Would you take possession of recovered revolver?

[modelflyer2003]

I had a revolver stolen from my vehicle two years ago from in front of my house one night. Please spare the lecture: lesson learned, never again. It was my truck gun, Taurus Model 82 foreign Police trade ins, S&W Model 10 knockoff from the early 1970's. I bought two at the same time 7 years ago for $125 each from a dealer. Imported via Century Arms by the dealer that bought a bunch of them. I really liked them and never regretted buying two of them, even if my wife thought I should only "need one". They have the bull barrels. I still have the other. I did the whole police report thing and have never heard anything since. Unfortunately, every time I see an article in my hometown reporting that someone was robbed at gun point or shot by unknown person, I wonder if it was my gun. The odds are very small but my mind still goes there. I was near the police station earlier this week and decided to stop in to inquire as to the disposition. For all I knew the gun was sitting in an evidence locker somewhere or was recovered then destroyed. The lady behind the desk was able to use her computer and see that the revolver has not been recovered. She said I would be notified if the revolver ever turns up. I found myself wondering if this would really happen, but I will take her word for it. Now here lies the question: If you had a firearm stolen and had been missing for two years and the police said they have recovered the gun, and that you could pick it up, would you? I have no way of knowing if the gun was used in the commission of a robbery or a murder. I am not talking about your grandfather's favorite family heirloom that has been passed down from father to son. That's a no-brainer. I'm taking about a mass imported revolver that is easily replaced? Half of me says I want my firearm back and the other half is leery. All hypothetical, because my firearm is still out in the Twilight Zone somewhere.

 

[IndianaSoloMcfly]

If the police okay it then yeah id go get mine back. Ive been waiting on a phone call for a long time..

 

[hpclayto]

Why wouldn't you?

 

[Joniki]

If the POPO's call you and you are having second thoughts, give me a bump....

 

[churchmouse]

Yup. Go get it. If it is in good shape keep it. If it is junk cut it up but rest easy as you know where it is.

 

[joncon]

I would pick it up. No matter what it was used for. The gun doesn't do any thing wrong, it is the person holding the gun. Many guns from the 20's ,30's, 40's etc, may have been used for crimes in the past , but people still buy and or collect them.

 

[shibumiseeker]

My gf had a gun stolen 3-4 years ago and just got it back a few months ago. It now has a history, but in the end it's just a tool.

 

[Denny347]

I picked my stolen handgun up 7 years after I reported it.

 

[Brandon]

I have been waiting since very late '07 or very early '08 to hear about my two stolen guns. Sadly I dont think i will hear about one. But i would take tem back.

 

[Nazgul]

WE just got one of my wife's guns back from a burglary 15 years ago. It was still in good shape.

Don

 

[Expat]

I am not a big believer in the whole bad mojo thing. I would happily pick mine up.

 

[Old Dog]

If your hammer was stolen would you have the same concerns? The gun is a tool, nothing more or less, pick it up if you get the call. Everything is not your fault regardless of what the dumbocrats say. I have been waiting on my call since 09 and will have no regrets.

 

[MCgrease08]

Absolutely. I lost three handguns and a rifle in a home burglary four years ago. Only one has been subsequently recovered. I've started the process to get it back, but still haven't taken possession yet.

I was told when it was found, it appeared that someone had thrown it out of a car window near an overpass, so I'm guessing it was either used in a crime and tossed, or someone was about to get stopped and didn't want to be caught with it.

Either way it's undergone ballistics testing. I doubt I'd be getting it back if had been used in a homicide.

 

[EyeCarry]

I would go with what joncon said. As well as keeping any documentation from the law when getting it back.

 

[modelflyer2003]

I really wasn't looking at bad mojo or anything like that. I know that guns are tools, and that guns don't kill people. A gun has never taken upon itself to jump out of a holster and shoot somebody. I get the gun having a history part too. I collect milsurp. It's more the point about ballistics and some police detective trying to connect me to some cold case incident years from now. I have read bad reviews about the Model 82's, but it worked flawlessly. That's what made it a good truck gun. It works and if it ever got stolen I wasn't out a whole lot of money.

 

[possum_128]

Gave a cheap pistol to my best friend years ago. Gun was stolen from his house and was never reported. A few years latter I get a letter from a IPD detective wanting me to contact him about a gun I bought 16 years ago at that time that was recovered. I call him up and was informed I could come in and pick up my gun. The gun was used in a drug deal gone bad according to the detective. One bad guy shot the other in the leg with it. I was happy to retrieve it and give it back to my buddy.

 

[snorko]

In 1994 I had a Colt Officer's Enhanced 45, a Colt Double Eagle 45, a Colt Government 380 and a S&W 625 stolen. Heck yeah I would take them back.

 

[aporter]

I really wasn't looking at bad mojo or anything like that. I know that guns are tools, and that guns don't kill people. A gun has never taken upon itself to jump out of a holster and shoot somebody. I get the gun having a history part too. I collect milsurp. It's more the point about ballistics and some police detective trying to connect me to some cold case incident years from now. I have read bad reviews about the Model 82's, but it worked flawlessly. That's what made it a good truck gun. It works and if it ever got stolen I wasn't out a whole lot of money.

I could see your concern with taking possession of the weapon again for that reason. I would assume that the situation you described as a cold case would be very easy to navigate. You reported the weapon stolen, you retrieved your weapon when it was found and released by the police. I would pick it up.

I would also feel the same as you in regards to shootings and criminal activity. I know that it technically would not be my fault, but I would feel guilt if I left a weapon unsecured and it was used to hurt/kill someone or commit a crime.

 

[Indyhd]

I would love to get all of the guns back stolen from my fathers house. Unfortunately with his passing I’m sure the local PD wouldn’t spend the time to find any heirs.
If one of my handguns were stolen I would take every opportunity to get it back. Whatever happened with it when it was out of your possession could easily be proven as innocence on your part.

 

[snapping turtle]

Heck yes if one was ever stolen.

Then again I own two suicide pistols. They were used for the horror that is suicide and the family did not want them back. They also did not want them destroyed or sold by the police. They donated them to the collection. One has rust spots from blood splatter and setting in the evidence locker. The other is stainless and seemed to fair better than the blued version.

I guess i might might be a bit high on the bell curve.