ever got his money back.
i'll bet he hunted down the seller...
"you can refund my money or go to jail for having sold me a stolen gun"
"you can refund my money or go to jail for having sold me a stolen gun"
Freightman
Member
You are right about the insurance, as the gun shop owner I work for bid on six guns, rifles, and pistols that the insurance co had paid for and the man didn't want them back so the co sold them to the higest bidder, we were the shop that got them. He bid low but the agent said that we were high bidder.
They had been five years between the theft and the recovery.
They had been five years between the theft and the recovery.
I had a brother-in-law that spent most of his adult life in Law Enforcement. He died at the age of 37 and during his funeral some low life broke into his home and stole two pistols we had not removed.
A Colt 45 Auto and a S&W 58 both Nickle and both former duty weapons.
we learned from the local sheriff (A personal friend of his) that they had been found in the house of a man who was arrested for robbery. The weapons were not used in the robbery and our Sheriff, in contact with the police where this happened, said he would try to get them returned to us. He even had papers listing them as authorized duty weapons.
The local judge there would not release them and we never saw them again.
I have always wished I had them both. Partly because they were his and partly because they were both fine weapons.
A Colt 45 Auto and a S&W 58 both Nickle and both former duty weapons.
we learned from the local sheriff (A personal friend of his) that they had been found in the house of a man who was arrested for robbery. The weapons were not used in the robbery and our Sheriff, in contact with the police where this happened, said he would try to get them returned to us. He even had papers listing them as authorized duty weapons.
The local judge there would not release them and we never saw them again.
I have always wished I had them both. Partly because they were his and partly because they were both fine weapons.
blades67
Member
Standing Wolf, what in the world were you thinking? What would posses you to take a check from somebody like that? You got burned with a bad check and the lesson you learned from that was don't sell a gun for cash? Am I the only person that doesn't understand that?
Am I the only person that doesn't understand that?furetto7
Member
Sitting in my evidence locker right now is a S&W 686 that I siezed as evidence two years ago in an Aggravated Assault case, ran the serial number and it turns out the gun was stolen from a camper parked at a fireworks stand in Sterling Alaska in 1984, the guy I took the gun from had bought it three years earlier at a gun show in Wichita from a private party. The original owner was a waitress and moved around quite a bit, now almost twenty years later the Alaska State Police can't find her so that we can return her gun. We have several recovered guns that were outthere for years before they were recovered by law enforcement. The majority of departments will return a gun to its owner once it is nolonger needed as evidence, with our court system it can sometimes take years to adjudicate a case to the point where the court will allow us to release the evidence.
Doc
Member
OK this is slightly off topic but i was reminded by Standing Wolf's tale.
An acquaintance who is fed LEO (DOE), is an upstanding citizen he looks less so. (He is hispanic with long slicked back hair pony tail, early 80's cutlass with dark tinted windows - think lowrider.
Well anyway, he was en route thru Texas and got stopped for speeding, during the preliminaries the the Texas DPS askes him if our he has any weapons (he's going to teach some firearms classes). He says yes, presents his LEO credentials, and for whatever reason the DPS cop wants to see the weapons. So our friend shows him the trunk full of weapons:
2 legal pre ban AR 15, 2 shotguns, and about 5 handguns. The DPS guy runs the serial numbers on all the guns. They all come up clean, EXCEPT ONE!
So they impound the vehicle, all the guns and he has to call his boss to get sprung. Boss is cool, but rules are rules and a firearms violation is serious bad news. He has his clearance revoked summarily and was still fighting to get it reinstated over 3 years later.
Turns out one of the hand guns he purchased legally from a real retail gun store had previously been stolen, sold once to an individual then a second time to the gun store owner where our guy bought it righteously. The gunstore owner did not run any kind of check on it prior to reselling it. (Apparently that isn't required?). Our protagonist lives in a state where hand gun registration isn't the law. So HE never runs the number on it.
I only own 3 used guns, all of which I promptly took to the local PD and had them check.
An acquaintance who is fed LEO (DOE), is an upstanding citizen he looks less so. (He is hispanic with long slicked back hair pony tail, early 80's cutlass with dark tinted windows - think lowrider.
Well anyway, he was en route thru Texas and got stopped for speeding, during the preliminaries the the Texas DPS askes him if our he has any weapons (he's going to teach some firearms classes). He says yes, presents his LEO credentials, and for whatever reason the DPS cop wants to see the weapons. So our friend shows him the trunk full of weapons:
2 legal pre ban AR 15, 2 shotguns, and about 5 handguns. The DPS guy runs the serial numbers on all the guns. They all come up clean, EXCEPT ONE!
So they impound the vehicle, all the guns and he has to call his boss to get sprung. Boss is cool, but rules are rules and a firearms violation is serious bad news. He has his clearance revoked summarily and was still fighting to get it reinstated over 3 years later.
Turns out one of the hand guns he purchased legally from a real retail gun store had previously been stolen, sold once to an individual then a second time to the gun store owner where our guy bought it righteously. The gunstore owner did not run any kind of check on it prior to reselling it. (Apparently that isn't required?). Our protagonist lives in a state where hand gun registration isn't the law. So HE never runs the number on it.
I only own 3 used guns, all of which I promptly took to the local PD and had them check.
- Status