Found a gun

Status
Not open for further replies.
First, finders keepers - especially after 20 years on property that you own; that's a no-brainer.

Second, nobody's sitting in a rocking chair staring mournfully through a window waiting for that gun to be returned.

Third, have fun with your free gun!
 
I actually kinda agree with DHJenkins. After all as the ancient Chinese Proverb goes "an eagle that flies too straight often has a hard time turning when need be like when confronted with a building or large tree."
 
I bought , cleaned up , reblued and gifted my daughter with a Walther PPK cirica 1972 found in a wall on a house demo . I got it off a trading buddy cheap due to the wear and tear due to some years of being " framed inn " did to it . I ran the serial through ncic with the local pd and it came back clear ( not stolen or wanted by no ) . I have no moral issue at all with my actions and have made no attempt to find the fool who lost it .
I got a bargain and the daughter got a nice little present that she can use when she wants a smaller ccw .
 
Whoever left that rifle there is long gone and probably forgot it by now.

if you call the police the rifle will probably spend the next 20 years in an evidence locker.

Enjoy
 
Ya maybe I should stop while I am behind. Maybe not. All work and no play you know. And as for the edit button. I stand behind everything I said 100%. Well at the very least 50%. And I do not know if "spam" is the right word. Maybe a bunch of crap or something like that would describe my posts better. But remember this IS the internet. You don't have to uphold its integrity all on your own Mike the Wolf.
 
I'm not sure what happened to this thread. Did not intend to be an internet-jerk.

However, having had guns stolen from me, I am advocating that the OP have his local LE run the serial number to see if the gun is stolen.

Further, I've seen numerous posts from mods and others in other threads stating that THR does not condone illegal activities and encourages guns owners to stay "above board". I can't see how one can say that out of one corner of their mouth, then proclaim "finder's keepers" out of the other. Granted the finder is not doing anything illegal. But not very High Road IMO.

If the gun turns out to be not stolen, then sure...Merry Xmas.

nobody's sitting in a rocking chair staring mournfully through a window waiting for that gun to be returned.
Click to expand...

FACT: You do not know this.
 
Last edited:
Ask the local LEO to run the serial #.
DO NOT turn it in to them unless it's stolen. Possession is 90%? of ownership?
Can you go to a FFL and run the serial#?
Make an effort, document the effort, be prudent. Don't play BTAFE.
 
Rephrased: if something was stolen from me 20 years ago (not abandoned/lost/forgotten), is that property still mine, regardless of whose possession the property is in?
Click to expand...
A THR member had a stolen handgun returned to him after a number of years. It want 20, but it was long after he gave up hope of getting it back.

I'd call the local LEA, tel them what's going on, and ask them to run the numbers. If it comes back stolen, they can reunite it with ts rightful owner. If not, finders keepers.

nobody's sitting in a rocking chair staring mournfully through a window waiting for that gun to be returned.
Click to expand...
I have my grandfather's 10-22. He passed before I was born. I got it, zeroed the scope, and it hasnt been fired since. So, it sits in the safe, unfired, and gets a rubdown about once a month.

If it got stolen, I'd be pretty tore up about it. And I'd probably be that guy in the rocking chair.
 
Write the Serial # on a peice of paper give it LEO to run the NCIC check. If you you stopped by LEO you can be charged with stolen property. Is it worth lossing your CPL or your right to own firearms? If it is clean it is yours. Are you a responable gun owner? If you are do the right thing. you will feel better.
 
1. Do nothing, have fun with it and enjoy.

2. If you feel the need to run a background check, and establish ownership. Pawn it and buy it back the next day. Then you know it is not on the bad gun list and you have a bill of sale.
 
My 'finders keepers' attitude has absolutely nothing to do with my morality - I just don't get emotionally attached to objects. Once it's gone, it's gone; I've got better things to do than pine over lost property and I usually replace whatever it was with something better.

If he'd found a diamond ring or a cool baseball card it wouldn't even be an issue, sentimental 'value' or not.

Besides, storage places auction off the contents of unpaid units (as a complete, un-opened lot) all the time. If you paid $50 for the lot and found a bunch of guns, would you try to find the owner or would you keep them because you 'paid' for them?
 
I think we are at am impasse, since we don't know if the gun is stolen or lost/mislaid.

I just don't get emotionally attached to objects.
Click to expand...
To each his own. :) But I don't like people stealing my hard-earned stuff, regardless of how emotionally attached to them I am. Not real fond of losing them either, but that's on me.

OP - should you claim the gun as your own, be aware that if a LEO runs it at any future date, and it was reported stolen, you may have some 'splainin' to do. Ditto for pawning it as well.
 
My x brother in law had 3 handguns stolen. The guy that stole them had a fight with his wife over money and went to work. She took the one of the guns not knowing that they were stolen and pawned it off to get some cash for something. the thief found out what the wife did and got rid of the other guns. he still got charged, my x bro got one back. Contact BATFE and be the good guy that turned in stolen property or be the lucky guy that got a gun knowing that it's not stolen. (just think for some stupid reason that the numbers get ran and its stolen, YOU are in possesion of a STOLEN FIREARM and have to defend yourself because you didn't take the time to make sure it wasn't)
 
I would find out if it's been stolen first.

If there is no record of it, I'd keep it.
 
If you are curious ask the police to run the number if they will do it anonymously. I wouldn't give them my name, and I wouldn't even call from my own phone.

>OP - should you claim the gun as your own, be aware that if a LEO runs it at any future date, and it was reported stolen, you may have some 'splainin' to do.<

Even in that event the explanation is you found it left in a rental and the elapsed time was 25 years. End of story.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

R
  • Locked
Found a gun in MN... questions...
2
Replies
47
Views
2K
rbernie
rbernie
M
  • Locked
Advice: Former druggie renter scoping property
Replies
20
Views
526
Fred Fuller
F
W
  • Locked
Machine Gun BAN loophole
2
Replies
33
Views
2K
Art Eatman
A
J
  • Locked
F2F sale questions and owner dying
Replies
6
Views
829
Frank Ettin
Frank Ettin
bikemutt
  • Locked
TSA finds 2 handguns in Sea-Tac carry-on bags
Replies
20
Views
1K
Art Eatman
A
Back
Top