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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Yes, I checked with a state ranger with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (and local sheriff and police dept). All had the same response "it looks like you've got yourself an antique revolver to hang on your lodge wall." [;)][^] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by HobbyGuy
Yes, I checked with a state ranger with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (and local sheriff and police dept). All had the same response "it looks like you've got yourself an antique revolver to hang on your lodge wall." [;)][^]
Hobby,state has nothing to do with it you are or were on federal land,not state,LOLO NF is federal land.0 -
Better to be hanging on your wall, than to get "high graded" and be hanging on some tree hugging rangers wall.
I know of arrowhead collections that have been confiscated in the past few years because some jackass from a govt agency , BLM got wind that they had been picked on "govt ground " over the decades and it's illegal to remove artifacts nowadays, That being said wasn't that cabin actually on the upper end of old so and so's ranch?
I still say good find and I hope you have more luck like that in the future
Oh this bring something to mind.
A local was elk hunting a area near here, he tied his horse and made loop as he was returning and nearing his horse he noticed a bit lying at the bottom of a nearby tree, he picked it up noticing the shanks were in the shape of pistols and on the grips were the initials W.F.C. records show that William F Cody did infact make one hunt to that area but nothing ever said anything about him losing a horse, so should this individual turn this bit over to (1) USFS or (2)the Buffalo Bill historical society or (3) keep it over the mantel where it has been for 40+ years.0 -
quote:Originally posted by LOKO383
quote:Originally posted by HobbyGuy
Yes, I checked with a state ranger with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (and local sheriff and police dept). All had the same response "it looks like you've got yourself an antique revolver to hang on your lodge wall." [;)][^]
Hobby,state has nothing to do with it you are or were on federal land,not state,LOLO NF is federal land.
Yes, the FWP is a state entity and they are technically the "guardians" of our national forests here in Montana. That's why they carry badges and guns. [;)] Seeing that I've been told by three different offices of legal authority in my state and they've all indicated that the subject antique revolver now belongs to me, I believe this horse (and the subject) has been beaten to death. Nobody needs to worry any longer about the 100+ year old non-functional revolver that was once owned by someone that is now long dead, that built or stayed in a log and sod shelter that I mistakenly called a cabin, that didn't belong to anyone, that wasn't legally a dwelling, that I didn't trespass in, break and enter into (as there were no doors or windows to break), nor did I rape, rob or pillage a village to obtain said revolver. It's cool, it was free, it's interesting to come across something in the middle of the wilderness, it will be a good conversation piece and it's already hanging on the wall in my office. [^]0 -
HobbyGuy, don't you almost wish you never started this post? 0
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