Recovered Stolen Firearm.

KansasTrapper77

KansasTrapper77

Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2021
Messages
455
Location
Nebraska
Short story even shorter, I had my M&P Shield .45 stolen out of my car on New Year’s Eve two years ago. Yes it should not have been in the car. Yes I now have a lockbox I use if I MUST leave a handgun in the car. But anyways they found it less than a year later in the possession of an illegal immigrant with a felony and since I had reported it stolen w/ serial number it was “found”.

I just received it this weekend from the station. Holy cow. This 3rd world clown, waste of air beat, the crap out of this gun. Damaged the rear sights, red substance of some kind on the side of the frame, and what appears to be an attempt to GLUE(?) a weapon light to the gun.

Three Questions.
1) Is acetone too rough for an M&P frame to remove the red crap?
2) Any ideas on how to remove the glue substance? Light sanding? Acetone? Ethanol?
3) Is this gun sellable purely from an FFL Transfer standpoint? After being reported stolen etc?


IMG_1139.jpeg IMG_1136.jpeg IMG_1137.jpeg IMG_1138.jpeg
 
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Naptha (Lighter fluid) is the main solvent in most glues and it want harm the gun. I use it a lot for removing labels. Other solvents to try are mineral spirits, brake cleaner. If naptha does not work I move on to hotter solvents. But you have to be careful if using it on plastic. Sometimes a little heat will help loose the glue, then just roll it off with your fingers.
 
Doesn't look that bad, I imagined worst.

I've learned always be careful in amount of pressure when using solvents on polymers. The pressure in addition to the solvent can cause smearing/movement of surface polymer causing a blemish.

As @Blue68f100 said better to go on the lighter strength solvents first. I would try a heat gun on low setting first.
 
Thanks, I’ll start with some Naptha and some heat.

@BreechFace
There is more done than just pictured. The slide has some dings and rust starting. But you’re right it’s not terrible or un-fixable if I can get the glue off. Going to contact M&P about getting new Hi-Vis fiber optic pieces for the rear.
 
KansasTrapper77 said:
Thanks, I’ll start with some Naptha and some heat.

@BreechFace
There is more done than just pictured. The slide has some dings and rust starting. But you’re right it’s not terrible or un-fixable if I can get the glue off. Going to contact M&P about getting new Hi-Vis fiber optic pieces for the rear.
Click to expand...

Worth a call to S&W, they will probably send you some for free. But if not one can buy sticks of whatever color and cut pieces to size.
 
If S&W won't give you some FO inserts, the cheapest place is
They sell by the meter and just roll it up and mail it, so cost is low.

Good luck on the goo.
The slide is allegedly stainless steel but it seems a rather mild stainless. I would just steel wool or wire brush any sign of rust and motor on. In fact I have, my M&P 1.0 was finish damaged in the Incident and after cleanup it just looks a bit worn.
 
I would leave it just as is! Provenance, red patina and all. Place it a glass case and tell the tale over-over.
 
If I was going to keep it personally I’d fix the sights and rock it! But a buddy mentioned he was interested in it. So my plan was to give it to him in credit towards an M1 Garand from him. So I want to clean it up and run a box or two through it and make sure its clean and rock solid.
 
I would have trouble parting with it after it found its way back home. I would do my best at getting the goo off but I would keep it as a keepsake and as a reminder to keep things secured. If the scars are too much to bear then stipple it like a Glock and move on.
 
AFAIK, FFLs do not (or are not required to, by ATF) run firearms for status as stolen/not listed stolen. If anyone knows for certain, please comment.

From prior LE experience, I would strongly advise you to ensure your pistol has been cleared from "stolen weapon status".
I've made several people very uncomfortable, because they forgot to notify LE that the car they reported as stolen
(because brother in law, etc didn't bring it back when he said he would) was no longer stolen, once they got it back.
 
Steve762us said:
AFAIK, FFLs do not (or are not required to, by ATF) run firearms for status as stolen/not listed stolen. If anyone knows for certain, please comment.

From prior LE experience, I would strongly advise you to ensure your pistol has been cleared from "stolen weapon status".
I've made several people very uncomfortable, because they forgot to notify LE that the car they reported as stolen
(because brother in law, etc didn't bring it back when he said he would) was no longer stolen, once they got it back.
Click to expand...
He said he got it back from the police
 
I would never use acetone on plastic.

I would try to get the bulk of it with a razor blade then alcohol. I have never used naptha on plastic so can't comment if it would be better than alcohol.
 
WestKentucky said:
I would have trouble parting with it after it found its way back home. I would do my best at getting the goo off but I would keep it as a keepsake and as a reminder to keep things secured. If the scars are too much to bear then stipple it like a Glock and move on.
Click to expand...

If it was anything other than a conceal carry handgun I probably would keep it. But I replaced it with a near identical firearm and a conceal carry weapon is such a tool to me it holds very little sentimental value.
 
Hoppe's #9 is an excellent goo remover. I have never had acetone damage any finish on steel. Plastic is entirely different and I would never use it on any plastic gun parts although some plastics are acetone proof. Ordinary 91% rubbing alcohol will remove many things too with no damage to underlying surfaces.
 
Steve762us said:
AFAIK, FFLs do not (or are not required to, by ATF) run firearms for status as stolen/not listed stolen. If anyone knows for certain, please comment.

From prior LE experience, I would strongly advise you to ensure your pistol has been cleared from "stolen weapon status".
I've made several people very uncomfortable, because they forgot to notify LE that the car they reported as stolen
(because brother in law, etc didn't bring it back when he said he would) was no longer stolen, once they got it back.
Click to expand...

Insignificant bill said:
He said he got it back from the police
Click to expand...
LOL.....My mother's car was stolen😢...she notified the Glendale district police......the car was used in a liquor store robbery😱.....the license plate was traced to my mom's residence😨 .....I had dinner with my parents 😇and was driving home when I was stopped and detained by the police from Highland Park district.😵‍💫😵‍💫 Seems the Glendale police DID NOT put out an area wide APB that the car was stolen. Try talking your self out of that.🤔
There is more to the story but I just wanted to point out not to take things for granted and do ask about it's status.
 
KansasTrapper77 said:
3) Is this gun sellable purely from an FFL Transfer standpoint? After being reported stolen etc?
Click to expand...

Yes, it remains vendable & transferrable. Just as much as the "report" that it was stolen, there now exists a "report" that it was recovered and subsequently another "report" that it was returned to you. It might help you sleep at night to disclose that it had been stolen and you're unaware of it's uses during that time until your recovery, but that story is really just a story with no legal ramifications for the pistol, and will fade into obscurity relatively quickly if you sell it.

You MAY want an affidavit to accompany the firearm if you ever DO choose to sell it, simply for the fact that anyone doing any checking MAY remain to find the original mechanism by which it was reported stolen, such they may refuse to purchase or transfer the firearm, but not find the subsequent provenance that the firearm should have been removed from the "hot list." In making a private sale which doesn't require a record of transfer, you may want to accompany such affidavit with the firearm so the future owner doesn't have any issues if they were to later pursue a traceable transfer.
 
Varminterror said:
It might help you sleep at night to disclose that it had been stolen and you're unaware of it's uses during that time until your recovery, but that story is really just a story with no legal ramifications for the pistol, and will fade into obscurity relatively quickly if you sell it.
Click to expand...

Said friend interested in it knows the full story. In fact it was him asking me about the status of the firearm that lead to ME inquiring about the status of the firearm that got it released.
 
epags said:
LOL.....My mother's car was stolen😢...she notified the Glendale district police......the car was used in a liquor store robbery😱.....the license plate was traced to my mom's residence😨 (The car was subsequently recovered, and notice given to Glendale PD) .....I had dinner with my parents 😇and was driving home when I was stopped and detained by the police from Highland Park district.😵‍💫😵‍💫 Seems the Glendale police DID NOT put out an area wide APB that the car was stolen recovered. Try talking your self out of that.🤔 (10851 + 211? No... 😆 )
There is more to the story but I just wanted to point out not to take things for granted and do ask about it's status.
Click to expand...
Made a few clarifications, to your narrative. Excellent example of how "stuff happens."

For the skeptics, entries to NCIC (not 'NICS, of purchasing background checks) are more or less a manual action, whether it's listing a vehicle
or firearm as stolen, or a warrant for arrest. Generally, someone fills the info on each field of a page, to make the information available
to all LE agencies that have access to NCIC, directly or thru state system.

Removing an item from status as stolen, or 'unlisting' an arrest warrant, is even more of a manual operation.

Some clerk (or officer on light duty, who's hating every minute :oops: ) looks up the item in NCIC, then goes thru procedure to delete it or change
it's status.

And hopefully hits "SAVE", before exiting the page...

So...yes, it's worth calling or dropping by the station, with weapon s/n, make & model WRITTEN ON A PIECE OF PAPER, and explaining the
situation--"I just want to be sure it's no longer listed as stolen, on the crime computer, officer...".
 
Steve762us said:
epags said:
LOL.....My mother's car was stolen😢...she notified the Glendale district police......the car was used in a liquor store robbery😱.....the license plate was traced to my mom's residence😨 (The car was subsequently recovered, and notice given to Glendale PD) .....I had dinner with my parents 😇and was driving home when I was stopped and detained by the police from Highland Park district.😵‍💫😵‍💫 Seems the Glendale police DID NOT put out an area wide APB that the car was stolen recovered. Try talking your self out of that.🤔 (10851 + 211? No... 😆 )
There is more to the story but I just wanted to point out not to take things for granted and do ask about it's status.
Click to expand...

Steve762us said:
Made a few clarifications, to your narrative. Excellent example of how "stuff happens."

For the skeptics, entries to NCIC (not 'NICS, of purchasing background checks) are more or less a manual action, whether it's listing a vehicle
or firearm as stolen, or a warrant for arrest. Generally, someone fills the info on each field of a page, to make the information available
to all LE agencies that have access to NCIC, directly or thru state system.

Removing an item from status as stolen, or 'unlisting' an arrest warrant, is even more of a manual operation.

Some clerk (or officer on light duty, who's hating every minute :oops: ) looks up the item in NCIC, then goes thru procedure to delete it or change
it's status.

And hopefully hits "SAVE", before exiting the page...
So...yes, it's worth calling or dropping by the station, with weapon s/n, make & model WRITTEN ON A PIECE OF PAPER, and explaining the
situation--"I just want to be sure it's no longer listed as stolen, on the crime computer, officer...".
Click to expand...
To all reading the above; the bolded lettering is from a Steve762us and not part of my original post.

Steve: I was the guy spending several hours in a police station (not you) while they sorted out the facts about the stolen vehicle and the fact i did not match the description of the robber so I do not know where your 'clarifictations' came from since we do not know each other. The car was NOT subsequently recovered for some 10 days later after the event. The report of it being stolen is what was NOT reported.
Please do not make 'corrections' to something that you have no knowledge of.
Thank you.
If you want to discuss this off line please PM me.
 
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