How would you dispose of a handgun

[Newton]

After getting me all excited about the discovery of another of his father's old pistols (I already have a nice Hi Standard off him) I scurried over to my Brother in Laws to find an old .22 cal revolver that was literally rusted all the way through the frame, I couldn't even identify any markings and the cylinder, well, just don't ask - all in all it is basically a pound of rust and will never be a gun again.

I'm not going to send this to anyone for their ultimate restoration project, and I don't really want to throw pieces of the gun on a scrap heap, you never know what comes back to haunt you with a gun this old, ideally I'd just like to melt it into a puddle of molten metal and then toss it.

So just how do you consign ole faithful to the scrap heap - cut through the receiver/slice the barrel off/knock out the cylinder, but then what, and do you need to advise the authorities that a handgun has been removed from circulation.

Suggestions appreciated.

 

[sm]

Gunsmith had a good customer find an inexpensive rusted revolver in the attic of a deceased family member. For sentimental reasons he wanted to keep it. Gunsmith removed the grips, soaked, did best could with the rust, glued crack in grips, put back together. A Trophy shop does the Lucite plaques. This revolver is now encased in Lucite, preserving memories, and may be hung on the wall or sits on a mantel. Depending on what the missus decides to change up while doing the housework.

 

[JCM298]

Disposal

An easy way to dispose of it is to simply turn it in to a local LEO. He will turn it over to the evidence unit and it will be destroyed.

BUT.....that is a waste. Soak it in anti-freeze or kerosine (sp?) for a week or two, clean it w/an old brush, mount it on a board, and turn it into a wall hanger.

I hate to see guns destroyed,

John

 

[repsychler]

I like re1973's idea. I'd have a hard time just chucking a gun no matter how dead it is.

Otherwise, there's no need to tell anyone its out of circulation, and I doubt there even is any paper trail for it if its that old. If you have the tools to do it, you can cut it up and treat it like any other scrap metal. Another suggestion would be to just give it to the local law, or find a gunny friend that wants it.

 

[CWL]

If in that bad a shape, perhaps a sledge on certain parts will permanently retire this pistol.

 

[goon]

Here is an idea.
One gunshop that I go to has a box that you pull the tab on to get some "customer service." It is just a square wooden box with an old H&R .32 mounted in it. It is pointed forward, cocked, and there are a few actual bullet holes in the front of the box. All the internals have been removed, and I think that all but the last couple inches of barrel has been filled with something.
Could be a good use for yours.

 

[pcf]

If you want wait for the next guns-for-tickets or whatever they might have in your area and if they are offering something good, you can get that evil thing off the streets. Otherwise I'd try to sell it on gunsamerica as a true piece of american history and a collectors item.

 

[10-Ring]

If you really have to get rid of it, a simple turn in w/ local PD sounds like the best route. But, I like the idea of cleaning it up & hanging it on a wall or keep in a presentation case.

 

[C.R.Sam]

Nuther vote for makin a display out of it.

With second choice being to turn it into cash at a "buy back".

Sam

 

[Standing Wolf]

Wall hanger—unless, of course, it's a rusty old Glock, in which case, I'd just toss it in the fireplace.

 

[Jim K]

The only problem with turning it into the police is that some cops will want every bit of information about you, including the serial numbers of all the other guns you own, just in case they decide to smash down your door and take the rest, just for the fun of it.

I would smash it into something unrecognizable as a gun and toss it into the trash bag or into the nearest lake.

Jim

 

[JERRY]

go to some crime infested urban area where poeple cant own self defense guns,run by Democrats of course, and turn it in for $100.00!!!!

it doesnt matter if it works or was used to shoot kennedy, they dont care if its evidence from the hundreds of unsolved murders in d.c., they just want a show piece for the "news" papers.

 

[Sisco]

POS guns make good bookends.

 

[MaterDei]

If a gun buy back isn't an option, I'd throw it in one of those big green garbage cans you have in the garage. If you think the gun is still capable of firing, remove the cylinder, bury it in the back yard and throw the frame in the trash. Plant a rose bush on top of the cylinder so that you can have guns and roses in your back yard at your next party.

MaterDei

 

[JCM298]

Sisco

I like that book end idea,

John

 

[boing]

Trash.

Lake.

Bury it. (This one is last because it's the most work.)

I don't like the buy back idea because it legitimizes the anti's scheme.

 

[Jake 98c/11b]

Something to think about, If seen disposing of the pistol, questions will arise. I would not want to take the time and effort to answer those questions to the satisfaction of the responding police. Even if you could readily show that the piece was non functional at the time questions could still persist. Did the individual in question use the gun in a crime years ago and stash it, only now returning to dispose of it in a more permanent manner? Imagine the sight of someone throwing a handgun off a bridge, what would you do if you were witness to that? If someone saw you drop a package in a hole and fill it in that would tend to raise some questions, questions they may ask the police to help answer.

My first choice would be for the "buy back" program. While I am opposed to these for several reasons, you could use this as an opportunity to point out the failures of these programs. Having someone pay you to tell them how stupid they are makes it that much more enjoyable. I have reservations about this because of the potential problems associated with the coverage of these media driven games but, at least it has the potential to educate those present at the time.

Second choice, and it was close, is the lucite embedment. I am actually trying to find someone to do something similar for me. An associate of mine happened to shoot himself in the hand. After his trip to the hospital he found several bone fragments we were planning to embed in lucite as a training aid in our classes at the shop. Unfortunately none of the local trophy shops will do human bone fragments so, if anyone knows a place that will help us with this I would appreciate it. I think this would make a great addition to our training classes. He even gave us some photos and x-rays of the damage done for our classes, if only we could get the bullet...

 

[Hal]

"Between August 1999 and December 2000, the MPDC conducted three gun buy-backs. During these buy-backs, the MPDC collected 6,253 firearms"

"sponsored a total of six Gun Buy-Back Programs that have removed more that 2000 firearms from circulation throughout Worcester County."

"the goal of the program is to prevent gun violence-particularly violence against children - by removing thousands of weapons"

"I'm excited to announce that this year we took in more than 200 guns at our two locations. While this is an excellent figure"


Notice the reccuring theme of the numbers? This is just a small sample of what "gun buy-back" returns on a google search.
Please, don't support gun buy-backs by adding to their numbers.

Old rusty crusty non funtional firearms have a certain charm or character to them that makes them ideal as wall decorations.

 

[Werewolf]

If the thing has sentimental value the I'd go for the clean it up and dunk it in Lucite recs.

Otherwise just toss it into the trash and let the garbagemen pick it up. It'll end up in a land fill somewhere and a 1000 years from now some grad student archeologist will find it and write his PhD thesis on the Decadence of 20th Century America as evidenced by the Occurence of Weapons found in Trash.

 

[goon]

Get it fixed to the point that the mechanism works well enough for demonstration purposes, spray paint it black, and give it to a local hunter safety group.
The bunch that I took my hunter safety course through when I was a kid had a 94 winchester in similar condition that they used to teach gun safety to kids. It had a working lever, bolt, trigger, and hammer. The elevator had been removed, and there was a screw through the breech.
That would be a good use for a non-functional gun.

 

[sm]

Jake 98c/11b
Check with one of your teaching hospitals in your area,in fact the surgeon may have an idea.
IIRC some hobby/craft stores used to sell a kit...twas pricey and trickey to use. Now my ex bought a simiar kit for a flower arrangement for $7 at the whatever store store she bought a vase, and silk flowers. This "solution" turned into a semi hard/gel/ ...clear, looked like water and the silk arrangement stayed put...once it's set...it's set. I wasn't allowed to poke and see ( after I turned it upside to see if it held- it did) but I bet this would work. She made other stuff with it....off limits to me...

 

[PCRCCW]

If you wish to get rid of it......Come out to Ut and well show you a couple of 100 year old vertical mine shafts. A couple of parts in that one and the rest in that one....TWUST me...no one will ever be using it for the wrong reasons...or for any reason

Shoot well.

 

[Edward429451]

Maybe if you sent it to Oleg, he could use it in a poster somehow.

 

[Sisco]

Before I made the bookend out of the Clerke 1st I asked a LEO about the best way to dispose of it. He told me to bring it down to the station and they would take care of it.
Didn't really want to walk into the place with it in my hand or pocket, figured it would be best to put it in a bag or box. Then I thought about the reaction I was likely to get when I walked up to the window and said "Excuse me, I have a gun".
That's when I decided to make the bookend.

 

[Jake 98c/11b]

re1973, thanks I will look into that.