We found a handgun on our hike today!
It's an old (likely antique) .32 caliber nickel plated revolver. "The American Double Action" is stamped on the barrel flat. It has a stubby 2" octagonal barrel, incredible rubber (or gutta percha) grips and about 95% of the nickel plating! Although the trigger return spring is broken, the hammer rises/falls and the cylinder advances when the trigger is pulled. It was found with all chambers loaded, wrapped in an oil soaked cloth and tucked away in the rafters of an old hunting shack that we stumbled upon. I'm talking "way off the beaten path!" The condition of this revolver is surprising after all this time and it reminds me of an old gangster piece from the 20's. There are no serial numbers, so there's really no way to research it. So, should I report the revolver to the local authorities (in case it was used in a homicide), or should I hang it on my wall and make up a good story to go with the find? [:D]
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Probably left there by accident and forgot, but I would suggest reporting it to the police.
There is always the possibility that it may have been used in a crime. If they dont need it for evidence, you can probably claim it after a period of time passes, and since it has no serial number, its not likely they will find who left it there.0 -
If you report it, it will be confiscated. You will never see it again.
Doug0 -
From the overgrowth that completely covered the shack and the dust and rodent droppings that had accumulated on it up in the rafters, this revolver hasn't seen the light of day for fifty years. The lead projectiles oxidized so much that they actually swelled in the cylinders, making it difficult to remove them. [;)] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Doug Wilson
If you report it, it will be confiscated. You will never see it again.
Doug
That's what I was thinking and there's no reason to give up a cool wall hanger. [;)]
Howdy Doug.[^]0 -
I also see no point in giving it up. Clean it and shoot it. 0 -
does it have an open loading gate, that is a bit offset from the cylinder? 0 -
I too would keep it. 0 -
Finders keepers. [^] Last time I looked among the rafters of an old shack, all I found was four raccoons. [xx(] 0 -
Who owns the old hunting cabin ?
I am sure they would like to have the possible heirloom returned , or they may give it to you.0 -
odds are the owners dead.
but family might want it.
everything belongs to someone.0 -
..Check under the left stock panel for a serial number. Over on experts, bgoforth is the "go to" man for old H&Rs, Ivers and such. 0 -
So you trespassed on someone else's property, entered their house uninvited, and took their gun?
Sounds criminal to me.0 -
quote:Originally posted by richbug
So you trespassed on someone else's property, entered their house uninvited, and took their gun?
Sounds criminal to me.
Yeah. I wouldn't report that cr@p. Might get yourself arrested.0 -
A long time ago,I skipped skoul to go shooting with my buddies.I "borrowed" my dads single six.After severel hours shooting and havin fun we left.The thing is before we left,I put his pistol and holster on the roof of the car.Drove away none the wiser.As soon as I pulled into the driveway,I realized what I had done.After several hours of backtracking I came to accept the facts.Loosing dads gun was secondary to having to go to him and tell him what I had done.I was sick.After a long talking to.He, My dad, The man whos gun I have just lost came up with a plan. Your (meaning me) going to run an ad in the paper and offer a substantial reward for its return.Within a few days this guy called and said he found the gun in the middle of the road right where we were shooting.I had to replace the broken grips,He let me slide on having the scratches buffed out, Im guessing so I would have to see them and be reminded that kids do some very stupid things sometimes.I never got my azz tore up for it. I guess it was a transitional period or something.Dads are really cool!!! 0 -
Finder's keeper's.[:D] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Doug Wilson
If you report it, it will be confiscated. You will never see it again.
Doug
Yep! Our fine police department keeps ALL firearms it takes into custody, legal or not. Even if charges in a case are dropped they keep the firearm.0 -
Remember that Tec-9 I found. It's been about 5 months and it was offered to me as the finder but I I told them to keep it and destroy it. If anyone remembers it was rusty and a POS anyway's. Was not suprised that it was offered back though. 0 -
Heck, I haven't paid for a rifle, shotgun and handgun.
Shotgun was left in my sister's house by a former tenet. Took 5 years for my sister to find it. Beauty. Winchester 97 16 gauge.0 -
quote:So you trespassed on someone else's property, entered their house uninvited, and took their gun?
Sounds criminal to me.
put it back it is not yours!0 -
I disconnected the triger return spring to practice my "feathering" technique. I guess I better hide my hidaway pieces better next time, Thanks HobbyGuy, don't worry i'll get you back on the shipping costs to return it to me.
[:D][:D][:D]0 -
If you want to email me the S/N, I'll have my Kids' Godfather - a LEO - run it.
No one will ever know.
Doug0 -
quote:Originally posted by Doug Wilson
If you want to email me the S/N, I'll have my Kids' Godfather - a LEO - run it.
No one will ever know.
Doug
[:D], Til you just posted it.0 -
H&R made it....From the 2005 Catalog of Firearms...Page 549
The American Double Action
A .32, .38, or .44 centerfire caliber double action revolver with a 2.5, 4.5 or 6" round or octagonal barrel, a 5 or 6 shot fluted cylinder, depneding on the caliber, and solid frame, nickle plated, with some blue models noted. The grips are hard rubber. Marked "The American Double Action:. SOme noted are mared H&R Bulldog. Approximately 850,000 were manufactured between 1883 and 1940.
According to the book at 100 percent gun is worth 125.00
A link follows that might add a bit more...and classic wants to add something..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H_&_R_Firearms.
Classic here: I would have the gun checked out. might be stolen and tossed or used in a crime and tossed..0 -
thats bold, trespassing & a thief.If it was closer to the beaten path would you have backed up the truck and just cleaned 'em out? 0 -
quote:Originally posted by richbug
So you trespassed on someone else's property, entered their house uninvited, and took their gun?
Sounds criminal to me.
That's pretty pathetic. You sound like a typical gun-grabbing dem, always jumping to the worst possible conclusions. Perhaps you just work for the media (which may explain the hype applied)? [B)]
It was likely a trapper cabin built well before the turn of the century. Since it can't be homesteaded, nor can a private claim be made to the land (it's in Lolo National Forest), I did not trespass. It would be no different if I found the revolver in the trunk of a hollow tree. The little log and sod cabin measures about 8' x 10' and appears to have sunk into the ground over the years. The inside ceiling height is only about 5' and there is no door in the opening, nor glass or boards in the two window openings. The only furniture is a small table and a wooden bed frame. It was strange not to find any debris that may help date the cabin. There were no tin cans or bottles, no tools and no evidence of there ever being a campfire. I would guess that it was built around 1870 - 1890. We didn't have our camera with us, but we plan to go back and take pictures. [^]0 -
...HobbyGuy..That's about the scenario that I'd imagined. I think a few have stepped on you pretty hard, without any facts at all. 0 -
Do you own the property that the cabin is on? If not find out who does, It aint yours, your steeling. 0 -
Good find, but Don't tell the Forest service it's location, down here in the Targhee, The Bridger-Teton, and the Caribou Nat'l forests, every little cabin whether it was a trapper or miners cabin or cache or sheepman salt cabins from the early years, they find them they are gone. 0 -
Funny thing...I was trapping JUST last week in lolo and it just so happens that I dropped a nickel plated .32 in a cabin I was taking shelter in.May I have it back please?[:o)] 0 -
...well, I guess what Fred Sanford said, "finders keepers loosers weepers"...you'll find that in the Bible, right after where it says "when you snooze, you loose"...[;)] 
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